Being Overqualified vs. Staying Relevant In Your Career: What's The Difference?

Popular Being Overqualified vs. Staying Relevant In Your Career: What's The Difference? J.T. O'Donnell January 31, 2022 {"adCodes": [{"desktop": "", "display": true, "mobile": "", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664203608/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 0, "tablet": ""}, {"desktop": "", "display": true, "mobile": "", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664203608/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 1, "tablet": ""}, {"display": true, "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664203608/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 2}], "adsOrder": [2]} I always talk about the importance of staying relevant in your career. But for professionals, being overqualified in a competive job market is a real concern. So, let's clarify the difference between staying relevant in your career and becoming overqualified.

Here's An Example... @j.t.odonnell Reply to @deannaranger Being overqualified vs. staying relevant in your #career #ShareTheMagic #EduTok #learnontiktok #careertiktok #careeradvice #c ♬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

To best explain the difference between staying relevant and being overqualified, I'm going to give you an example.

Imagine you decided to become a digital marketer back when Facebook was created. You got really good at hacking Facebook advertising and everybody came to you for that skill and you got hired by a company to do their Facebook advertising. Then, as Facebook got bigger and bigger, you continued to focus on how to use Facebook to help the company make money. But during that time, Instagram comes along, and all of a sudden you can't make the kind of money you made on Facebook. Marketing campaigns don't work anymore. The market is oversaturated. So, what does your company do? They let you go because they don't want to spend that kind of money on Facebook anymore, and they hire somebody who knows what they're doing on Instagram.

That is where you became overqualified and didn't stay relevant.

Now, the person who was hired to advertise on Instagram starts learning everything they need to about Instagram. Instagram gets really, really big, and suddenly they can't compete with competitors on that platform. So the company lets them go because now they've hired somebody to spend money on TikTok advertising.

This is what happens when you don't stay relevant by developing skills in your career. You become overqualified for skills that are irrelevant and no longer in high demand.

Staying relevant is about knowing when you need to diversify your expertise, when you need to slightly pivot in another direction to stay relevant in your marketplace. It's about having the tools and experience needed to do the cutting-edge stuff. If you don't continuously work on staying relevant in your career, you risk becoming overqualified for one skill set, and without more to offer companies, they won't want to pay you the salary you think you deserve.

The Bottom Line

Too many people get comfortable in a job, especially when their company keeps giving them money to do that job well. Your company is giving you money to keep you there for as long as they need you. But one day you're going to wake up and your skill set will no longer be relevant.

Every job is temporary. You are a commodity. The market is saturated with people like you, and you don't want to be viewed as being overpaid for what you provide. This happens every single day in business, so you cannot continue to focus your expertise in one area and keep making a bigger and bigger paycheck and think it's going to stay that way. You have to stay relevant. Otherwise, you will wake up one day and be overqualified.

If you need help staying relevant in your career and effectively marketing your skills to employers, you've come to the right place.

Sign up for a Work It Daily membership today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!

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career growth {"customDimensions": {"1":"J.T. O'Donnell","3":"career growth, staying relevant, overqualified, how to stay relevant, career, career advice, professionals, career tips, ~popular_source-pageview, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29206087, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29206094","4":"01/31/2022"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 370480899, 473333499, 376489624, 479660731, 473310813], "buckets": [], "authors": [19549412]} } Get Some LeverageSign up for The Work It Daily NewsletterEnter emailSubscribeFollow window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_multiplex', ['fluid'], 'wit_multiplex').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display('wit_multiplex'); }); Advertising The Benefits Of Slowing Down Dawn Snodgrass January 31, 2022

I was recently on a group call and one of the designers chirped that she churns out a new website for her clients every other day. I was blown away. Just floored. That is a LOT of work to get done in two workdays. And that included a logo! I have been doing this for quite a while and I started to wonder am I a dinosaur unable to keep up with kids fresh out of school? Is this where it is all headed? I had a lot of questions. What was she using to get all of this done so quickly? Are there new tools I just don't know about yet? So. Many. Questions.

Upon further investigation and a round of 21 questions, I discovered that pretty much every aspect of our businesses is totally different. Neither one was better or worse, just very different. For starters, our clientele is 100% completely different, as is our process, pricing, even our client experiences. My clients have established businesses that have been around for a few years. They are looking to invest in and level up their branding to something bespoke and completely custom. Meanwhile, her clients were mostly in their mid-20s and just getting started with a small business. Their primary need was the basic nuts and bolts to get up and running; they didn't care about custom icons or a style guide or even if there was a strategy behind it all. And THAT is one of the things I both love and hate about the design business.

You can't always compare apples to apples, so it is important to find the branding (and hopefully strategy) person that will suit your needs and not just go on price. If you requested a quote from both of us you might be very surprised at the price difference. My branding and strategy packages start at 10K and take 2-3 months vs. her packages start at $800 include website and logo, done in 2 days. All that said to illustrate that there are lots of ways to get to the destination… but like I said, I am taking the scenic route because I know the benefits of slowing down.

