Too Qualified to hire!!!

Time for me to have a rant.... I am 50, I'v been in the bisiness since I was 15, I have a BA and a MS, I have worked in 17 counties as a chef or consultant. I have owned my own catering company in Monaco and a consultacy here in Texas. I have had to close the business due to family health reasons and the impossible cost of health insurance as a self employed person with a disabled wife and I have had a heart attack too. So I start looking for work, and I send out about 250 resumes over the last six months, not one interview but dozens of replies stating in one or more ways that I am too qualified for the position. What gives? I always tried to hire people that I could LEARN FROM when I was an executive chef, yet these people seem to be scared to hire me even though I have explained in detail that I am resolved to returning to the work force as an employee and that my years of experience can only be a benefit for them, (the employer). But no luck so far

Any suggestions????

By Chefacec (Chefacec) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 12:24 pm: Edit

Keep pluggin' away, my friend. I too had the same experience. Took me almost eight months to finally get what I was searching for. Email me and I'll give the name of a great recruiter that works out of your area. Good luck!!!!

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 01:16 pm: Edit

They'll have to pay you too much!
They'll think you'll take their job!
There are a million reasons why they'll tell you you're overqualified!
There are plenty of idiots out there today who actually have a reason to fear someone like you because they can't get their heads out of their as@#$!!!1

By George (George) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 02:23 pm: Edit

Everything Manny said is true.

In reality the "over qualified" line is often code for age descrimination.

I'd suggest dumbing down your resume and qualifiations. Only give experience directly related to the position you are seeking and don't give any information that will let them guess how old you are. This should help with getting the interview and give you a chance to help sell yourself.

I'd also suggest joining the ACF if you aren't a member already, lots of networking chances and most chapters have a local employment chairperson who can be a real resource.

Good Luck and keep plugging.

G

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 03:58 pm: Edit

Good advice G, when I was younger I remember I had a resume for the back of the house jobs and a resume for management positions!!!!

By Steve9389 (Steve9389) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 07:49 pm: Edit

That's why places like Monster.com allow you to make up to five resumes and then pick which one you want to attach to each application. Far too few people take advantage of that.

By Dpconsu (Dpconsu) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 07:50 pm: Edit

Thanks guys, I done those things with the exception of joining the ACF, I cannot afford to right now. I have pared down my resume somewhat, but as most of the jobs that are offered right now are advertizing for a *Executive Chef* who is only out of college five years or less! My God, I groveled on lines and in pantries for ten years and worked my way up though brigade kitchens for ten years before getting my first Chef position.

I have to put down my years of graduations for my two degrees, and when they see that I graduated from my post grad M S studies in 1976, well that kind of dates me dos'nt it?

I have been willing to take a lot less money if they will provide a health benefits package. I am OK to work as I ever was just so long as I keep taking the BP medicines and blood thinners. I can still do 16 hour days. I am not shy of work, to the contary, anyone who has had their own business knows that you end up working more, not less.

Keep the suggestions coming

Thanks

By Steve9389 (Steve9389) on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 09:48 am: Edit

Actually, you don't have to put down your master's degree if you don't want to. You don't have to put down any degree if you don't want to. Hell, this is YOUR forum to showcase yourself how you see fit. It's a marketing tool. You release only the information that's gonna help you.

And you don't need to do just a traditional chronological resume either, especially in your case where your long history works against you. List your skills, list your accomplishments, and then list, say, your last three or four jobs. Use your resume as an opportunity to sell yourself, not just as a necessary evil. Check out this sample resume I found; it does a good job of featuring skills over just work history:

http://www.jobweb.com/resources/library/samples/chrisres.htm

By Andapanda (Andapanda) on Friday, September 12, 2003 - 12:48 pm: Edit

Dpconsu:
Don't feel bad, you're not the only one. I can sympathize and empathize with your situation. I am currently jobless as well. I too, have heard the words, "overqualified," "lack experience," "we'll call you if we need you."
Translation: "We have already hired someone for the job(can anyone say, 'nepotism?') Don't call us, we'll call you. Oh by the way, don't let the door hit you on the way out!"
Yes, being unemployed can be maddening. This is only a temporary situation. As they say in the U.S.M.C., "Adapt, improvise, overcome!" It seems to me that most of our jobs have been outsourced to China, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Mexico, etc. Perhaps we'd have better chances of finding a job if we were to seek work there? Persevere. Don't give up. Good luck.

By Jonesg (Jonesg) on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 01:29 pm: Edit

You must be doing something wrong, have someone give you a candid review of that resume.

I posted mine on starchefs last yr , I'm 52, I had offers from all over the world. My resume is very simple, one page.

By Rpd144000 (Rpd144000) on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 02:24 pm: Edit

Do you have any friends who are HR types? Have them take a look at the resume. they may have some savvy suggestions. i have friends in the HR field at my church and they specialize in getting our out of work people hired, to the point of even doing mock interviews.
good luck