When hiring a junior developer (or anyone, really), the attraction is the gleaming future potential of a person. So, if you want to get hired, you'll need to be

When hiring a junior developer (or anyone, really), the attraction is the gleaming future potential of a person. So, if you want to get hired, you'll need to be projecting an exciting upward trajectory no matter what. I think you'll find it unconvincing to say "yes, I've been at it for seven years, but look, I should be able to do your junior work at least, yes?" So you want to frame it differently. For example, provided this is true, you could emphasize that you've been the most senior person in your company, but that your company offered limited growth opportunities. Now you're just champing at the bit to work with people from whom you can learn and grow, and you're overflowing with energy to do so. Demonstrate why it's true, perhaps with examples of things you've been poking at on your own. Or something. You need your story to be true, and the above might not be. But you do need to have _a_ communicable story.