Why You Should Submit a Job Application Even If You Don’t Meet the Job Description

We all know the feeling. You’re on the hunt for a new job, you’ve been scrolling through job ad after job ad and, finally, you come across “the one”.

It’s your perfect job; ideal hours, pretty good salary, amazing benefits, and it’s a company that you actually have an interest in. Then it all comes crashing down when you see the list of required skills and experience that you don’t quite meet.

So now what do you do? Give up on this perfect job that seems as though it was made for you? Or do you decide to throw your hat in anyway and give it a shot?

Our advice? Apply for it anyway! The worst the hiring manager can do is say “no”.

When it comes to writing a job description, hiring managers will be thinking of a “dream candidate” so they will list every desirable component that comes to mind. Therefore, when it comes to the actual hiring process, employers know that it is unlikely that they will find an exact match. Don’t let your lack of experience or your slightly limited set of skills discourage you from applying, you may bring other qualities to the table. Interviews are your chance to explain how you’ll learn those skills or how your experience shows that you can perform certain tasks.

To help encourage you to take the leap and apply for the job, we have come up with a list of reasons that will, hopefully, persuade you to apply!

Transferable skills

Before giving up on applying after reviewing the job description that you don’t fully “qualify for”, take the time to think about your skills and experience in the workplace. Maybe you don’t have five years of working in an HR role, but you could have three years of administrative work behind you. The skills you picked up in your past roles are often transferable into other positions, regardless of whether it is in a different discipline or industry. Before submitting your resume and going into interviews, refine your list of skills to reflect on what will be relevant to the job you are currently applying for.

Demonstrate how the skills you have and how your old responsibilities are transferable to what is required for the role you are applying for. For example, working as a cashier at a supermarket would have taught you customer service skills, this is transferable to any other role where you manage internal or external stakeholders.

This shows that you have given the job thought and taken the time to properly consider how you will fit into the company and whether you are capable of doing the job.

Cultural fit

So, you don’t meet all the job requirements? Oh well! Maybe you are the perfect match when it comes to the workplace environment and culture. Many companies consider, and can often prioritise, hiring candidates based on how they perceive them fitting into the workplace on a personal level. You could meet all the requirements listed in the job description and beyond but if you aren’t the right fit, there is a high likelihood you won’t be receiving an offer.

You should also keep in mind that, at the end of the day, maybe you aren’t the right fit for the job you applied for, but you might be the perfect fit for the company. If you impress the hiring manager and communicate that you want to work with them in whatever capacity they have available, you may be offered another job within the company. This opens the door for you in terms of developing your skills and working your way up to the role you were originally after.

Take advantage of not meeting all the requirements

Use your resume, cover letter, and interview to sell yourself and your work etiquette to the hiring manager. If there are skills or areas listed in the job description that you don’t meet, use this to your advantage and sell your dedication as an employee. Demonstrate that, even though you lack in some areas, you are willing and ready to learn. Some employers may find this desirable, especially for entry-level roles, as it means they can shape your learning experience in such a way that benefits them. You will learn about how they want tasks to be completed and won’t be influenced by how you handled similar tasks at any previous jobs.

All this being said, make sure you are still applying for roles that you can easily grow into. Don’t apply for a role as a surgeon if you only have a degree in economics. You may envision yourself as a doctor, but chances are, the skills you learned throughout your economics degree won’t be transferable in the operating theatre!

Getting the job

If you do get the job after feeling as though you didn’t meet the job requirements, firstly, congratulations! Secondly, don’t be afraid to ask questions once you start. This won’t be seen as a shortcoming or a flaw in your character. Your team will know that you didn’t meet all the requirements listed in the job description, but they hired you despite this! They know and are probably already anticipating that there will be things they will need to teach you.

This is still an occurrence at top-level jobs. A new job in a new company means there will be things you need to learn, regardless of how experienced you are. Asking for help demonstrates that you are willing to learn, have initiative and that you are dedicated to doing your best.

Being aware of your limitations ensures your ability to acknowledge that there is work to do to better yourself, in the long run, this will help you enhance and build on your skills.

So, the lesson you should be taking from this is to not hold yourself back from an opportunity. If you don’t meet the job requirements but think you can still do the job, or think that you could easily pick up the required skills, apply anyway! The worst the hiring manager can do is say “no”.

If you get an interview but still feel apprehensive about not meeting all the job requirements, check out our tips on how to impress the hiring manager.