Some of my clients have asked me if it makes sense to apply for a job they aren’t fully qualified for. Related: 5 Interview Secrets That Will Help You Beat The Competition While I won’t give you a straight yes or no answer – I’d like share some observations from my recruitment work and also my interview coaching practice. Firstly, don’t let a list of requirements on a job description to intimidate you, especially if it is a very long list. The list of requirements is often more of a wish list for the ideal candidate and that ideal candidate doesn’t always exist. Employers aren’t always looking for an exact match, but more for a skill set. Let’s suppose they are looking for an event planner who’s done some hospital foundation benefits, and you have experience running non profits fundraisers in the arts world – you’ll probably fit the bill quite well. You need to prove that your experience qualifies you to do the job you’re applying for. You do this by using specific examples throughout your resume and cover letter. Or, if you have the experience an employer is looking for, but just not quite enough, you can draw their attention to your positive track record that shows that you’re ready to take on more responsibilities. Also, if they are looking for specific skills, whether it is CRM software or Javascript or knowledge of languages, list them on your resume. Having said all that – if you don’t meet the minimum requirements, please don’t apply – you are wasting your time and you are wasting recruiters’ time. If you apply for something you are completely not qualified for, you won’t be remembered in a positive light. When I recruited for Expedia, I’d seen the same person apply for over 20 jobs within the company. Even if a job came up that this person would be suitable for, they just wouldn’t be considered a credible candidate. You should read the entire job description, do some research on the company, and use your sound judgment to decide if you want to apply or not. I get so many unsuitable applications that I sometimes wonder if the candidate has fully read the job description. Just to give you an example, I am currently looking for a digital Account Manager who speaks fluent German and this is one of the first requirements listed on a job description. Guess what? More than half of the people who’ve applied don’t speak German. Or, if I am looking for an experienced media sales person, even if you’ve been a sales super star in another industry, you most likely won’t be considered. You’re really going to have the best chances applying for jobs that you’re qualified for – you don’t have to be a perfect match, but you should be fairly close. When employers get a lot of applications from highly qualified candidates, there’s just no incentive for them to consider someone less qualified. Of course, there are degrees of qualified. If they want 10 years of experience and you have two years, this isn’t the job for you. But if they want 3-5 years of experience and you have two years, and you can write a really good cover letter and point to excellent achievements in those two years, I’d say go ahead and apply. Employers write their job descriptions in order to attract candidates who are a good match. If the ad says they’re looking for specific qualifications, do yourself a favor and don’t apply unless you have the experience they’re looking for. The idea is to put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. What should make them excited about hiring you or inviting you to an interview? That’s what needs to be reflected in your cover letter and your resume. If you can’t figure out why they should be excited about hiring you, then there’s no way you can expect them to figure it out — and that means you need to move on to a different opening, one where you can make a compelling case for yourself. I hope that you’ve found this useful – I’d love to hear your comments on what I’ve said below whether you agree or disagree. If you want to find out more about how recruiters read resumes, what mistakes I see candidates make that prevent them from getting hired and if you want to hear about my top interviewing techniques, sign up for my free 5-day ‘You’re HIRED!’ video course. And if you’re looking for my personal help with your career, please answer a few questions on www.TalkwithMargaret.com
Changing careers can be a stressful and daunting task that seems almost impossible at times. Whether it's not knowing what career path to take, what skills to leverage or lacking experience, changing careers isn't easy.
During our weekly live Office Hours on YouTube, two of our coaches, Ariella Coombs and J.T. O'Donnell, answer questions live from viewers related to their job search, career success, on the job situations and more.
We complied a simple list of what we find to be the most common questions our coaches get about career change. We hope you find this helpful.
Here are the answers to some common questions around changing careers...
If you saw our first video, you might have heard about the awkward situation one of our viewers, Diane submitted. She has recently worked with a co-worker on a group project. When it came time to present the project at a meeting, Diane let her co-worker present. While it went great, the co-worker proceed to take credit for nearly all of Diane's work. Frustrating to say the least!
In this week's episode of "Well This Happened", we want to know what you would do if your co-worker took credit for the work you did...right in front of your colleagues AND boss!
We want YOU to be the career coach and tell us which one is the RIGHT answer!
Think you know? Vote below, and stay tuned for later this week when we announce the right answer (and why the other ones are wrong).
If you saw our first video, you might have heard about the awkward situation one of our viewers, Cam submitted. He's been working at a job for awhile, but recently overheard a hiring manager making fun of a candidate with autism right after an interview-not only awkward, but VERY unprofessional!
During our weekly live Office Hours on our YouTube Channel, we get lots of questions lots of questions around interview prep and how to answer questions in the interview.
Here are just a few highlights from some of our recent episodes around prepping for job interviews:
During our weekly live Office Hours on our YouTube Channel, we get lots of questions lots of questions around recruiters and best practices on reaching out and working with them.
Here are just a few highlights from some of our recent episodes around recruiters:
In this week's episode of "Well This Happened", we want to know what you would do if witnessed a hiring manager at your organization making fun of a candidate who they had just interviewed who had autism.
We want YOU to be the career coach and tell us which one is the RIGHT answer!
Think you know? Vote below, and stay tuned for later this week when we announce the right answer (and why the other ones are wrong).
Does Your Employer Offer #PaternityLeave? Check Out These Great Companies For Working Dads
Starting a family is one of the biggest milestones in a person's life. It's in those first few months when a parent can really bond with their newborn and make lifelong memories. However, for some new dads, it can be difficult to juggle being a new parent while remaining dedicated to their career.
Fortunately, some companies have generous paternity leave policies that give new dads the ability to take time off of work to stay home with their child.
There are LOTS of questions around resume dos and don'ts. There's so much advice out there that it can be overwhelming to try and figure out what's the correct answer.
During our weekly live Office Hours on YouTube, two of our coaches, Ariella Coombs and J.T. O'Donnell, answer questions live from viewers related to their job search, career success, on the job situations and more.
We complied a simple list of what we find to be the most common questions our coaches get about resumes. We hope you find this helpful.
Let's start with the basics...
In this week's episode of "Well This Happened", we want to know what you would do if a recruiter called you a day EARLY for your phone interview (and you were NOT PREPARED!)
We want YOU to be the career coach and tell us which one is the RIGHT answer!
Think you know? Vote below, and stay tuned for later this week when we announce the right answer (and why the other ones are wrong).