Advice

Ask A Progeek: Overqualification

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Ah, the job search.  We usually like to think that we can totally ace the requirements and have the perfect personality and then some.  We’re ready to overdo it . . .

. . . but you can overdo it can’t you?  That’s what this week’s Ask A Progeek is about.  The question submitted to me is:

When applying for a job, I don’t simply want to show them I meet their expectations – I want to show how I exceed them.  However, there is also the trouble of being considered overqualified.  How do I stand out without disqualifying myself?

This is a difficult issue mostly because of the fear of over qualification.  It’s a big issue in the news as people grasp to explain why so many folks have trouble finding jobs (short answer: economy sucks, you’re an idiot for asking).    So the first question is – is this actually a worry?

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Your Ideal Job: Do You Know What You Want?

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The ideal job.  The ideal position.  The ideal career.  We talk about these things, we want these things, we strive for these things.

I do, of course.  I’m big on life/career integration.  I know many other people who strive for these things as well . . . which of course I do because I meet people like myself.

But I hear all these talks about what people are doing to find the perfect job.  I hear pay rates and statistics on what they want.  I hear bits and pieces of abstract discussions.

As we quest for the perfect career I think we can miss an obvious question: what is really going to make us happy in our careers?

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Ask A Progeek: Demographic Distress

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We’re here with Ask a Progeek, and the questions keep coming.  This one is a bit sensitive – and one with exploring.

When applying for a job, there is sometimes a voluntary section about demographic information (where they ask about gender, ethnicity, disabilities, etc).  In practice, is it better to fill that out or leave it blank?

This usually isn’t a concern for us Progeeks, but it’s something that bears thinking about.

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