4 Tips to Positively Present a Step Back in Your Career

4 Tips to Positively Present a Step Back in Your Career4 Tips to Positively Present a Step Back in Your CareerPeople often speak about climbing a career ladder. Truth be told, however, paths dont always involve constant ascension. Workers sometimes make a sideways move or change routes altogether. They may even take a step backwards. And while this movement may be logical or preferable, employers dont always see it that way. The burden then falls on the applicant to explain the choice. Be ready to make your case for why you want to take a step back in your career and land a job for which you may seem overqualified.Here are four strategies to explain why you want to take a step back in your career1. Discuss the benefits of this opportunity.Title and salary may be important, but they certainly arent the only factors people consider when taking a job. Think about ways this position meets other needs. Perhaps this company would enable a better work-life balance by shortening your drive o r allowing some telecommuting. Maybe youre passionate about the companys mission or want to experience the excitement of growing with a startup. Articulate these reasons during the interview.2. Focus on the challenges.Employers realize the connection between engagement and productivity, so expect to be hit with questions such as, Wont you get bored in this job? and Are you concerned this might be a step back in your career? Vicky Oliver, author of 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions and 301 Smart Answers to Tough Business Etiquette Questions, suggests stating reasons why the job would actually be a step forward. Talk about what you want to learn from it and the specific challenges youre excited about facing.Always remember that the interviewer is voicing only what she thinks, Oliver says. She feels it may be a step backward, but you dont. Youd be thrilled to take the job.3. Ease concerns over leaving.Employers also worry that an overqualified candidate will quit once a be tter opportunity comes along, so be ready to dispel fears.Its good if you can say why you value loyalty in others and are therefore loyal yourself, Oliver says. If you have a particular anecdote you can tell thats germane, do it. Maybe someone who worked for you bolted the second she was trained and you felt spurned. Maybe you have a very long track record somewhere you can point to. Always try to pepper your answers with real-life case examples.4. Address your fit.Finally, consider spelling out how your previous experience and background have led you to this position. Perhaps time as a manager left you longing to go back to performing tasks rather than overseeing others doing them. Maybe youve taken time off to raise children or pursue an interest and would feel mora comfortable re-entering the workforce at this level despite your advanced degree. Candidates who know themselves well convey confidence that employers cant help appreciating.Find more job search tips hereReaders, how h ave you explained wanting to take a step back in your career? What tips do you have for others looking for the same opportunity? Share with us below