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Article
Overqualification Theory, Research, and Practice: Things That Matter
Industrial & Organizational Psychology (2011)
  • Talya N. Bauer, Portland State University
  • Berrin Erdogan, Portland State University
  • José María Peiró, University of Valencia
  • Donald M. Truxillo, Portland State University
Abstract

In our focal article, we contended that overqualified employees may present unique advantages to hiring organizations and that decisions regarding overqualified employees should be made considering the strengths as well as potential limitations of employing overqualified employees. In this response to commentaries on our original article, we identify distinctions researchers should pay attention to. Specifically, measurement of overqualification (whether objective or subjective measures are used), dimension of overqualification in question (overeducation, being overskilled, overintelligence, or overexperience), when and from whose perspective overqualification is assessed (before or after employment), whether overqualification occurs within the context of other overqualified employees, the degree of choice available to the job applicant in becoming overqualified, as well as the specific nature of the population being affected by overqualification are important issues that affect the theory as well as management of overqualification.

Publication Date
June, 2011
Publisher Statement
Copyright 2011 Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Citation Information
Talya N. Bauer, Berrin Erdogan, José María Peiró and Donald M. Truxillo. "Overqualification Theory, Research, and Practice: Things That Matter" Industrial & Organizational Psychology Vol. 4 Iss. 2 (2011)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/talya_bauer/19/