Would you apply for a job you're not *officially* qualified for?

[littlelamb]

I have just graduated with a good 2.1 in English and film with a commendation from my department (Had a pretty tough time during my degree, not least falling unexpectedly pregnant with dd at the beginning of the first year.) I am now looking into jobs and there is one which sounds an absolute dream. At my uni there is an extensive film archive and they are advertising for a curator. It is well paid and a job I would LOVE, and, having used the facilities, I have lots of ideas as to how to improve what is there. However, the advert asks for experience in museum management, which I blatently have none of. I have gotten a few books from the library along this vein, just to give an idea, and I think I am capable, I just don't want to feel foolish when applying. Also, I am only 22, would my age work against me? This is the first job I have seen that actually gets me excited, but I feel my lack of age and experience would let me down. So, would you apply anyway and hope for at least an interview, or would you just carry on looking for a more suitable job? Please be brutally honest.

I would give it a go... you have nothing to lose. It might be worth saying that you would like to do a postgrad in Museum Studies at a later date.

ooo good tip thank you! I am just so excited about the prospect of this job, the place just doesn't work to its full potential, and I would love to be the one to give it the kick up the backside it needs!

go for it. if you can go along for an informal visit, contact the curator and ask. these can help in the selection process that you showed interest rather than just applying. good luck

whats the worst that could happen?

you dont get it

if you dont apply - your not going to get it
nothing ventured.....

also - you could elongate the truth and say you have experience in a voluntary capacity referencing for a charity or something.

nicnack's advice is good, and if I were you I would go for it. However be prepared that as they are asking for experience in museum management, they may get candidates who do have this experience..so your chances may be lowered by this, though you know this anyway.....

I think what I mean is, apply because you'd regret it if you don't - but be prepared for a no. However nothing like this is wasted, it will be valuable interview experience and it has already given you a good idea where you want to go career-wise. I had 2 interviews last week, didn't get the first but got the second and I'm sure the practice at being interviewed helped me in the second interview!

well done btw for getting your degree under those circumstances - blimey. must have been hard work!

going out to work will be a rest after that!

Thanks sparklemagic. I haven't had an interview for 3 years, and that was just for a waitress! But I am willing to work hard, and hopefully that will work in my favour. I guess I have nothing to lose. I just don't want them to think I must be too big for my boots, which isn't the case at all. I think if I worked there already I wouldn't like someone of my age to go straight into a senior position, so there is also that which is holding me back. It really would be a dream come true though, and dd's nursery is literally a 2 minute walk from this place (and I don't drive!) I think I shall start on my application letter tonight and see what I can come up with.

Have a look at the person specification for the job - this is usually the criteria they will use to select for interview. If you fulfill at least 70% of the criteria, it's worth applying.

Men look at the bits they can do, not the bits they can't. Women tend to look at the bits they can't and don't apply for a job unless they're 100% sure they can do it. Hence the tendency to meet very efficient women in the workplace who know exactly what they're doing, and men who vaguely don't know what they're doing. But the men still get paid more and promoted, because they don't focus on the negative, they focus on the positive. Do the same - it'll get you further.

Give it a try littlelamb. I wouldn't try to 'hide' the fact that you don't have the relevant experience. I'd just be upfront about it and say something like, 'although I may not have the experience which you would prefer, I am well-informed about the relevant area (whatever... blah blah blah)and would be interested in doing postgraduate work in library/museum studies in the future. All you will lose is the time you spend writing the application. I reckon a lot will depend on what other applications they receive. But it's possible they won't get anyone suitable with the relevant experience applying, in which case you should stand a good chance. Congratulations on your 2.1, btw. Hope you weren't too badly affected by the AUT industrial action.

Definitely give it a go!

I had an interview recently for a job which was really a bit out of my range.

If they asked me something I didn't know about, I said
"Well, that's not an area where I have direct experience, but I've done xxxxxx and as you can see, those skills would be directly applicable etc. etc. etc. "

It must have worked, because I got the job!!!!

Wow, well done Littlefish! My friend also just went for a mindblowingly brilliant job that she got offered last week, but couldn't take because of childcare. She is in exactly the same position as me, we had our dd's at the same time and we got the same grade, albeit in different subjects. I would like to think I'm up to the job, but I'll have to work hard at expressing that in my application. I am going to the library tomorrow to read a reference book about museum management and my grandparents are taking me out to buy some nice interview clothes as a graduation present so I guess that will all add to my confidence.

It is always worth giving it a go. However, museum jobs are highly sought after and (perhaps in the past) many people had to take unpaid intern work, followed by a Pg Diploma in museum management followed by more intern work in order to get a job.
Having said that, no one gets any where without trying and lots of people get jobs for which they don't have the qualifications that over hopeful employers set out in their adverts.