2025 has been another rollercoaster year. Unemployment woes have affected all generations through layoffs in the private and government sectors and return to work initiatives are seeing more mothers leaving the workforce to care for young children.
Those searching for a job today must show tenacity and resilience, especially as the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) creates its own hurdles to navigate. It’s become an increasingly uneven playing field with more competition for jobs than ever before.
Too Much Experience?
This environment is also accompanied by growing generational tension around hiring overqualified candidates. LinkedIn abounds with stories of job candidates over the age of 40 who are questioning if their years of experience could be working against them along with not-so-quiet whispers of ageism. But how does overqualified look from the perspective of an employer?
Most hiring managers agree that overqualified candidates bring more confidence to a role, are often more productive and have better decision-making skills. Therefore, it’s not so much of a question of whether an overqualified candidate can do a fantastic job, but if there will be turnover when/if that candidate finds a better role and compensation elsewhere. There is also a fear an overqualified candidate could become bored if not challenged by the role.
Conversely, younger candidates with more entry-level experience feel they cannot compete against the experience of an overqualified candidate. These younger job seekers believe that an overqualified candidate is more likely to receive a role than someone with less experience.
Creating Stronger Touchpoints
What makes this process even more challenging is that in an age of AI, a resume often doesn’t represent someone’s skills in the same way. AI continues to change the hiring game with more companies employing AI to help with recruiting. Job candidates are following suit, using AI to make their resumes more compatible with AI learning.
One thing job seekers of all ages and experiences could likely agree on is having a more straightforward recruitment process, one that prioritizes interpersonal communication. Working with a staffing recruiter who provides executive placements can go a long way in creating a more human-centered hiring environment.
Rather than sending a resume and hoping for the best, a job candidate who collaborates with a recruiter can share why they are applying, including why they applied for roles for which they are overqualified. This information arms the recruiter with an explanation that can be shared directly with a hiring manager. Likewise, a recruiter with the knowledge of a younger candidate’s motivations and skill sets can articulate transferable skills.
Work with Staffing Kansas City
Staffing Kansas City places job candidates in part-time, full-time and contract positions with small- and medium-sized businesses throughout the Kansas City Metro. Our recruiters are known for our ability to find the right candidates at the right time and specialize in executive placements.