Was I discriminated for being overqualified or a 'history of compensation' success?

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I was just recently told that ."We are currently considering as a priority candidates that have a compensation history more in line with our requirements for the position"
I have been making about $30K more than this position, but (as the market and word has changed) I have lowered my expectations and am ok with this level of pay/responsibility as it is with a good company.
Questions:
1) Can they pass over me and tell me this? LEgally?
2) Am I being discriminated for making too much money?
3) Don't I have the option to take less money or readjust my life based on the market and/or current supply-demands?
4) While I do not (currently) work for this company, do I have to take this?

Any feedback is appreciated
 
Unfortunately there aren't any laws or acts that pertain to this type of "discrimination". You can be legally denied for a job for being "over qualified." As far as not giving you the option for even taking less money that is a different situation. You still probably won't be able to get anything done, basically they are telling you that, this is isn't the job for you and they don't expect you to take less but they are looking for people who haven't been offered more another job.

You may be able to talk to them because they could just be assuming you wouldn't take it. Let them know the pay cut is okay because of the wonderful company behind it.
 
Assuming you are in the USA, yes...this is entirely legal.

And yes, it is discrimination. Thing is, discrimination is legal in the US, and required in many circumstances.

In your situation, this is incredibly unfortunate. But from the company's standpoint, they are trying to find a candidate who will be the most qualified, and will stay the longest. A candidate who has been paid more in the past is likely over-qualified, and much more likely to bolt for a higher paying position as soon as one opens up.

So while you have the right to adjust, they have the right not to hire you. It is legal, and unfortunately...you do have to take it.

EDIT: Que Sera Sera...for a paralegal, that's a spectacular mis-statement...the "cannot discriminate for any reason" one, that is. Then why do they even do interviews? They discriminate against someone who is less qualified, right? Or they discriminate against someone who has committed a crime...or fails a drug test...or has bad credit...or has been fired...or simply isn't a good interviewee..

Not discriminating means they draw a name out of a hat. That's the only way. But the law says discrimination is legal, except in cases where it explicitly illegal (race,religion,sex et al).

Being over qualified is NOT a protected class.

Seriously, you should know this.
 
Your story is the same being told all over the place...."overqualified"...

Employers in this economy are low balling everyone who is qualified, and sometimes actively seeking the underqualified in order to keep payroll low.

Luckily I still have a job..."IS Manager"... but I still subscribe to job alerts, .... seems all of the "hits" I get, have unrealistic salaries listed for the qualifications they claim to be seeking. Example... Masters in computer science, development experience in more than one language.... offering 50K per year. These people know damn well that they are not seeking someone THAT qualified for 50k per year... it's a low ball offer to a giant pool of people seeking work.

Kind of makes me angry when I see it, because I know I could make 50k doing something that didn't take 4 years of my life for education and cost me thousands of dollars...

Can they do it legally ?...of course they can... they are the ones offering the job. Sucks but that's the way it goes...

This is why unions are springing up all over the place... because employers have the upper hand right now.
 
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