Applying for job that I'm under qualified for. Women always hold back.

[yoyoman]

I want to apply for a job I'm under qualified for. I have all the qualifications but the day to day tasks some I can do others I haven't done.
On one side I feel confident that I have the skills to learn on the job on the things I lack. I am a go getter and very ambitious.
But I also a shot scared. Will I be over my depth? Will I fail miserably ? I and anxiety so this doesn't help.
In my research I came across the fact that women tend not to go for jobs because of these feelings. Men on the other hand even if not qualified will go for it.
Do you think IABU to go for the job?

Of course apply!

I often write job descriptions or help write them and we know it’s unlikely someone ticks every single box. So if you have 8 years experience instead of 10 we might still consider the candidate depending on the other criteria too. I see lots of CVs and most men big themselves up massively.

Last year I got a job I was very thrilled about, a massive step up and I thought I was underqualified too. They told me the salary with the job offer and it was a lot more than I was hoping for and accepted with delight. I told my DB and a male friend who both said that I was mad for accepting without even trying to negotiate a higher salary 😬😳 Didn’t even cross my mind to be honest.

I'm very much like you. I went for a job in a completely different role in my company, although I did have some elements of what was needed from my degree. I'm still there 5 years later. I honestly wasn't expecting to get it despite a really good interview as I didn't have prior experience.

My partner did the same. Did quite low paid roles before applying for an engineering based role that required a degree. I think he got it because they wanted someone fairly cheap as it was a niche field and a qualified person would still need training anyway. Although he started on a low wage, he's now earning more than double what he used to and is quite an expert in what he does now (he changed companies since though).

The difference between me and DH is our confidence levels. He didn't read the job description and see what he didn't have, but what he did have (DH is very good at avoiding negative information when he wants something . I almost talked myself out of applying for my role for the few things I didn't have.

I would apply and see what comes back. You will be surprised at how many really inappropriate applications there are and yours could stand out. I recall applying for some jobs when I was 18 that were really inappropriate and cringe about it now.

You say your are ambitious, so as long as you project this in your interview without being too much I think you will be fine.

In my first 'proper' job (that I had got a degree for), I had the technical skills but none of the practical ones of implementing them, so I was hired as a junior and learned on the job. But my point is even if you had the same job somewhere else it's always different at a new company and you'd be learning from day one how they do things, plus jobs develop over time.
And you're right, I understand men will apply for a job if they have 70% of the required skills, women don't unless they have at least 90%.

I am loving all this amazing stories ! How motivational :)

I'm just finishing off my CV and going o send it. Deadline is today. I will keep you all posted.

Absolutely go for it. You just need to make the case for how you have the essential skills, either through the obvious way or how your experience lends itself to a compatible skillset or developing those skills early on. You just need to advocate for what you bring to the table.

I was recently involved in recruitment for an academic post. It required a PhD. We had someone apply who had only just finished a Master's, but she had years of really unique experience, including lived experience of the condition she would be working with, and she made that very clear in her application. She got the job over much more 'qualified' candidates.

I think it depends on what level of qualifications they’re looking for vs what you have.

“Degree is essential” if you only have GCSE’s isn’t going to get you an interview, whereas less experience but with the ability to learn very well might.

It’s interesting, I’ve been mulling over this one myself as I have an application form sitting on my desktop for a job which closes tomorrow. I did post about it on here at the time but was told that because I have been a SAHM and had also been through a period of serious illness I was being unrealistic applying for it, so I haven’t.

@AlternativePerspective

Not too late🙂

Done ! Sent the application. Was told I should hear middle of next week !
Wish me luck 🙏

👏👏👏👏

The job market is so weird and in flux at the mo, it feels like a good time to have a punt on something. I don't mean like if it's a speech and language therapist job and you're an investment banker, but there's more scope to push boundaries a bit.

Definitely go for it! I had heard the statistics that women apply only if they satsify all requirements vs men at university, so when I was applying for jobs out of university I decided to 'be a man' and apply for a job that asked for 5 years experience (I had none) as it was a dream job for me. I got the job! And am still there 10 years later (though in a managerial position now).

