Is Dumbing Down Your Resume a Good Idea?

When you're overqualified for a job, it's tough to know how to create a resume that brings all of your skills to the table without looking like you know too much. Why wouldn't you want to know too much? Because some employers fear that you're only applying for the position because you're desperate for a job - and when you find something better, you'll move on.

Knowing how to create the right resume in this situation is something many job seekers hire resume writers for, especially when trying to decide whether to dumb down the resume for the job. Before you decide to leave some things out of yours, let's look at what you could gain or lose from dumbing down your resume.

Dumbing Down Your Resume Offers Benefits

Sometimes, dumbing down your resume can be beneficial to your job search if you're applying for work that falls below your level of expertise. One reason is that employers don't have to feel intimidated by the level of knowledge you have or the thought that you might try to catch the next train chugging to a better job as soon as you have the chance.

Also, omitting some details really doesn't hurt your job search. Usually, the title of your previous position will give some clues away, but if you omit some details that will make you clearly look too qualified for the job, it shouldn't hurt your chances of being hired.

How Dumbing Down Your Resume Could Hurt You

There are a few ways the choosing to omit important information could hurt your chances of employment. One, if you choose to omit too much important information, or try to alter some of your job description, it could look as though you're providing false information. So be very careful about what you choose to add and keep off of the resume.

Also, some employers are looking for people are have more qualifications than what the position calls for. So if you dumb down your resume, you could actually be doing yourself a disservice.

It's not always easier to know how to write a resume when you know you are more qualified than the position you're applying for. So take your time, really think about why you're applying for the job and whether you really want this position. If you do then it's good to find a delicate balance in the details you include so that you don't look too overqualified but also don't give false information.