WHAT TO DO TO GET A JOB YOU’RE NOT QUALIFIED FOR

I  first wrote this article for 10 Minutes With, a global education and career matchmaking platform with Headquarters in the United Kingdom.

***

In a tight economy, it’s hard for qualified candidates to get jobs, let alone not fully-qualified ones. But the truth is, hiring managers are sometimes flexible; they can overlook one or two deficiencies if you impress them in other aspects.

So, there are times when candidates who are not fully qualified for a job get it ahead of those who have all the required credentials. But the possibility varies with certain factors such as country or location, type of position, and level of flexibility of employers or hiring managers.

However, note that being under-qualified for a job has degrees. Nobody will hire you for a job that requires 10 years of experience when all you have is just 3 years of experience. But you’ll have a chance with many hiring managers if you have 2 years experience, but are applying for a job that requires 3-4 years experience.

So, “a job you’re not fully qualified for” as put in the title actually means a post that you’re a very close match for.

With the above in mind, let’s now discuss how to boost your chances of getting hired for a job when you’re not fully qualified for it. The following tips will help:

1. Emphasize of your skills that are relevant to the position

Even if you don’t have all the qualifications required for a position, chances are you have some or most of the skills required for it. Identify those skills you have that are relevant to the position, and flaunt them on both your resume and cover letter.

To make your skills even more obvious on your resume, present a resume that de-emphasizes job history or education in favour of skills that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

2. Show proof of your skills

No hiring manager will take your word for it if you simply state that you have good leadership skills or that you have analytical and trend projection skills. You must back your claims up with evidence—by listing some of the accomplishments you’ve made with these skills. So, include a list of accomplishments that are in line with your skills on your resume.

3. Indicate your flexibility and willingness to learn

Sometimes, hiring managers favour applicants who are “under-qualified but trainable” if they think such applicants deserve to be hired. I remember the words of the Deputy CEO of the company I first got job with shortly after graduating: “We are giving you this job because we believe you’re trainable”. Now, how do you show them that you’re trainable? By simply stating in your cover letter that you’re an enthusiastic and a fast learner who can quickly catch up with required job knowledge.

Subscribe to JarusHub

[subscribe2]

In addition, stating that you’re willing to learn shows that you’ve honestly admitted that you’re lacking in some aspects. And this impresses many hiring managers.

In all, the idea is to put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. Think about those things that would make them excited about hiring you despite being under-qualified. Then put those things in both your resume and cover letter.

Finally, remember that you don’t have to be perfect match for any job, but you should be very close.

***

For my and other global education and career experts’ articles on similar subject, check out 10 MINUTES WITH BLOG.  10 Minutes With is an innovative global career matchmaking platform built for graduates with offices in London, Beijing and Singapore. Partners include established brands and top academic institutions in more than 23 countries and 3 continents. 

Sign up to their website to get useful resources on education and career. You can also follow them on twitter, @10minuteswith