University Graduate Denied Serving Job Due to Being Overqualified

Many job seekers are struggling even to land minimum wage jobs because their resumes show they’re overqualified.

A university graduate has gone viral after revealing that she was rejected for a restaurant server job despite holding a bachelor's degree and previous restaurant experience. The 22-year-old posts on TikTok under the username @lliivvyyyyyyyyyy. She shared her experience in a video that gained more than 200,000 views. “If anyone out there is getting denied by jobs, just to feel a little bit better, I just got denied by a serving job in a restaurant with a bachelor’s degree and I’ve actually worked in two restaurants for ‘no experience,'” she said. The woman explained that she has been trying to move forward in her chosen career but has struggled to secure even an entry-level work. “I’m trying to move in my career and placement jobs won’t hire me,” the job seeker added. Her video was relatable for hundreds of people who said they were facing similar problems despite having professional qualifications. One user commented: "Oh you’re overqualified.’ god forbid someone wants a job while pursuing a master’s or while they are taking steps to pursue their career.” Several users suggested that being overqualified may actually be hurting applicants' chances of landing jobs.

The conversation comes at a time when many job seekers say they are resorting to unconventional tactics to navigate a difficult employment market. In a separate example shared on Reddit, one applicant described using silence as a negotiating strategy after receiving a job offer that fell well below expectations. After hearing the proposed salary, the applicant said nothing for 30 seconds. “It was probably the most uncomfortable half-minute of my professional life,” the Reddit user wrote. “I just sat there staring at my wall and waiting.” The silence eventually prompted the recruiter to revisit the offer. “Ten minutes later she called me back with an extra $12,000 and a signing bonus. It was like the money just spawned out of thin air the moment I stopped talking,” the applicant wrote. Reflecting on the experience, the user added: “It is a game of chicken and the person who talks first usually loses.”