On Monday, the Maplewood/South Orange Professionals in Transition welcomed Abby Kohut to the Maplewood Memorial Library. Known as ‘Absolutely Abby,’ Kohut has helped many job seekers with her advice in books and on her website.

Kohut’s topic of discussion this time was the advantages (and disadvantages) of being deemed ‘overqualified’ when applying for a job. In a poor job market, many job seekers are applying for jobs that may be beneath their skill set. Being overqualified is a danger that these seekers face.

Kohut explained that employers are concerned about hiring the overqualified for a multitude of reasons. Among them are dealing with a bored employee, the possibility that the employee will expect a promotion sooner, or that the employee will expect a higher salary. 

Kohut said that job seekers should convince employers that they are not ‘overqualified’ but in fact ‘absolutely qualified.’  She explained that being ‘absolutely qualified’ can mean that a potential hire has a shorter learning curve, broader range of experience and a proven track record of success. 

Kohut taught the attendees of the seminar, about 30 in total, how to build a proper resume and deliver a proper interview. She explained that just getting an interview means that a job seeker has a foot in the door. She also has the answer if the job seeker is asked, “Do you feel you are overqualified for this job?”

“You can see that I’ve worked at a higher level before, but this position is exactly what I am looking for,” Kohut coached the attendees to say.  

She said that the interviewee should follow that sentence with reasons why a job seeker wants the job they are applying for. 

Kohut is the author of the book 101 Job Search Secrets. She was invited to speak to the Maplewood/South Orange Professionals in Transition by Raymond Helfrich, a co-steering-/administrative committee member for the group. 

"I first met ‘Absolutely Abby’ Kohut at the Job Seekers of Montclair group. I’ve attended several other meetings at which she’s spoken, and I bought her book when it was first published, in her quest to help one million jobseekers,” Helfrich wrote in an e-mail to Patch following the meeting. “At my request and coordination, she’s now come to the Maplewood group twice. I’m glad that we had 30 people there today. She’s one of the best, most well-rounded professionals, understanding all the facets of employment, e.g., cover letters, resumes, interviews, thank you letters, negotiations; recruiting, hiring and firing, etc. She’s been on all sides of the human resources ‘table,’ and is the most polished and the most flexible.”

Professionals in Transition is a support and networking group for unemployed individuals in many diverse fields including those formerly in finance, computer programming, marketing, human resources, restaurant management, and graphic design, legal and scientific. Their final two meetings of 2011 are on Monday, November 28 and Monday, December 12.  Both sessions start at 10:15 a.m. and are in the Memorial Hall of the Maplewood Memorial Library Main Branch on Baker Street.

The November 28 session will feature employment lawyer Ken Wallach, who will be speaking to the group on their rights as employees, and the types of severance to which they are entitled.  December 12 is the group’s annual holiday party.  It is a session of open networking.  It will include a "pot-luck" breakfast with attendees asked to bring a favorite item they have to share with others.