overqualified

American  

[oh-ver-kwol-uh-fahyd] / ˈoʊ vərˈkwɒl əˌfaɪd /

adjective

1. having more education, training, or experience than is required for a job or position.

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overqualified British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈkwɒlɪˌfaɪd /

adjective

1. having more managerial experience or academic qualifications than required for a particular job

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Etymology

Origin of overqualified

First recorded in 1950–55; over- + qualified

Example Sentences

Gen Z women participate in the workforce at higher rates than their male counterparts, and often accept jobs they’re overqualified for rather than not working.

From Salon • Nov. 21, 2025

Employers’ concerns about overqualified job applicants are understandable but can be unwarranted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

Gilchrist scored 17 Test hundreds as he switched between a destroyer of tiring attacks to a man overqualified for a rebuild from number seven when the great Australian top order did fail.

From BBC • Jul. 4, 2025

Most working immigrants, 68% of those surveyed, said they feel they have the right qualifications for their job, but about a quarter said they feel overqualified, having more skills and education than their job requires.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2023

I had been vain enough to worry about coming across as too educated for the jobs I sought, but no one even seems interested in finding out how overqualified I am.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich