Dear Mark – But I am Qualified!

I sent out my CV for a job and was told that I wasn't qualified for the position. I think I am. What should I do?

Sincerely,

It's My Job!

Check your qualifications again. Are you really 100% qualified for the position?

And take another look at the posting. Is the advertisement specific about qualifications, or is it vague? If it's written vaguely, the employer might be more interested in personality than qualifications, or they might not have known what they were looking for in the first place, but have since decided it's not you.

But if you feel that you are truly qualified, and it will make you feel better, call the employer. It may be that the employer misread your résumé and you are qualified. But most likely, the employer won't appreciate being queried about the hiring decision and it won't get you very far – but at least you will have stated your case, and shown a continued interest in the position. (Make sure that you state your case politely, or else you might burn bridges.)

Remember that hiring isn't just about having the right qualifications. Take a look at your résumé and cover letter again – are they disorganized or unclear? (And consider having a professional review these for you.) Networking can also play a major role when it comes to hiring decisions. And, unfortunately, the employer may have had a particular candidate in mind before they even started the search. Or, they may have been looking to fill a particular candidate profile, which you don't fulfill. Any or all of these could have resulted in someone with similar qualifications being hired ahead of you, in which case they were using "not qualified" as a convenient – if not entirely accurate, and therefore not entirely fair – catchphrase.

What shouldn't you do? Take it personally, or assume that your application was rejected for an unfair or malicious reason. Thinking up conspiracy theories will only cloud your judgement, it will drain you and, ultimately, may result in your missing out on any other opportunities that come your way.