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By Cynthia M. Piccolo (Career Questions)
dearCPDontWantToLookOverqualified image

Dear Cindy: 

I have a Master's in exercise science and over 10 years of experience in patient care. Recently, I went back to school to obtain my Bachelor's in healthcare administration, and I am looking to advance my career in the management arena. How do I fit these multiple degrees and experience into my résumé without the résumé appearing to be too overwhelming for HR, or making me appear to be overqualified for the position?

Sincerely,

K

Dear K: 

The good news is that when you're applying for a more senior position, multiple relevant degrees and 10+ years of experience don't tend to be a problem, they tend to be an asset – if not a necessity. Your résumé and cover letter should alert a potential employer to the fact that you're looking for a management role, and foreground your education, experience, and transferrable skills relevant to that management role.

However, if you do want to apply for a lower level position, then the issue of "overqualified" may be relevant. In such a case, as mentioned in an earlier query, you shouldn't hide your education, because an employer may discover it by doing a background check or a reference check. As above, you should state in your résumé and cover letter the type of position you're interested in, but you must also be able to convince an employer (both in these documents and in your interview) that: you really want their job, not just any job; you find their job really interesting, because ; your skills are current and relevant to the job; and you don't want to run the place.

Good luck in your job search.

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