You Get To Sit With It For A WhilePhoto by Green Chameleon on Unsplash

My process for branding and strategy starts with research and discovery. At this point, I am learning everything I can about my client's goals, vision for their brand, and what their ideal customer looks like. I am looking for interesting details of the founder's journey that can help tell a meaningful story to their customers. Having a longer process allows me to dig a bit deeper in the research phase, and marinate a bit longer with that information. The end result of all that cook time is that when I distill that information down into their brand strategy, it is filled with meaningful information and useful details. This strategy is the foundation for the design work. So clients know that every design decision we make together is rooted in strategy.

A Client-Friendly TimelinePhoto by KOBU Agency on Unsplash

Brand strategy (and most client projects) rely heavily on client feedback and information. If you work with smaller businesses like I tend to do, the person guiding those decisions, and providing feedback, is often also very busy running the business. A longer timeline allows them the time they need to really reflect on their answers and make sure they have time to digest our work together—we don't want to rush something as important as branding. The longer timeline allows for an immersive process that feels more luxe and client focused. Additionally, I think involving the client more allows them to appreciate and really see the value in the process.

Getting DetailedPhoto by Sven Mieke on Unsplash

I look at branding as a significant investment, much more than just a logo. I take a holistic approach to the process. My clients understand that I am not working on multiple client branding simultaneously. I work on one branding project at a time, and my price reflects that one-on-one service. The end result is grounded in strategy and built to be flexible enough to use for years to come. It is a comprehensive brand guide, and the specific pieces of collateral that will make the most impact for their business. And then, I even show clients how to use all of the elements at their disposal. Including how to relaunch the brand with their new look. A few months sounds long, but clients seem to truly appreciate not rushing through the process.

While my "slow" process may not be for everyone, I think it highlights the importance of right-fitting when choosing a branding professional to work with. When in doubt ask about their process. Working with the right designer for you can be the difference between a frustrating situation or an amazing brand identity to grow your business with.

Read more Show less {"customDimensions": {"1":"Executive Community, Dawn Snodgrass","3":"brand strategy, brand value, client experience, holistic approach, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29108040, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29108352, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29108415, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29108447","4":"01/31/2022"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [544398560, 0, 473333499, 544324100, 549857101, 544398583, 479660731], "buckets": [], "authors": [21030904, 21080595]} } Featured The Benefits Of Slowing Down {"customDimensions": {"1":"Executive Community, Dawn Snodgrass","3":"brand strategy, brand value, client experience, holistic approach, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29108040, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29108352, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29108415, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29108447","4":"01/31/2022"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [544398560, 0, 473333499, 544324100, 549857101, 544398583, 479660731], "buckets": [], "authors": [21030904, 21080595]} } Now Hiring: Remote SysOps Engineer {"customDimensions": {"1":"Work It Daily, Kinsta \u00ae","3":"kinsta, hiring, remote jobs, remote work, remote workforce, remote companies hiring, remote companies 2021, sysops engineer, sysops engineer jobs, ~popular_source-pageview","4":"05/18/2021"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [370480899, 545998439, 545998440, 376489962, 473333499, 526353713, 545658354, 548352055, 548352058, 543270555, 473310812, 473310813], "buckets": [], "authors": [19548593, 21891195]} } 3 Important Career Lessons Learned On And Off The Field {"customDimensions": {"1":"Executive Community, J.T. O'Donnell","3":"career change, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, career, career challenges, overcoming career challenges, personal branding, personal development, professional development, professional growth, success, career success, pro athletes, tom brady, chris gronkowski, nfl, tiktok, social media strategy, social media, career growth","4":"02/10/2021"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 370480899, 479660731, 376489962, 526353713, 376489624, 473333499], "buckets": [], "authors": [21030904, 19549412]} } How Ex-NFL Player, Chris Gronkowski, Is Using Social Media To Change Careers {"customDimensions": {"1":"Executive Community, J.T. O'Donnell","3":"2010, Barstool, camera phone, career growth and development, career growth opportunities, chrisgronkowski, cowboys, dallascowboys, dinner, football, free, gronkspike, iceshaker, investor, nfl, nflfootball, nflplayer, nflplayers, nflworkout, payday, rookie, salary, sharing, sharktank, tic toc, tic tok, tick tock, ticktock, tictok, tik tok, tiktok, tiktok.com, trade, trainingcamp, upload, video, video phone, weighin, youtube.com, ~popular_source-pageview, \u0442\u0438\u043a \u0442\u043e\u043a, \u30c6\u30a3\u30c3\u30af\u30c8\u30c3\u30af, chris gronkowski","4":"01/29/2021"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 370480899, 473333499, 526353713, 376489624, 479660731], "buckets": [], "authors": [21030904, 19549412]} }