Have you ever been dubbed as overqualified? What that really means...

Being referred to as overqualified may sound like a compliment – but that’s not always the case...

According to Dave Fecak, founder of the recruiting company Fecak Inc, being told your overqualified almost always means something else. Here are some of the likely hidden meanings:

• You’re overpaid: If you have more experience than they need, your salary is probably above their budget. 

• You’re stagnant: Candidates who have worked for many years in a regulated environment often don't thrive in a less regulated, more diverse firm. The conventional wisdom, right or wrong, is that you can't release the zoo lions back into the jungle once they've been tamed.

• You’re a threat: If you’re more experienced than those conducting the interviews, their fear-factor goes up.

Dave says terms like ‘overqualified' and ‘not a fit' are the laziest and safest ways for companies to reject you. If you can determine what the real reason is, it might help you tweak your resume or change your interview approach accordingly.