Case Study – Rejection is Redirection: How Being ‘Overqualified’ Worked in Abdirahman’s Favour
Abdirahman is a Multi-Skilled Service Partner (MSSP) Facilities Operative with JLL, based in the Meta Building at King’s Cross. Just months before starting the role, he was a recent engineering graduate struggling to secure the kind of work he wanted. This case study shares how a single information session at KX Recruit sparked a “eureka moment” that led to an unexpected opportunity and how being labelled “overqualified” ended up opening the perfect door.
Fresh from graduating in Engineering, the job market had been tougher than expected. “I was having difficulty landing the roles I wanted,” he remembers. “It was a bit of a frustrating time.”
With no luck from his applications, Abdirahman went onto Universal Credit and asked the local council for help. They referred him to Spear, a charity supporting young people into work. After completing Spear’s six-week employability programme, Abdirahman was introduced to a security company called Ward. His application was accepted and training began but a delay in contacting one of his previous employers meant the role was stuck in limbo. “I could see it was taking a while and I didn’t want to just sit around,” he says. “So I got back in touch with Spear and they added me to their weekly job newsletter.”
A Job Ad That Stood Out
In the very first newsletter Abdirahman received, a position jumped out: a Facilities Operative Internship through KX Recruit. “I had no clue what it would entail,” Abdirahman admits, “but something about it caught my interest. I thought, why not apply?”
Instead of applying blind, he decided to attend the upcoming information session delivered by the JLL team at KX Recruit’s office. “I wanted to hear about the role directly from the people hiring, so I could really understand what it involved.” That decision turned out to be pivotal.
The Eureka Moment
At the session, Abdirahman met Ben and Samira from Meta & JLL. They explained what the role involved and the skills it required.
“Everything they said related to something I’d done before,” he recalls. “People management? I’d had that working in Primark and in security. Responding quickly to emergencies? I’d done that in my job at the hospital, dealing with urgent situations. Almost every point they made hit close to home for me. I thought to myself – I can do this.”
That was the turning point. “That event for me was very much like a eureka moment.”
He also enjoyed the format of the session, which included time to speak to the presenters one-on-one. “It was a nice office, the team were really welcoming, and I got all the information I could have wanted.”
Making His Application Stand Out
At the end of the session, Abdirahman asked Samira how to make his application stand out. Her advice was simple: send a short video alongside the CV.
“With about 30 people at the session, most of them 10 years older than me, I thought I didn’t stand a chance. That’s what pushed me to as for advice and to do the video. I wanted them to remember me.”
Two weeks after sending his application Niamh from KX Recruit gave Adbirahman a call. “She told me I’d been unsuccessful because I was overqualified – I’d never even heard of that before!” he laughs. “But then she followed by saying the JLL team liked me and wanted to offer me a different position as maternity cover. I thought that was amazing.”
Starting as a MSSP Facilities Operative
The role was MSSP (Multi-Skilled Service Partner) Facilities Operative, based in the Meta Building. Similar to the original internship position, it involved a mix of planned and reactive tasks, but with more structure and responsibility.
“A typical day starts with floor walks,” Abdirahman explains. “I check each floor I’m responsible for to make sure everything’s in place, nothing’s damaged, and supplies are restocked. Then I have breakfast provided by Meta, which is a huge perk. After that, I do my admin tasks like logging tickets, closing work orders, and ordering POs. The rest of the day can be anything: helping with events, assisting colleagues, or responding to urgent issues.”
No two days are the same. “In my first week, a pipe burst in the office. I was on my feet all day trying to resolve it. Other days are much calmer but you have to be ready for anything.”
Settling Into Corporate Life
“This is my first corporate job, and it’s very different to working in hospitals or security. At first, I was a fish out of water. But my manager, Kieran, really took that into account. Before meetings, he’d give me a heads-up about who’d be there, what to expect, and anything I needed to keep in mind. He’s more than a manager – he’s a mentor, and I know he’s got my back.”
The location is another bonus. “I’m from King’s Cross, so it’s literally a few minutes’ walk to work. The estate is a great place to be, I come back on weekends with my sisters to enjoy the events.”
Support From the KX Recruit Team
Looking back, Abdirahman credits KX Recruit’s personal approach for making the whole process feel manageable.
“When you’re a graduate applying for jobs, it can be really draining. You’re sending applications into a void and getting automated responses. With KX Recruit, I could call Niamh anytime. She kept me updated, reassured me, and made it feel human. That kept me motivated and calm.”
Advice for Others
Abdirahman says his journey has taught him to be open-minded about career paths.
“I hadn’t done facilities before, but so many of my skills transferred over. If you don’t know what you want to do, or can’t get into your preferred industry straight away, just take a look at what is out there and attend events like the information session I went to. Facilities is worth considering – you meet people from all departments, learn on the job, and open doors to other opportunities.”
Whether you’re just starting out, changing direction, or looking for your next challenge, KX Recruit can help you find a role that matches your skills and ambitions. Explore our latest vacancies on our Jobs Page or get in touch with our team.
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