Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Understanding Perceived Overqualification: Expanding The Criterion Space, Establishing Drivers, And Developing A Model, Gregory Francis Fernandes

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

As applicants with more qualifications enter the workforce and managers reject individuals with more skills than a job requires, overqualification grows in importance to organizations. Perceived overqualification, or an individual’s self-perception as overqualified, is an under-researched topic, however. This dissertation outlines a theoretical model for understanding both how perceived overqualification develops and how it impacts outcomes. Results show that generalized self-efficacy and objective overqualification predict perceived overqualification. Furthermore, perceived overqualification affects state positive affect, job satisfaction, absenteeism, and self-esteem through justice perceptions. Implications for future research and practice are also detailed.