Over-qualification is sometimes cited as a reason for rejecting an applicant for a job. But to qualify means to reach a certain standard regardless of the amount by which that standard is surpassed. If someone holding a first-class honours degree is rejected for a job on the grounds that academic excellence is less important than, say, a caring attitude, this is not a case of over-qualification in one direction but of under-qualification in another. For this reason, applicants should not be rejected because they are over-qualified; any explanation for failure should always be in terms of shortcomings.