I shouldn’t find it amusing, but I do. I was talking to a prospect about working on a project that would have let me work remotely from my Las Vegas office. Alas, the prospect spoke with me, asked me about my work experience, and told me I was over-qualified and I’d be bored doing the work needed so the interview was over.

Of course, they could simply have hated me. I’d have expected the more general “You don’t sound like a good fit” then. It’s even possible they thought I was lying and didn’t want to be confrontational and say “I don’t believe you did what you said.”

However, I’ll give the person the benefit of the doubt. They truly believe I’m over-qualified and would be bored programming for them.

What do I do? I write software for a living. Anyone who writes software knows that coding is fundamentally about stating something in terms so simple that even the machine can follow them. Essentially, it’s pretty boring for most people.

However, for people who write software, coding is enjoyable. I can’t imagine how torturous it would be to be forced into coding and hating it. I don’t hate it … I love it!

Now, a valid concern for employers is investing in a new hire and have them stay only a few months, using them as a stepping stone to a better job.

Contractors work for themselves, so they can’t get a better job. They need to satisfy clients. You don’t step over clients, you seek referrals from them!

I have been on some projects for years, when I work remotely.

Going on-site full-time, I do burn out, which is why I put end-dates for those projects in the contract.

In general, so long as my rates are being met and the customer’s team behaves well I’d rather code than seek a different gig.

I’d much rather code in my offices than someone else’s offices, because I have better equipment then any customer I’ve ever had. Bar none. I make very good money; I pour that into making sure my work equipment is the best. Just like any other craftsman — I seek the best tools. You don’t see professional musicians with crappy instruments. Same for me.

I find it all amusing because now that prospect will consciously pick someone with less abilities because they fear picking someone with more abilities.

Truly skilled leaders always seek to find the best — I wonder what one calls those who reject those for being “too good”? Perhaps “Less skilled leaders?”

Keep the Light!