would this bother you - job not asking for right qualifications.

[Ireallydontcare]

Name changed for this.

My dream job has been advertised. It asks for experience in a particular area and with a particular client group. It is full time working from home and salary is great so again ideal. I was recently made redundant so looking for something else and this job is perfect.

I tick every box. I have the highest qualification you can get in this field and 22 years experience. I specialise in this particular client group.

Except the job is asking for experience in XYZ, rather than qualifications in XYZ and it is clear that the director doesn't know the importance of the qualifications. Nor the importance of registration with professional bodies. Its a small organisation.

It would be very outing to say what the job is but the best comparison would be to imagine a job asking for an HR manager but not specifying you need a CIPD qualification. (its not HR but its a good example to use)

I've seen lots of people online who are from the particular client group or who have experience working with them, saying they will apply and the director going "please do" - but they neither have the qualification nor the professional registration.

Another example is like a childminder applying to be a teacher. It shouldn't be possible.

So I worry I will be unsuccessful and that the employer will value experience more than the qualification when I have both.

I have tried to emphasise in my application the value of my qualification and professional registration and why it is important.

Would this annoy anyone on here too? I worry about not sounding too critical of the entry requirements in my application or to sound like I think I'm better than (most of) the other candidates.

This would be my first interview and application in all those 22 years.

There is more than one vacancy and I think I might feel annoyed if I'm the same grade/pay as someone much less qualified.

YABU - as long as you get the job, who cares?
YANBU - I am right to be annoyed and maybe politely point it out?

I think if you highlight the qualifications and the associated experience that goes with it you’ll be in a strong position. You have both, so good luck.

Apply and make it a really good, bespoke application to ensure you get an interview.

At the interview, you can emphasise your qualifications and how this AND your experience is best. And (if it's the first time they've had this role) you can politely explain how the qualification is pretty vital and really adds value to your application (and/or prevents them breaking the law/regulations by not having it)

Is there the tiniest possibility it's an error in the ad? Maybe written by someone other than the director (straw clutching is a particular skill of mine ).

Do you have an extra "anonymous" email (if not, send it to me and I'll email from one of my accounts ) you could use to contact the employer direct to ask about whether the qualification is a job requirement? If the qualification is a legal necessity (eg like being a registered accountant or solicitor or doctor), You could anonymously point out that they have failed to specify the requirement in their ad.

Just in case it's an error/to highlight them of the error innocently, I'd send an email asking if qualifications are necessary for the role as you are interested in applying but from what you know, qualifications are needed. Send this from a different/new email account under a different name.

Cross post with @terfterfterf

I think you are being unreasonable about being paid the same as one of the other new recruits. If you want you can negotiate the pay based on your experience, if the company value that then they will offer more, if not then they might not offer you the job.

Your professional qualifications can give you a great advantage over the others and you should use it as that. I'm sorry but, to me, you come across as judgemental about the others, if experience is what the company want and they have that then I don't see the problem. Remember that many people apply for jobs when they only meet some of the requirements.

Does a person need to be a member of the professional body in order to do the job? If not then I don't see the problem.

Sorry if this is obvious. But do you have to have the qualification and be registered with the professional body to do the job? I'm just thinking in my job there is a qualification and professional body but it's not a legal requirement to have these.

I think if you've highlighted these in your application that's as much as you can do. Wait to see if your shortlisted and if not maybe feedback then. Hope it goes well for you

I think that it really does depend upon whether the qualifications are legally required or just the norm. I'm an accountant and I see roles (and have indeed specified when recruiting) that would consider 'qualified by experience'. However, these are for roles where a practicing certificate isn't required. If it is, then the qualifications would be mandatory.

Well, it’s hard to know without more details. For example, if I’m hiring an accountant I want experience more than I want qualifications. Both is ideal but ‘qual by experience’ is more valuable to me.

You can be an HR professional without qualifications.

Obviously there are some jobs where it’s not possible but plenty where the quals aren’t the most important thing.

@Lonelykettleshed

@Merryoldgoat

Great minds...

This would hack me off. I'd assume he didn't understand/grasp/appreciate: have respect for the qualification.

We have this at work (not in my department) Director doesn't really understand qualifications needed for the job and recruited someone who had the wrong much lesser (ie you can buy from Groupon) qualification. Everyone else has a proper qualification they worked hard for, registered with professional bodies etc, a few at Masters level. This individual also isn't asked to do much as other senior managers know they aren't qualified. They are shit at their job and yes, others on the same pay grade resent being paid the same. They are just sitting at home doing barely any work while everyone else has to cover the extra work.

Director covers for them to mask their initial mistake in hiring them. HR too as they failed to check proper qualifications. The person has been here 5 years something they can do!

Is registration a legal requirement or just what people generally have? Because for neither of the examples you gave ie HR or teaching it isn't a legal requirement

Lol HR is such a piss poor example to use. You don’t need the bloody cipd.

It’s either a job that requires a qualification, or it isn’t. It seems like it’s not mandatory.

@Lonelykettleshed

I’m QBE/PQ and the job I have specified qual but I beat the qual candidates as I have lots of experience.

My assistant is way more qualified on paper but very new to industry.

I always think it’s very shortsighted to focus on qualifications without a more ‘whole person’ picture.

Unless you’re looking for a doctor or architect 🤣

Sorry i mean 'so there's nothing they can do'

Also I have no idea why this would bother if you have 22 years of experience. It’s not like you’re a recent graduate whom this would impact more.

I do think this will come down to whether the qualification is necessary or desirable. For example, it's illegal to call yourself a nurse unless you are qualified and registered as such. Any job for a 'nurse' must go to a qualified, registered nurse. However, a 'nursing assistant' 'care coordinator' 'healthcare specialist' could go to anyone.

Does the role advertised have any regulations?

I think you're being too emotive about this. There may be a very reasonable explanation and my recommendation would just be to phone and politely ask. It looks like a valid question to me.

I do agree with others re experience being just as important for certain jobs (where a qualification is desirable but not essential). The person in my example had neither though. Also even without much experience people can be hard working and willing to learn and that counts for a lot and I wouldn't be annoyed being on the same pay grade as someone like that.

Any chance its aimed at someone in-house and they are in process of gaining qualifications?

All you can do is give it your best and either you're a fit for the organisation or you're not. Seems a bit presumptuous that you'll either get it or you won't and you'll resent the (other) successful candidate(s).

It's not your dream job if it's working in a place where you don't feel your qualifications are fully appreciated but even then you're making massive assumptions.

Why not wait and see and see what the situation is if you're lucky enough to get an interview.

I think it very much depends on the job
When I’m advertising roles qualifications will only be essential rather than desirable if they are a legal requirement
Otherwise experience and whether you are a good fit matter just as much
For the right person we will pay for and support them to gain a qualification if relevant to role and helpful to them or us
Sadly I have in the past employed qualified people who were totally unsuitable for the role and either needed a lot of time, supervision and mentoring to get there or still didn’t make it in which case had to go