Job searches are hard work. Not only are there many steps involved and a lot of stress, but there isn’t one single position that seems like the ideal fit for you.
The good news? There’s no such thing as the perfect job and you can still apply for positions even if you don’t meet every single requirement. In fact, in most cases, you won’t. You still might be a great fit for the job and the employer. Here’s why:
Employers Include Many Qualifications in their Job Postings
Some of these are indeed a must. But others are simply “nice-to-have” and the employer won’t hold it against you if you don’t have that skill or ability. What’s more is that you might have a certain qualification that makes you special or unique; one that more than makes up for not meeting every requirement. So if you’re a good fit overall, but don’t check every box, apply anyway.
Employers Assess More than Technical Abilities
When you’re applying to jobs and reading through postings, you might be focused on all the hard skills that are required. But when an employer is interviewing and assessing you, there’s going to look beyond these to your soft skills, as well. They want to ensure your personality, habits, values and attitude are all a good fit for the job. In fact, if you’re a better fit cultural than someone with stronger technical skills, you could potentially secure the job over them.
If you do decide to move forward applying, just make sure you don’t talk about the fact that you don’t have a certain skill that was posted in the description. For instance, never start your cover letter with: “I know there are certain requirements my background doesn’t meet, however…”
Do, instead, focus on your most relevant strengths and experiences in your cover letter and on your resume. Also, discuss any unique or specialized abilities you have that would set you apart and be of interest to the hiring manager.
Remember, the job posting offers a guideline in terms of the type of candidate an employer is looking for. It’s not set in stone. So if you meet many of the requirements and the job seems like a good match for you overall, then you should apply.
Interested in Expert Help with Your Job Search?
Turn to the team at Encadria Staffing Solutions. As a top employment agency, we work with companies of all shapes and sizes in many different industries and can connect you with your next great job. Search jobs now to get started!