By Aaron Crowe for AOL Find a Job
Getting hired is getting harder and harder as 9.8% of the country is unemployed, and being overqualified for a job is one reason too many people hear for why they're not being hired.
While dumbing down your résumé isn't ideal, it may be necessary if you're going for a job that doesn't require all of the expertise, training and education you have.
Look at it from an employer's standpoint: Hiring someone with a master's degree to work as a receptionist doesn't make sense because that person will probably quit as soon as they find something they have more of an interest in. You don't want to be the most expensive receptionist in the office.
The above receptionist was actually Kristin Konopka, who was featured in a Wall Street Journal story. Konopka sent out nearly 100 résumés in January but only got one callback for a receptionist job.
She reworked her résumé and took off her master's degree and academic teaching experience, which led to three callbacks and two interviews after sending out 30 copies of her new resume. The dumbing down worked.
"It definitely picked up the interest," Konopka told the Journal. She said she realized quickly that people don't "want to hire anyone who is overqualified."
Here's a CNN video on dumbing down résumés:
Dropping a college degree, especially a master's or better, can help if employers are only looking for a bachelor's degree. It sounds odd, but it's mainly because they can pay less for lesser degrees, job seeker Nicholas Carroll wrote on his Web site.
Here are a few tips to dumb down your résumé without making it too obvious:
- Fight age discrimination by not putting the year you graduated from college on your resume. Name the school and degree, but a graduation date may put off a younger boss.
- Take off college degrees not needed for the job you're applying for, such as master's degrees and better.
- Leave any work experience beyond 15 years off the résumé.
- Leave off lofty titles. Instead of saying you last worked as a vice president of something, just say what department you were in.
- Don't list your home address. This combats the problem of having a long commute.
- Remove awards and accolades. Again, these only point out how overqualified you are and that you're likely to leave soon.
Next: Top 10 Companies Hiring This Week >>
Nov 19th 2009 @ 7:31AM Frank Brittingham
What advice to you have for someone who is 55 years old and has been unemployed for 2-3 years due to recovery from multiple surgeries with a clean bill of health and ready to get back to work but has no very recent work history? For instance the last job I had was three years ago.
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 7:33AM Frank Brittingham
Of course I meant "do you have." pardon my mistake.
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 8:53AM Linda
I am a qualified individual with a Bachelor's Degree and over 20 years experience. My career path lead me to being an H.R. Manager, for five years, Probation Officer for six years and three years in Social Service working for a non profit agency. I am now laid off and have been for almost nine months. I have been net working and sending out resumes. However, I am 60 years old, energentic, attractive, African American woman. I do not look like I am 60 and have a youthful appearance. (more like someone 45 years old). I have dummie down my resume to be able to land a job with no luck. I do believe that, I am being discriminated against (age and origin). At this time in my life, I feel very sad and discourage.
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 9:10AM Morse
The market today and for the last five years has become an industry that has been able to masquerade themselves as willing employers. Case in point willing to promote diversity but yet the make up of the company does not reflect this .
I agree with Lindas' comments. I am in a similar position as she is.
When applying on line I refuse to answer the question about ethnicity, gender. If they want to know call me in for an interview so that they can really see what they are getting. They are getting a seasoned employee not over qualifiedto work in an enviroment of immature employees.
I'm 58 years old and still looking for work after nearly two years.
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 9:23AM Mary
I am very interested in getting more responses. I am turning 54 in Feb. and have been out of work since July of 2008. I am shocked to see what employers are looking for and the amount of pay they are offering. It's crazy out there!!
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 9:59AM Mikew515
I'm 56, and I I'm working part time for chicken feed. If you are over 50 lost your job, and want to be something more then a Truck Driver, or Janitor. Your pickings are slim. Worse, if have a degree. My daughter, who is a Manager for a very successful company in the Midwest, had seven positions open that required a Collage Degree and three years experience. "700 people showed up! Not to mention how many applied on line, They showed up to show that they were serious about employment. It took two days for the interviews. Crazy!
