Honest opinion have I messed up this job application?

[Ahjeezeno]

I’d like some honest opinions here as to whether I’ve messed up and ruined my chances at a job.

I’ve worked in the same company for many years. A new job has come up in a different department. The application process should be done via the company intranet.

I know the hiring manager fairly well so emailed her to ask about the role directly. She replied and sent a job description and explained a bit about the role. The email was friendly but a little curt. Her manner is a little like this though.

I read the job description and there was a list of essential skills and desirable skills. One of the essential skills I do not have any demonstrable experience of.

I replied thanking her for her mail and explaining that one of the essential skills I cannot meet and asking whether she felt it was still worth me applying as it doesn’t go down too well in my current department if you apply for other positions.

Basically, I asked her to let me know whether that essential skill was a dealbreaker or not and that I fully understood if it was and then I wouldn’t apply. I also included my CV for her to look at as that demonstrates lots of the other skills.

this was yesterday and she’s not replied at all. Common sense tells me she’s either feeling like I’ve overstepped the mark by contacting her directly and not simply applying through the correct channels or she’s not interested in me as a candidate.

I don’t feel like I’ve necessarily done something wrong - I just don’t want to waste mine or their time if I have no chance at the job. I also don’t want to piss my own manager off by having to tell him yet again that I’ve applied for another position.

Is what I’ve done completely out of order? I now am in limbo and don’t know whether to apply or not. I feel like a complete idiot 😞

Hey OP, I don’t think you have messed anything up. Maybe not the best idea to draw attention to the fact you don’t have an essential skill - but I’m sure you will have lots of transferable skills that you could speak to?

is the missing skill something you could start to learn over the coming weeks & you could show that you have taken steps to understand the basics?

Id just go ahead and apply anyway. You need to at least throw your hat in the ring & who knows where it could lead.

I recall reading something a few years back that said men will apply for any job they like, even if they don’t have any of the essential skills. Conversely, when women see one essential skill they do not have, they won’t apply.

Good luck!!

The skill is demonstrable supervisory experience and this is a supervisor position so no, it’s not something I can learn.
I was hoping it could be something I could be mentored in and pick up as I went along and I did mention this in my email.

Im hoping I’ve not made a fool of myself or put the hiring manager in an awkward position. I do know her reasonably well and would have liked to think she’d see where I was coming from but the lack of reply makes me wonder if I’ve overstepped the mark.

Have you got any examples from outside work you could use? Don’t suppose you coach a netball team, do you?? 😅

Even something like mentoring a new start, or delegating some of your work to a colleague could show that you have the required skill.

Hopefully you can wow the panel with your other skills that they would be willing to give you a shot.

And try not to worry about the fact you have not had a response from the hiring manager. There could be a million reasons why she didn’t respond. She is maybe trying to remain neutral & is therefore ignoring, or she could be snowed under trying to get work finished by the end of the week etc etc.

I’ve had many years experience of training new starters, informally supervising work experience students, carrying out tool box talks, I guess I can scratch about and find ways to demonstrate ways I have ‘supervised’ in a round about way.
im more bothered I may have now blown my chances for acting like a dick. Why don’t I think first!!

many years experience of training new starters, informally supervising work experience students

I think that would do.

She might not have seen it, she might be wary of responding in case it's seen as guiding you unfairly and compromises fair recruitment- several reasons. I wouldn't overly worry though, just apply for it.

I also think just apply and see what happens - she might have been called away on some other matter and not had a chance to reply to you.

Honestly, if I get emails about jobs, I’ll reply factually to any queries about the role, but if I’m asked any variation of ‘will I get it?’ or ‘is it worth applying?’ I ignore them. I can’t possibly answer that until I’ve seen your application and the rest of the field.

it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong and it won’t affect your application, but don’t expect any more info from her.

Forget the email and (lack of) response. Apply for the job.Use examples of when you’ve supervised people in different contexts.

good luck!