Hip & Sage

Overqualified? Hip and Sage professionals can get the job.

Here is an article from CNN called, What to do when you're labled "overqualified." This is a somewhat common problem for experienced - sage - applicants. Has this happened to you? Check out the article for some tips. And I would add this:

I think the notion of someone being overqualified is sometimes code for fearing they lack a hunger to learn and a contemporary skill set. Don't let this become a barrier. Talk about how you have grown in the last year. Talk about the new technologies you use to stay up to date in your field and to communicate with team members. Show that you are genuinely fascinated in the job duties (you should be or don't apply).

Show the interviewer that you don't get bored because your are always seeking to learn and improve the organization from your position - all positions can have impact.

Oh, and make sure all these things are true by staying hip and sage. The best protection of all, like gore-tex in the rain.

Do you NEED to know the new technologies?

Well, that depends. But some of us/you do. Here is a wee story, a true story, about a friend of mine who needs a metaphorical two-by-four (a loving one) over her head. I will call her Pam.

Pam is in transition - she is looking for a job. She works in the areas of event management, travel sales, travel marketing and travel guiding and product development. She is a talented lady who could sell elevator shoes to Michael Jordan.

But here's the thing. When it comes to some of the new technologies - blogging, podcasting, etc - Pam is not hip. And she does not want to get hip.

I think this is a mistake BECAUSE of the industry in which she works and the job candidates she will be competing against for openings. If there is any industry that has embraced what online technologies can do for their business it is sales & marketing. I cannot imagine a sales or marketing job that would not have at least a small set of duties tied to using online tools.

My friend Pam needs to learn these new technologies to be competitive. And I would invite her to embrace getting back on the path to learning. Right now, she seems pretty resolute that she has not learned it and does not plan to (she's about 50). It is never too late to increase your relevance, Pam!

This may not be the case for everyone, but it is worth thinking about what your goals are and the tools and practices that are regularly in use in these areas. Learn what you need to so that you can keep up with others in the field/activity.

About 10 years ago my mother grumbled to me because most of her bridge buddies were practicing using computer bridge tutorials. She did not want to do this, but she also did not want to keep losing to her friends! I found her a computer bridge program staring Omar Sharif and she was more than happy to learn (since he was one of her favorite actors). The moral of this story is to make it fun by bringing in your other interests. Learn to blog by reading blogs about knitting. Learn about podcasting by getting an iPod and downloading NPR and Charlie Rose.

But don't resign yourself to irrelevance, please. You are likely too talented to too valuable and too young for this.

Job Search Tip - Be Where They Are!

I can tell you first hand that the number of applications that the HR department is getting is on the rise. You are competing with hundreds of other professionals for the job. Here is ONE tip that might help you with your job search:

Be Where They Are - in person and virtually

Time is precious so you do not need to go overboard by joining every organization under the sun. Join one organization, and become a volunteer for that organization - you will meet more people and in more meaningful ways! Go to all the monthly meetings and connect with people (but don't ask they for a job - just connect). Read the top five blogs for the industry and subscribe to one or two podcasts (all free!). Attend the most important conference of the year - bring lots of business cards to the conference, and none home with you.  If there is more than one conference or organization from which to choose, select the one that most attracts hip professionals (the more contemporary one).