It appears as if it would be a no brainer: apply for a job that you want, but are technically overqualified for. They have to accept you because you have all of the qualifications and more, right? WRONG!
Contrary to popular belief, landing the job you’re overqualified for can be hard, and you are actually less likely to be picked for a job you’re overqualified for, unless you frame yourself in the correct way. When a hiring manager or recruiter comes across an applicant that is clearly overqualified for the given position, typically one of two things happens. They either think that the application was a mistake/you applied for the wrong job, or they think that you are so overqualified for the position that if you do get it, you will be bored/unhappy/unbeneficial to the company.
There are ways to overcome this struggle. The first and most important step is to explain yourself and why you are interested in taking a lower ranked position. This should be a sentence or two description at the top of your resume, AND in your cover letter. We’re all human, including hiring managers and recruiters. If you have a specific reason or personal situation such as taking care of a sick family member, confining you to a certain location, or wanting to focus in on one aspect of your former job, people will understand; they just need to know about it before they can understand your reasoning.
Framing yourself to show why you are so determined to transition into this different role/change career paths gives you a more personable aspect, causing hiring managers to establish a connection with you. Creating a connection enables you to become more than a number and stand out from the pile of resumes on their desk.
Next, you’ll want to take the buzz words and terms used and the job description and rework your resume to include them. This should be done with every job you apply for, yet in this particular situation, it is even more important.
And lastly, show them that you truly want the job. Going back to my first tip, explain why you want it, but also explain why you’re going to totally kick butt and how you are going to benefit the company. The sad truth is that hiring managers care less about why you want/need the job, and more about how you getting the job will benefit them or solve their problems. If you can show them this, you’re golden, but in this particular scenario, clear communication is essential!