Why DO people apply for jobs even though they don't have the necessary qualifications or experience?

[Ceebee74]

It is so bloody frustrating. Am currently sat here shortlisting 500 applications for a job. It was clearly outlined in the advert what qualifications and experience are required - so why have at least 50% of the candidates not got what wa asked for but still applied!

Just a quick rant as I am just wasting time going through their forms!!

Maybe they think they have something else that would stand them in good stead even if it's not the necessary qualifications.

LOL - I remember that well - sucks doesn't it?

You feel like writing back to them and saying 'being able to read was a prerequisite, you obviously can't bog off!'

Sorry unconfident but sometimes there is a legal qualification you need and you STILL get folks who will say things like - I don't ACTUALLY have a degree in law but I have watched a lot of Ally McBeal (I'm not kidding someone once wrote this on a form to me).

because they think they are so wonderful with such potential that you'd be mad not to snap them up.

Potential entertainment at interview that is.

I always like to include a few nutters on a shortlist for some light relief from the earnest majority .

Agree with Who - if it is a requirement to have certain qualifications, that cannot be bypassed no matter how good the person is.

So why are they wasting their time and mine??

Who - lol at Ally McBeal. Without giving away information about my job, I also have candidates saying that watch a particular programme (which is a very popular programme) and think that qualifies them for the job

Oh god, it's not a meeja job is it - I used to be an editor and the fruitloops I interviewed!!!! One turned up rolling drunk and tried to chat up our personally director - in her 60s, gay and not entirely flattered by his claim that she had the luvverliest leggggsss in telly!

I applied for my current job (cover supervisor in secondary school) without the stated 'essential' criteria in both experience or qualifications!

But I talked my way in. They and I realised it would be a very steep learning curve at first, but they were willing to take a chance on me, and it's paid off. Two years on I'm still there, and everyone says I'm doing a great job.

OMG bet it's a doctor

Roisin and I bet you are really good at it. But say you were applying to be a train driver, you'd really want them to have the real experience wouldn't you?

Not say: I like watching Thomas the Tank Engine

1 - I think you may be on the right programme but no it is not a doctor!

Roisin - my company is really strict and we don't allow people to talk their way in - we just don't give them the opportunity!

Who - definitely not the meeja - that would be far more interesting

You aren't hiring midwives on the basis that 'they like watching football and are quite good at playing catch' are you?

Who - your examples are really making me giggle and certainly making this BORING task more entertaining! Love the Thomas the Tank Engine one

I actually once interviewed a candidate who had applied for a job in the finance department - she had no experience but thought it was ok because her husband was an accountant.

Erm, you don't need experience to drive a train!! Sorry

Because for most jobs, if you are intelligent and have transferable skills, you can do the job as well as a qualified person and sometimes you get interviewers brave enough to hire you. As with Roisin's case, it doesn't have to be a disaster.

It obviously doesn't work for jobs where you need specific skills or experience to function properly in the job, but for a great many jobs, the employer basically asks for someone who is already doing the role at another company. Which is absurd, because most people want to move upwards not sideways.

ROFL at watching Ally McBeal though.

ooh ambulance man I'd love my own siren

I've just watched Gillian McPoo's fat brides programme, so I'm going to apply for a nutritionist job I've seen advertised.

Rantinghousewife - now that is very scary!

I once interviewed someone who despite not having any qualifications, took the trouble to apply for this (over 50k a year job) because (and I quote directly): "the fortune teller at the carnival said I would be the new at and I thought that was unrealistic so I thought I'd start here".

Well we did ask for creative skills in the job ad I suppose

My BIL is like this. It's staggering. He has limited experience of managing car fleets for charities and yet he's applying for jobs like, Managing Director of ICI and Director General of the BBC. Funnily enough he's unemployed at the moment. Perhaps I could let him know you're looing for someone Ceebee.

Whomovedmychoc, any muppet can drive a train, they have to be trained after they are taken on. But believe me if you met some of the muppets, you would be horrified!! (Although, quite obviously they are not all muppets)

Have you received one yet that, at the bottom where it says: sign here, has carefully written: 'sagittarius'?

Rofl

Who says you don't need experience to drive a train? OK, it's steam, but my dad's given up his ticket to drive on the Severn Valley because he couldn't make enough regular journeys. He still drives on the Ffestiniog, though. I'd be reluctant to get on any train driven by someone who had never seen the route or the controls before, tbh...

I think I might have hired this guy once!