Don’t Meet All of the Job Requirements? Still Land the Interview
I see it time and time again. Someone I know is looking for a job, and they pass on applying to an exciting role because they only meet a certain percentage of the requirements. This is arguably one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make.
If you believe that you can do the job and feel you are a good match, you should apply to the role. Recruiters and hiring managers write out job descriptions for their perfect candidate. If you can show you have the right foundational skills plus an exceptional aptitude to grow, then specific requirements can go from “must-have” to “ideal but not required.”
Follow Your Gut.
After reading through the entirety of the job description, what is your initial gut check? Do you feel excited or nervous about the role? That will tell you right then and there if it is worth something pursuing. Passion trumps everything.
Figure Out the Non-Negotiables.
When hiring managers put together job descriptions, they are a wish list. I always say if you meet 70% of the requirements, apply. Unless the hard and fast requirements are significantly out of your purview, there is still room for interpretation during the interview process.
Highlight Your Transferable Skills.
If the role requires selling to marketers, but you have sold to IT pro’s, talk about how you believe that type of selling relates. In most situations, you can make the case that even though what you were doing was in a different function or industry, the core aspects of the day-to-day are similar. The cover letter is perfect for this.
Sell Yourself.
You can address the areas you lack in the cover letter. Hiring managers and recruiters love it when candidates emphasize the fact that they want their next role to be challenging and a place where they can grow professionally. The initiative-driven mindset will help you land more interviews.