To apply for a job I'm not qualified for?

[Loulou599]

I saw a job that looks great. Technically I do meet their requirements, in that I'm educated to the right level and have been working in a vaguely connected industry/role for the past 10 years, but I'm guessing there will be people applying with a Masters and experience in the exact right field.

A lot of the skills needed for the job, I've been developing and using for the past decade, just not in this specific industry.

Should I bother, or will they think "Why is she applying?". Do employers actually like people who have come from a different industry? (Think journalist moving into publishing, or performer moving into media, that kind of parallel).

You would be surprised about what makes the ‘perfect’ candidate. Even if it’s not strictly related to the current job description. As a hiring manager all of these have been true for different candidates I’ve hired over the years.

• Having experience I didn’t know I wanted
• Having a totally unrelated bit of experience that I would have never listed because it wasn’t a main one for the position but damn handy
• Having most of the experience and was able to show ability to learn the rest
• Demonstrating similar but not exact results that I was looking for

Apply!

Apply! There is never anything to lose but a bit of your time. And don’t ever make guesses about the other people who might apply!

I’ve done quite a bit of interviewing. Sometimes we get hundreds of people applying and can’t shortlist some of the people who tick all the boxes. Sometimes there’s a disappointing response and we’d have been grateful for a few people who tick most of the boxes. Sometimes the wildcard turns out to be the one who’s appointed, because at interview they turned out to be more suitable than the one who seemed on paper to be a dead cert.

@declutteringmymind That’s a great story!

You meet the requirement and have transferable skills, I would apply.

Definitely apply.

I'm currently recruiting for several posts with a relatively niche skillset. As long as people meet the basic set criteria, I'd rather have someone with experience of different industries who can bring something to the role and is the right fit for the team than have someone with everything who isn't the right person. It's about more than just having the exact experience. Additional qualifications can be gained on the job etc and experience from elsewhere can bring a welcome fresh perspective.

Go for it!

I regularly interview in a male dominated environment. I really wish women who apply for jobs could see some of the male applications in comparison. Since I started interviewing, it has completely changed my mindset on what to apply for.

A sweeping generalisation but backed up by research. If a man wants a job, he applies regardless of how little he may meet the criteria. Women who are far more suitable, often rule themselves out because of minor matters.

If I could change anything in the workplace,it would be to the end the continual self opting out that a lot of women do. Let someone else rule you out if necessary, but don't do it yourself. And who cares if you don't get a role, so what, it's a pint in time opinion of a small number of people based on an hour's assessment - interviewers don't always get it right.

Apply.

Men don't wait until they are perfect for a role.

@ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees I completely agree. There are so many very competent women who don’t put themselves forward.

I've never had a job I was 'officially' qualified for.

Go for it.

What's the worst that could happen?