Q&A: Overcoming the Overqualified Hurdle as a Former Business Owner Seeking a New Role

Emily answers a listener named Dallas, a longtime tree company owner, who’s struggling to get traction applying for Chief of Staff roles after his business closed. She talks about being seen as overqualified, how to preempt concerns on a resume and in interviews, and ways to use founder experience as an advantage. Emily gives examples like using a simple explanation on LinkedIn and resumes, referencing candidates moving from CEO roles, and how to address the “overqualified” issue directly with hiring managers.Get in touch with Emily:Want help repositioning your founder experience for a Chief of Staff role? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here. Free Leadership Resources LinkedInWebsiteNewsletter Who Am I?If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.Time Stamps:00:25 Listener Question Setup01:22 Why You Seem Overqualified02:57 Resume and LinkedIn Reframe04:25 CFO Story Example05:57 Practice a Calm Talk Track06:53 Founder Experience as an Asset08:22 Family Business Dynamics09:44 Get Feedback and Target Fit11:52 Disarm Concerns and Wrap Up