More than anything, I get why most of us struggle to be perfect. Especially when it comes to job searching, there is an overwhelming amount of pressure to be an outstanding candidate. It’s not a bad thing. Perfection and attention to detail is a great trait to have. As a matter of fact, it’s a great trait when you are an executive at a Fortune 100 company. However, as a job seeker, perfection might not be a trait that gets you your dream job. This is because you will be looking at job listings wanting to fulfill all the requirements before you can apply.
Did you know that failure and cowardice are pies on the same stove? I’m not prying, but I know for sure at some point, each one of us has looked at a job listing that is a perfect fit for where we want to be career-wise but once you notice ’10 years of experience is preferred and a masters’ degree is an added advantage’, your mood deflates to zero and you fail to apply for the job.
On Twitter recently, I came across a thread by Jessica Ayodele. In this thread, Jessica broke down why job seekers should apply for jobs even though they are not qualified for them. Here is why:
Job descriptions are wish lists by the employer
In the process of developing the job description of a preferred candidate, an employer comes up with the basic qualities and skill set of a person that would make a perfect fit for the role. These might include soft skills that complement the technical skills they are looking for. Because employers understand that skills differ from person to person, the job description may include a little bit of everything. So you have to look at it and decipher the percentage of skills you possess from the list. If you meet at least 50% of the requirements, you will be doing a disservice to yourself if you didn’t apply.
You’re challenging yourself to step up to a new level career-wise
By now you know that nothing comes easy. Do you ever stop to wonder how the person who invented the robot that cleans walls and windows came about the invention? I have too and my best guess is this person took a risk. Want to fall in love, hit on your crush. Want to get a well-paying job, apply for it even if it’s a job you are not qualified for! It really is that simple. When you see a requirement you do not meet, take it with a pinch of salt by viewing it as a step out of your comfort zone. This is how you will rise from a junior or intermediate level to a high-tier position in your career journey. Moreover, the requirement you don’t meet might inform the skill-building that you need to attain for your career progression in the chosen path.
Sometimes, the job description is developed by someone who knows nothing about the role
Rule of the thumb; you’re the expert in your field of practice. Most job listings are compiled by talent acquisition experts. While these recruiters might have zoomed through millions of resumes, chances are they do not 100% know what prerequisite skills (hidden or visible) would be a great fit for that position. This is why you should apply for a job you are not qualified for and be intentional about soliciting for an opportunity to sit down and discuss how your skills and expertise fit the needs of the company. This way, you will have sold yourself and what you intend to bring to the table rather than disqualifying yourself at the application stage.
You learn from the interview process and can apply that in your next interview
One time in an interview panel for a position in a humanitarian firm, I was asked whether I had community advocacy experience to which I said no. Clearly, I did not meet the advocacy requirement for the job. As such, I never got that particular job. However, I managed to impress one of the hiring managers who called me, offering tips on how I should handle some of the open-ended questions. When an opening that fit my expertise came up in that organization, this hiring manager sent me an email with a very great offer.
There’s no lie that interviews are uncomfortable. However, there are experiences, personal habits, and innuendos that you can only learn from having a series of interviews. These experiences will help you work on your shortcomings, develop interview etiquette and build your confidence to better tackle interviews in the coming days.
You might just get the job!
When you catch yourself saying "What if I don’t get it", also ask yourself, "What if you do get it?" Your work as a job seeker is to arrange your ducks in a row. By this, I mean that you should write your winning resume, cover letter, and work samples and let the recruiter decide whether they will move forward with you or not. As Jessica Ayodele said in her thread "You shouldn’t disqualify yourself from the job because you think you don’t meet all the requirements, let the recruiters do that themselves." You might just turn out to be the best candidate for the job!