When you don't meet all the job specification but think you can do the job!

[Seeker4569]

I am desperate to leave my job in a Council for something with better pay. I have been trying to complete an application for a job in a different local authority for about a week with the deadline tonight. I have done research on competencies and STAR technique. From the job specification I could do the role as most of it is similar to my role now however some of the things I don’t have any experience in at all and can’t find anything that would even remotely relate. I have tried to find examples of things outside of work but nothing.

I am thinking of still applying for it but addressing this in the personal statement which asks for evidence against the requirements but also states please indicate why you are applying. Just posting here for any advice on how to word this. I want to say that even though I haven’t any experience of X Y Z I could learn it quickly. Just to say where I am now I had to quickly teach myself access and new skills when my manager went on sick last year for 6 months.

Any help/ advice appreciated as I seem to have a mental block. I have been in my current role for 8 years and I can’t even remember the application or interview though I suppose it has completely changed now.

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

If I am really honest I wouldn't give your CV a second look if you don't meet the experience requirements. It's an employers market and so there's a lot of people looking for jobs- unless its very niche there's someone out there who actually has experience.

I know it's not what you want to hear but I don't want you to waste your time getting invested in something that is not going to work out in all likelihood.

Can you ask for development in a certain direction in your existing role? Or take a sideways step somewhere in the business?

[june2007]

I think it depends on is they say things are essential or desirable if desirable then you may be fine, if essential you probably won,t get a look in. (Unless it,s just one thing and you meat rest of criteria.)

[Seeker4569]

Thanks. It is a Council job so they won't see my CV. The job application is online and the statement is like an essay. It is the same sector but seems like this Council have combined two job descriptions together if you see what I mean.

Most of it is what I do now plus they have added a few other duties where in my role we would pass these to a different team just because they have access to Council transport and they go out and about doing visits for other teams. We are in an office and desk based so wouldn't leave and travel around the borough. I am trying to write something to say that while I haven't done site visits I know how to do them and what is required.

[Charlieeee76]

Go for it OP. Apply what have you got to loose? Good luck!

[happinessischocolate]

Go for it, I got a job at an airport years ago that asked for a specific qualification, I'd never heard of it and no one else who applied had it either. I got the job.

I've recently applied for another one which again has asked for a particular qualification that I don't have, I've been for an interview and apparently I'm the person with the most relevant experience and qualifications.

When I left my last job and they advertised it whilst I was still there, I saw several of the applications, this was a senior accounts role and barely any of the applicants had any relevant experience. One applicant worked in the pub opposite and fancied a change of job 😁

[PeachesTheFlamingo]

I completely understand where you are coming from. I'm in a very similar situation right now.

I am currently in an "Acting Up" role as a supervisor and have been for some time. I am completely competent and colleagues have been telling me for ages to go for promotion.

The promotion process is an interview. The questions are based on competency framework. I won't find out what the questions are until the actual interview. However, I am to prepare examples to answer these questions, making sure I hit the relevant indicators for each competency area.

My issue is, I am really struggling to come up with examples of my work that completely fit the competency. My examples may hit some of the indicators but not all of them.

I think it's a really unfair process of determining whether someone is suitable for a job. What's stopping another candidate from making up examples to fit the competencies and lying their way to success?!

[20mum]

Bear in mind the research showing that if a man considers a job where he only qualifies for a minority of the requirements listed, he will assume the job is right for him, If a woman is in the same situation, she searches the list of requirements and assumes she is ruled out if there are any shortfalls. Go sister!

[Chocoqueen]

@happinessischocolate I hope the airport job wasn't 'pilot' (and love the user name)

OP - go for it. I've heard that one of the reasons men tend to be more successful is that they'd look at a job advert and see they meet 3/5 criteria and apply and women will see they meet 4.5/5 and not apply. You've got nothing to lose. You could address your lack of certain experience by saying 'although I don't have direct experience doing x, I have worked closely with the team in my current organisation and am keen to develop' or words to that effect. Good luck!

[Seeker4569]

Thanks everyone. I will go for it and try and address the ones I don't meet at the end. It is a competency type of application so I assume they want examples for each criterea using the STAR technique

[PurBal]

Apply. My dad always tells me that a man would!