When an employer says "your're over qualified" for the job, is that a bad thing or good thing?

As an employer, when I interview someone who is way over qualified for the house or office cleaning position I am offering, my concern is that they are wanting this job just to get by until they get their real job. I'm going to spend a sizeable sum of my revenue and a lot of time to train my employees to provide the most excellent standard of service possible. It is crushing when I spend all those resources on a great employee and have to say goodbye after only a month or two. It hurts the team that has bonded with that person and has come to rely on him/her, and it hurts the pocket book because I have to start all over again--place the ad, sift through the applicants, interview, hire, train, integrate into the company culture. In my small business, bringing a new person on is like taking on a new family member, and it can be heartbreaking when they leave. It can also throw the company into a tailspin when an employee takes off for greener pastures--service can get interrupted, deadlines pushed back, etc.

So, when you are applying for that position that you are overqualified for, ask yourself if it's just to tide you over until your 'real' job comes open, or if you are truly committed to the team or company you are about to bond with. If you aren't committed, then keep looking for something more appropriate or at least be honest with that company. Some companies may not care because they just want a seasonal hire anyway.

About the only answer that I'm okay with is, "I did not enjoy the career field I was in or the level I had reached (better not be because of sour grapes...hate those stories too). I have a passion for cleaning, and really want to work for your company because of X, Y, and Z." And then expect some follow up questions about how passionate you are and where, specifically, your passions lie!

I think it's a good point to mention that if you're consistantly being told that, then maybe you need to revise your job search. You might ask "what job do you see me being successful in with this company?" Often times being over-qualified means that the company has a payroll budget for the advertised job. If you come in with skills beyond what are required, then they have to pay you commensurate with experience and education. So I guess it's a good thing because it serves to help you refocus your efforts.

Don't confuse training with experience. As a previous hiring manager, I focused on experience more than formal training. After all, most "training" is based on theory and the basics.... An individual can go to the rifle range a hundred times and score marksmanship each time but when you put them in a real firefight, does their training mean they are qualified for the task or that they will peform with the same proficiency? If given a choice, I would choose experience!