Got fired for because I'm "over-qualified". What does that even mean?

[Anonymous]

My boss called me this Sunday night a few minutes ago (it is already way past 7 pm) to tell me I cannot come in to work tomorrow and he is terminating my employment contract with the company. He claims that my termination is due to the fact that he had just finished a conference with his accountant and I am deemed as being over qualified for my job and therefore they are letting me go, effective immediately. I know I have not worked with the company that long yet (only about a month) but when he hired me he wanted me to create an organizational structure for his firm which included licensures, accounting, procedural organization, as well as managing properties from his other businesses. I just finished most of those tasks and was fine tuning some other things and now this? What in hell does “over qualification” even mean.

[abundantlyrich]

They say that because you did what specifically they require - the initial set up of the system, organise everything in its rightful place and the admin stuff because they didn't get time to do it or know how to.

The next reason, is that this company may be a male run culture, preferring only males to be in charge at the top levels, where the insights in decision making and know hows are considered trade secrets.

The final reason could be you do not fit with in their company culture for whatever reasons. It has nothing to do with your skills.

[RedSmartie]

He probably thinks you will eventually start do demand higher pay, promotions, and better conditions because of your qualifications. He didn't want to get used to using you as a crutch when that day comes because it would be hard to afford your requests and also hard to deal with you leaving when he didn't adhere to them.

[vickonator]

everyone on here is wrong except for me! my brother was a genius, and so was my dad, and they both got fired for being too "high standard" ... I can relate to this question

[jacquesvol]

Welcome to the pleasures of corporate life...

He didn't say it but he hired you to do one job: " to create an organizational structure for his firm which included licensures, accounting, procedural organization, as well as managing properties from his other businesses. "

The job is done, you're no longer needed and too expensive. He'll manage the properties himself or get it done by someone he pays less, in the structure you did put in place.

[TheGoodTheBadTheHOT]

Ask him to clarify what he means by it. He's the one that will know best, even then it might just be political jargon to try make the termination justifiable when instead its because you're either costing him too much or he can find someone 'less qualified' to do it cheaper.

If you think its unfair you can always have a lawyer look over the employment contract to see if it is an unlawful termination.

[aMuse]

It means that they think your salary is too high. They are cutting back. You've done the difficult work they needed your skills for. Now that you have accomplished those tasks, they can't justify keeping you around for what they are paying you. Likely they don't see where your skill set would fit in now. They think they will have to put you on some other sort of work they could hire someone with less education and experience to do for a lot less money.

[Konnour]

That's the most bullsh*t excuse I've eve heard - here employers may ask you for Bachelor's degree even for entry-level jobs, it's sheer insanity!

I agree with the other points though, it looks like you got used or/and they don't want to pay you wages which are appropriate for your qualification - business people are greedy bastards - welcome to the capitalist regime!

[josesmaf]

I've never heard of being fired for being overqualified. People get bumped in application processes for that all the time. I always thought that once you're hired, that doesn't come into play. Check out your contract. See if that was an acceptable ground for termination.

[Anonymous]

call HR & ask to have it explained. there are too many possibilities to say without knowing everything. something seems odd about it though...

never heard of being fired for being overqualified but have had it happen where I & people I know were overqualified to even get an entry level job.

[vickonator]

it means that this guy thinks that you could be really successful he thinks you could get an amazing job

[Konnour]

It's really amazing to be so good that you're too good for anything!

[Yan813]

Exact the same thing that happened to me just today. Don't worry, we have to feel good that we just can't afford to lower our standards to work with poor people/environment. I feel you

[Anonymous]

They don't have the money to pay you, so they're letting you go

[PsychadelicSmokey]

You got used.

[nermalinda]

this. they just wanted you to do that stuff then let you go. they didn't want to spend any more money than they had to.