我常常覺得「妳太資深了」聽起來很刺耳。
大多時候都是從那種不知道要怎麼拒絕你的主管在講的。
因為你夠資深所以應該可以立刻上手。但也因為你夠資深所以他可能壓不住你。
老實說，那不是稱讚，是逃避。
因為他不敢面對一個比他懂、比他快、比他真的會做事的人。
我這些年來看多了。
很多公司嘴上都說想找「能主導、能推動、能帶領」的人。
但真有人進來會主導、會推動、會帶領的時候， 他們就開始緊張：「這個人是不是太強了？」
講白了，就是怕。
怕自己被比下去，怕自己的無能被照出來。
有一次我面試到 VP 那關。
結果那個人整場都盯著螢幕抓頭，在看文件、卡詞、想問題， 最後擠出一句：「妳怎麼定義成長？你覺得我們公司接下來的成長模式是什麼？」
我心裡只想說：「你先定義一下這職缺到底在幹嘛好嗎？」
那一刻我突然頓悟： 問題不是我太資深， 是我坐在一個根本不該 (不夠資格) 面試我的人對面。
「太資深」這三個字，根本就是「我沒辦法 handle 妳」的禮貌說法。
他們不是怕妳不 fit， 是怕妳一進來就讓他們顯得多餘。
別再替他們找藉口了。
這世界上沒有「太資深」， 只有「太有威脅感」。
Overqualified, or Just Misunderstood? (a.k.a. “You’re not too senior — they’re just too insecure.”)
You know that line: “We think you might be overqualified for this role.”
Translation? “You make us nervous because you actually know what you’re doing.”
Let’s be real, “overqualified” is the corporate equivalent of “it’s not you, it’s me.”
Except this time, it really is them.
I’ve been through enough interviews to see the pattern: they say they want senior people who can “own, drive, and lead”…
But what they actually mean is: “Please fix everything quietly, never challenge us, and definitely don’t be smarter than your future boss.”
Sometimes you get lucky – you make it to the VP/CEO round.
You join the call, they look important, speak in circles, and ask questions like:
“How do you define… growth?” while clearly they should really figure out what this role’s R&R first.
And that’s the moment you realize: you’re not overqualified.
You’re just sitting across from someone who should be reporting to you.
They’re not intimidated by your experience, they’re terrified of their own lack of it.
Companies love to say they want “impact,” “ownership,” and “strategic vision.”
Until someone walks in who actually brings all three.
Then suddenly, it’s “too senior,” “too experienced,” or “not the right fit.”
Let’s stop pretending this is about qualifications.
It’s about comfort zones.
And nothing scares mediocrity more than competence.