What to do when you are overqualified?

We recently discussed the challenge of meeting minimum qualifications for international development jobs. But some professionals have the opposite problem — being too qualified.

“Sometimes there is another frequent ‘frustration’ answer: ‘overqualified,’” wrote Sandro R. from Lima recently. “Clients could understand that sometimes job seeker are not looking only for money?”

This is a common refrain I hear from professionals working in international development; particularly those that are trying to transition from another sector or area of development. Even when they are willing to take a pay cut or step back in their career they get the same answer: Sorry, you are overqualified.

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