Why You Shouldn’t Dismiss ‘Overqualified’ Candidates
Why You Shouldn’t Dismiss ‘Overqualified’ Candidates
When reviewing CVs, it’s easy to scan past a senior candidate and think, Too much experience for this role… they’ll be bored, want too much money, or leave the second something better comes along. It’s a common knee-jerk reaction, and it can be a costly one.
But being “overqualified” isn’t the red flag it used to be. In today’s workforce, it might just be your biggest opportunity.
The Shift in Career Priorities
Senior candidates are increasingly reassessing what they want from work. Many are at a life stage where they’re prioritising stability, meaningful contributions, and work-life balance over high-pressure leadership roles.
Many overqualified professionals seek roles that are more manageable and fulfilling, not because they’re settling, but because they’ve recalibrated what success looks like. According to a Harvard Business Review study, workers considered “overqualified” were often more productive, engaged, and loyal when their motivations aligned with the role.
Economic Trends Are Driving Change
A combination of cost-of-living pressures, pension shortfalls, and shifting societal norms means more people are working later in life, but not always in the roles they once aspired to.
ONS data shows that the UK’s employment rate for people aged 50 to 64 is climbing steadily, with over 70% of people in this age group in work. Many of them aren’t looking to climb the ladder, they’ve been there, done that, and now want to contribute in a less demanding capacity.
The result is a growing pool of experienced talent actively looking for roles that may appear “beneath” their CV but actually suit their current goals perfectly.
But Won’t They Leave Quickly?
The fear that they’ll get bored or jump ship, is an understandable one but the key here is context and communication. Instead of assuming, ask direct but respectful questions in interview:
- What motivated you to apply for this role at this stage in your career?
- What would a successful year in this position look like for you?
- How do you see this role fitting into your long-term plans?
Look for genuine alignment, not just someone taking the job because it’s convenient, but because it’s what they truly want right now.
And remember, younger, less experienced candidates can just as easily jump ship. Tenure is increasingly dictated by culture fit and job satisfaction, not age or pay grade.
The Benefits of Hiring Senior Candidates
Hiring someone who’s done it all before brings real advantages:
- They ramp up faster. Less training, more impact.
- They bring maturity and calm. Crisis? They’ve likely handled worse.
- They mentor others naturally. Whether formal or informal, their knowledge helps others grow.
- They stay out of the politics. Many just want to do a good job and head home, drama-free.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology also found that overqualified employees performed better than expected when given autonomy, support, and purpose. In other words, if the culture is right, their performance won’t just meet expectations, it’ll exceed them.
So How Can You Tell if It’s the Right Fit?
Here’s a quick framework:
Green Flags:
- The candidate articulates clear, realistic reasons for wanting the role.
- They talk about legacy, balance, or passion, not desperation.
- They ask detailed questions about the team, not just the title.
- They’ve stayed in similar roles in recent years.
Red Flags:
- They seem vague or evasive about their career goals.
- They’re overemphasising pay or prestige.
- Their recent work history shows a pattern of short stints in similar roles.
Experience shouldn’t be a liability, but an asset. The right senior candidate could bring game-changing impact, often with less handholding. The key is understanding their why and being open-minded enough to believe them.
Sometimes, the most experienced people just want to get on with the job, not run the show. And that might be exactly what your team needs.
If you are interested in speaking with us about recruiting for a new vacancy, please visit our client page, or call us on 01202 424824 for an initial discussion on how we can help with your recruitment needs.
Dovetail Recruitment are an independent Recruitment Agency in Bournemouth. Follow us to keep up to date with The South’s Job Market Report, Recruitment in Hampshire & Dorset + HR news, as well as our latest jobs, career tips + everything else related to your working world.
 |
 |
 |
 |
