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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU To apply for a job without all the 'essential' criteria?

66 replies

EnidSpyton · 17/11/2021 12:10

Looking for experiences of people who applied for jobs they weren't fully qualified for according to the 'essential' JD criteria but still got it anyway...

I've found a job I'd love to apply for and while I know I could do it and have most of the experience and all of the qualifications, there's a pretty essential element I don't have any experience in. I don't personally think it should be a barrier as I feel my experience in other areas makes up for it, but would the org feel the same?!

My usual attitude with work is 'if I were a man, I'd do it anyway' - there's some statistic I've read that says men apply for a job if they meet 60% of the criteria, whereas women will only apply if they meet 100%. I'd say I meet 80% of the essential, and 100% of the desirable for this job. But it's going to take me at least half a day to apply for it, I'm tight on time at the moment, and I don't want to spend the time on the application if I have no chance of getting it. Interested to know what others think and if you'd bother throwing your hat in the ring if you didn't meet 100% of the criteria.

OP posts:
ColinTheKoala · 17/11/2021 12:12

If it's a private sector role, give it a go.

But if it's a public sector role they won't interview you.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 17/11/2021 12:13

I don't think I've ever had a job where I met the requirements 100%

With that said, I have never worked in the public sector - and I am guessing this is public sector?

Seainasive · 17/11/2021 12:14

Is there a way to reach out to the hiring manager or the recruiter? I did that recently to check if they would at all entertain an application from someone with my experience. They said they would, I applied, I got an interview, but not unfortunately the job.

Seasonschange · 17/11/2021 12:14

I’ve been in same situation a few times and gone for it. If necessary, I’ve made sure to mention it in interview so that I don’t end up in a situation where I’ve lied by omission and get caught out when I start (although that depends on the thing they’ve listed).

It’s worked out well for me about 75% of the time!

SafeMove · 17/11/2021 12:14

I have heard that statistic too! Go for it.

The job I am doing now (Researcher) really needs a PhD but I 'only' had a BSc, PgDip and MSc and 120 APEL credits towards a L8. I just applied anyway as I have worked for organisation before and thought this would stand me in good stead. It did!

Is it an essentail qual or essential skills in the job spec that you are missing? DP shortlists people and he says he gets most info for shortlisting from the personal statement.

SafeMove · 17/11/2021 12:15

*essential (typing too fast)

Gladioli23 · 17/11/2021 12:15

I don't think it's true that if it's a public sector role they won't interview you: I don't think I met all the essential criteria for the last role I applied to as an external applicant and I was both interviewed and got the job. I think it would depend on the quality of other applicants though.

Returnoftheowl · 17/11/2021 12:16

I've heard the same statistic and I would apply.

HappyToPayForAdultSocialCare · 17/11/2021 12:17

I'm public sector. I would interview someone who didn't meet all essential requirements if I liked their application. Though I may expect them to gain the essential experience / qualification whilst working in the role.

SafeMove · 17/11/2021 12:18

Sorry, just re read your OP and noticed you have all the skills and quals but its experience you are missing. Is that experience management?

Chocoqueen · 17/11/2021 12:18

@ColinTheKoala

If it's a private sector role, give it a go.

But if it's a public sector role they won't interview you.

Not true about public sector - I'd still interview someone if their application was good enough despite missing one of the essential criteria.

Go for it OP.

SafeMove · 17/11/2021 12:19

And DP shortlists in a massive public sector organisation and said he would shortlist people who don't tick 100 per cent (just asked him haha) if they have extensive experience etc. So that isn't true.

Aqua55 · 17/11/2021 12:20

You'd be surprised where you can actually pull relevant experience from for these sort of things.

Fizzbangwallop · 17/11/2021 12:22

You won’t know the answer until you try applying for the job. I think if you genuinely meet 80% of the essential requirements you should go for it!

PositiveLife · 17/11/2021 12:25

Go for it. I definitely didn't tick the boxes for my current role. If I'd seen the job description, I wouldn't have applied. I actually got called by a recruiter and I thought I was wasting my time listening and putting an application in but I got the job Smile

DifficultBloodyWoman · 17/11/2021 12:28

Go for it. I did.

I saw a job advertised and thought ‘that is where I want to be in 3-5 years’. I sent my cv in and said that whilst I didn’t have the experience and particular qualification they wanted, I was working towards it and would welcome the opportunity to discuss what else I should do to achieve that position in the future.

I met with the owner of the company and was hired at a slightly lower rate than the job was advertised at but with an increase if I passed my extended probation period of six months and another at one year. It was a significant increase on my existing salary and massive step up for me. And my cheapskate boss got a good deal out of it too.

Try it. The worst case scenario is that you don’t get invited for an interview. Best case scenario is a massive career leap! No brainer.

ShaunaTheSheep · 17/11/2021 12:30

@ColinTheKoala

If it's a private sector role, give it a go.

But if it's a public sector role they won't interview you.

Nonsense. I recruit and will give people a chance to prove themselves at interview. Often it’s about finding someone who is a good ‘fit’ for the role and team. Training can be given for knowledge gaps, but you can’t fix attitude, temperament etc.
dreamingbohemian · 17/11/2021 12:39

I think it really depends what the missing criteria is. Can you say at least generally what it is?

I think within essential criteria, some are properly essential, so I might not apply if you are missing one of those

Original poster
EnidSpyton · 17/11/2021 12:40

Thanks so much for the responses so far everyone - I feel encouraged!

For more info - it's a public arts organisation and the role is about working with particular community groups to develop work for the arts organisation. I have experience with the community groups but not with working in an arts organisation. I would love to move into the arts and blend my interest in the specific community groups I work with and my love for the art form the organisation delivers, but the arts org wants experience in their sector as their main essential criteria.

This is the issue. I have 'lived experience' due to my passion for the art form, and a masters degree in the art form, but no professional experience in the sector whatsoever. At the same time, I know the community groups they're trying to reach out to inside out. If it were a junior role I'd be more confident at going for it, but it's a senior management role. I've got lots of existing management experience and contacts in the community, and am a senior manager currently, so it would be a sideways move pay-wise and responsibility-wise, but not sure the arts org would see it like that!

But judging from what a lot of you lovely people have said - if I write a really strong application and highlight all the things I do have despite what I don't...might be worth a go?!

OP posts:
Pedalpushers · 17/11/2021 12:40

I'd try and stretch some slightly relevant experience into the gap so it looks like you understand why they are saying it's important for the role. It will probably come up at interview and better to have something slightly relevant than nothing at all. I've gotten jobs using that approach to missing experience.

Enb76 · 17/11/2021 12:44

You lose nothing by applying.

I have 'lived experience' due to my passion for the art form, and a masters degree in the art form

Big this up, write a fabulous covering letter and remember to try and demonstrate every 'requirement' in your application - lived experience counts.

dreamingbohemian · 17/11/2021 12:46

Oh gosh yes in that case I would go for it

DilemmaDelilah · 17/11/2021 13:48

In my organisation (public sector) your application won't even be sent for shortlisting if you don't meet all the essential criteria - so the people who would be interviewing won't ever get to see it. Our job specifications have a list of criteria, and these are listed as essential or desirable. If you don't have the essential you have no chance at all. If they are just desirable it would be worth applying.

Kitkat151 · 17/11/2021 13:54

You’ve got nothing to lose...apart from the time it will take to apply

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 17/11/2021 14:04

Go for it!!

I applied for an NHS post that I didn't meet the essential criteria for... But I visited the site, they liked me so was successful! (against 200 other applicants)

I think it's often not about getting the absolute best person, it's about keeping the wrong people out... As they mess up teams and take up loads of time