To shamelessly ask for advice from anyone involved in recruitment, or just with more experience at applying for jobs than me???

[thinkingmakesitso]

I am applying for a job that would be a big step up for me, and tbh, I don't really fit all the criteria on the spec. However, I have done a lot of it, despite it not really being my role, due to having two awful managers above me for some time.

Is there some way I can mention what I have done, account for it in a believable way and not come across as an unprofessional nightmare?

Any advice would be great - I have not changed jobs in a looonng time, and never had to word anything like this before.

Just say that you volunteered to do work outside of your own job and that was at a higher grade, as you were ambitious and wanted the experience. Then talk about what you did. Turn it into a positive.

I wouldn't word it as due to your managers being awful as that comes across badly - but if you put something about how you've had extensive opportunity to work above your grade and having had this experience you're keen to find a role at that level where you can continue to develop professionally...etc.

It's not uncommon in a lot of jobs to get the opportunity to do some work outside your role - a good manager will often encourage this for a promising employee to groom them for promotion.

Don't worry about not matching every criteria - the majority of male applicants don't. There are some roles/organisations where they are extremely strict about needing to tick every box, but unless you're in one of those areas it's fairly common for job ads to name more criteria than they actually expect to get IYSWIM?

what Cleaty said is brilliant. You had the "Opportunity" to take on additional duties and found that you relished this work.

Do check about your area though. In my line of work we never take on anyone who can't tick all the boxes, but my field is very competitive.