I asked why I was given the job and was told there were barely any decent applicants. And they chose me because they could see my ability to learn.

So please do apply! If you don't apply your chance is 0! If you apply you have a chance at the job and the worse is that you don't get the job (which is the same position you are in if you don't apply. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Ha! I see I was too late to this. You've done the right thing though!

Do it! My current job, I applied for despite the advert saying they needed experience and extra training that I didn't have. Initially I was told they wouldn't even interview me. Then they decided to give me a shot, I then had to convince senior Partners that I could do it even though I was newly qualified and needed lots of extra training. Was offered the job part time job sharing with someone who had experience, which worked well and now they have left and I'm doing it full time and have done all the training I need to.

Luck luck luck!

Bit late here, sorry.

Do it. I did - no qualifications for the role but wanted it due to personal experience. The qualified person got the job (duh) but they rang me the following week with a different role that had room for progression as they were impressed with my enthusiasm and interview. So glad I applied. Really worth a shot (assuming it's not pilot/bomb disposal/brain surgeon...!).

Good luck!!

Good luck OP!!

My mom always says that if you meet the job description perfectly then there's nothing left to learn and you'll be bored. It's always better to take a step up than make a lateral move! And you'll get competent very quickly, when you do something every day it doesn't take long to learn.

I did exactly this, got the job over ‘more qualified’ candidates and it was a fantastic decision.

I got a 15k fte pay rise (9k actual), learned lots of new skills and really enjoy my job most of the time.

Do it ! Be confident and honest in the interview . I’ve gone for a job I was under qualified for, was honest and got it . I even got promoted 3 months later . It’s scary but you can do it !!!

@BookFiend4Life

My mom always says that if you meet the job description perfectly then there's nothing left to learn and you'll be bored. It's always better to take a step up than make a lateral move! And you'll get competent very quickly, when you do something every day it doesn't take long to learn.

You have to be careful as well though because in some jobs, if you are not perfect from day one, they'll start hunting for ways to get rid of you again really quickly. Obviously depends on sector and employer concerned. But I don't buy all this "it's fine to make mistakes, it's how you learn". Yeah right.

Very best of luck! My dream job came up about 6 months ago. I dismissed it as I didn't have the necessary experience but hoped I could do it I'm the future. The night before the deadline I couldn't sleep as I was thinking about what to write.
I got an interview! Beyond delighted I figured they might point me in the right direction for development. I got the job ( still feel like an imposter!) But am doing the role I always wanted. I've just been accepted to do further progression and so far have had great feedback! Prep really hard for the interview! Let us know how it all goes! Best of luck!

Yay! So glad you applied. I did this before Christmas. I didn't get an interview but I'm glad I didn't let the opportunity pass me by. Always worth trying because it gets you to think about your skills in a different way too

@VikingOnTheFridge

The job market is so weird and in flux at the mo, it feels like a good time to have a punt on something. I don't mean like if it's a speech and language therapist job and you're an investment banker, but there's more scope to push boundaries a bit.

This is a great point; I hadn't thought of it like that but think you're dead right.

What an all-round inspiring thread you started OP! Even if you don't get through this round, you've pumped yourself up a bit for the next & that's half the battle.

I applied for a job 3 years ago that I needed completely different skills for. The company and what they were doing was amazing, so I applied.

I got the job after interview even though the other candidates were more experienced because I’d signed up to the site, read around what they did and seemed passionate to learn and develop my career. (That’s what my colleague who interviewed me told me later!)

I love my job and I’m starting a masters this year (hopefully).

Take the plunge and apply. What’s there to lose?

Go for it and stop believing in research that supports you growing as a person.

Makes no difference at all if men or women apply for a role. If it's found out in the screening process that a person has not got the required skills and/or experience they won't get to interview if it's a decent employer.

Ideally the people reading through applications will already have the name, age, and sex removed from the application by HR so they can only judge on experience/ qualifications. The only time the employers get to know if you are a man or a woman is if you get invited to interview.

Go for it and believe in yourself.