Applying for a job when you don't tick every box. What do I do?

[december2020]

There is a role I'm interested in and I just got the proper full spec from a recruiter.

I have most of the skills, knowledge and expertise, but some I don't. The skills I don't have are using certain programs (but I feel these can be learnt and don't need years of experience - I say this because I still work in a relevant field that also uses these programs).

I will of course be clear with the recruiter that I don't have experience in these programs as I don't want any misconceptions and I would absolutely commit to start learning them or to take a course to make sure I spec up and as quickly as possible.

However, I'm not sure how to word it as I'd want to still highlight what I can bring to the table and business.

So I ask you, how have you approached applying for roles where you don't tick every box?

Apply!!!! No job expects you to have every single thing on the list.

If I were you I would do some general reading on the topics I knew less about and outline my plan to upskill, but honestly, don’t worry too much. Just put the application in and see where you get!

Just go for it. What have you got to lose? Job specs are an employer’s wish list, and you might turn out to be the candidate who ticks the most boxes.

Good luck!

Apply. Include what you've said above about the specs you don't meet. Apparently on average, men apply for jobs when they meet 60% of the criteria, but women not unless they meet 100% of them - and look at ratios of men to women in senior positions - of course that's not the only factor, but it isn't harming them.

What is the worst that could happen? They don't progress the application = no big deal.

Best of luck!

You apply! Interestingly, the stats show that men will apply for jobs once they feel they meet 70% of the criteria while women wait until they hit 90%.

Go for it!

Alright - thank you everyone!
I have gone for it!

Have flagged the 2 skills I don't have hands on experience (the specific programs) as there is no going about it if I get the job and need to learn to use them!

But have highlighted all the areas I do have experience answering skills in and why I would be a great fit.

best of luck to you. I have just signed my contract today for a role where I didn’t quite meet one or two of their essential skills but I got the job. I was like you, I was not sure if I should apply for that job but the recruiter said my experience would be enough for them to consider it.

I came from non IT background and I managed to beat many candidates at 2 interview for a Business Analyst role. I was very honest from the start to say I don’t have all the skills they required but I am willing to learn.

At the final interview, I was joint first with another guy with IT background but they decided to offer me the job which I m still in disbelief.

My advice is be confident about what you can bring to the table. Sometimes, your experience & knowledge can’t be train but the core skills can be trained with time.

Go for it. Most successful applicants are more personality and if you click with the hiring manager than ticking all the boxes.

Be more man - apply and just lie

6 criteria points.

Women have 5.5 criteria points and won’t apply.

Men - point 1 - yes

• point 2 - might if you squint
• point 3 - eh?

So they apply and get it.