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 11:41AM Conrad
Everyone knows when supply is low and demand is high, employers take full advantage of that senerio by lowering salaries. Some employers are under the mistaken impression that most younger candidates bring vitality and a fresh outlook. They don't take into account that a more experienced candidate brings a better outlook because they've been through the "been there, done that" pitfalls that a less experienced employee will undoubtly fall into.
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 9:16PM Nick
I'm over 50, recently laid off and like others, am finding many roadblocks. Have been applying for work at the Big Box stores and others and am confronted everytime with questions on the applications asking if I am on welfare, food stamps or any public assistance program. They plainly state that their companies recieve tax credits for hiring those persons! Somehow that seems illegal because they are obviously discriminating against those of us who aren't in those catagories. So as a company who would you choose---someone who gives you tax credits, right? I wish we had some politicians with some guts and integrity out there!!! Anyone with ideas around this?
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 12:23PM Lou
My fellow brothers and sisters of the 50+ club. Do not give up. God has not brought us this far to leave us. We must trust Him. Despite what is happening in this world, God is still in control. This too will pass. He said He would never leave nor forsake us. Call on Jesus!
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 1:58PM Mary
Thank you, I needed that. I am 55 with a 25+ year career as a COO, my husband has Alzheimers, so hasn't brought in any money in years, my house is in foreclosure due to his astronomical bills for psychiatric care (not covered)and I cannot find a job. I truly appreciate your words of encouragement to all of us.
Nov 19th 2009 @ 12:29PM Linda Thomas
I am 61 an having to go back to work as s.s is not enough to make ends meet anymore an too with no cost of living raise this year does not help , its bad when seniors have to make to with what little they get an the presd seats up there spending our money for helath insr we do not want an sending our money to other countries an kisses there ass to o. this is how i feel about it this country was build on under god we trust an it seems to me they are forgetting this an throwing it down the drain , an we have to put up with it, while other countried get worthy we go into the bankrup .
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 12:39PM RNEU
Don't list your college info is fine,but then many ask what year you graduated from high school or want a copy of your drivers liscense. Those requests should be as iliegal as age discremination. If anyone thinks age is not at least 60% discremination there crazy. The over 50 group is the new black group of unemployment!
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Nov 21st 2009 @ 2:15PM Paula
Over fifty is the "New Black"! That's good- Thanks for the laugh!
Nov 20th 2009 @ 12:06AM ANTHONY
Like Lou points out; this is the time find a Service Job; serving in the the Army of God, that is.
It's almost "that time...." and I mean about 17 months to go & the only thing that'll matter is what we've done with our lives, or what we're going to do the next 17 months to find mercy from God. THERE IS A GOOD REASON THAT THE ENTIRE WORLD IS SUFFERING THE SAME PAIN AT THE SAME TIME people, and this is God's mercy to get our attention for the final time of our "sore travail".
If we do what LOT did, (Soddom & Gommorah) and RUN "to the Mountain of God" (the gospel) and remain there "faithfully", not only will it "be well with our soul" but indeed, God will provide for our daily need; including the revelation of what this "strange thing" is that I'm speaking of here....
Funny how "The Church" and the "stargazing predicters" who TRUST the Mayans or Nostrodamus, consider that December 21st, 2012 is when a great "change" will occur, but our Lord of Truth, tells us EXACTLY, (in coded language that ONLY the remnant can recieve) that May 21st, 2011, (when "they" least expect it) then SUDDEN DESTRUCTION COMETH UPON THEM !
This is the time to GET OUT of ALL church, (faithful or not) for God's spirit no longer operates in the formal service observation, and to "come together in fellowship of the gospel" ONLY;... or find ourselves hearing Christ declare;
Matt. 21:7
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
THESE ARE CHURCH PEOPLE THAT CHRIST IS ADDRESSING !!!
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 5:31PM Lou
Mary, you are welcome. Keep your head up. God will not let us fail despite what we think. I will keep you and your husband in prayer. I understand where you are coming from. I am a recent MBA graduate (May)with 20+ years of Executive Administration, laid off 3 years ago, went through all my 401K and now owe the Federal & State government, foreclosure, bankruptcy, high blood pressure, borderline diabete, etc. But, the one thing I do have, is I love Jesus. He is going to bring us through this. Keep your head up. Pharoah (Satan) let my people GO!!!
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