Do you avoid hiring overqualified applicants because you believe they will just up and leave at the first opportunity? The truth is just the opposite. The more qualified the applicant, the longer he is likely to stay on the job.

A recent study conducted by the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, shows that overqualified job applicants stick around much longer in lower-tiered jobs as they get to spend more time with family or save their brain power for other creative endeavors.

We may assume that many people don't want to work in jobs that are beneath them, but this is normally a lifestyle or health choice on the part of the applicant. These people tend to perform above the average, and some even plan to climb the corporate ladder in the organization.

When interviewing an overqualified applicant, probe further and ask open-ended questions to find out their reasons for wanting a lower-tiered job, instead of automatically disqualifying them. Are they interested in the company's mission? Find out what motivates them both inside and outside of work to see if the job matches their objectives.

If you are applying for a job that you are overqualified for, showcase your skills and how it can benefit the company. This would enable the interviewer to overlook the fact that you are too qualified.

Have you hired an overqualified applicant recently? Do share your experience with us.