Do you apply for jobs that you don't meet the exact qualifications?

[prolesunited]

Say you have more than 75% of the skills they are looking for but don't have the exact number of years in a specific field or have management experience in one area, but not that one.

Do you address it up front in your cover letter or just hope they don't notice? Do you ever B.S. your way through that in an interview?

[SeattleGirl]

1. My advice: NEVER B.S. about your experience or qualifications.

Before you apply, think about why you think you DO qualify for the position, and talk about that in the interview. Do you have any related experience that they might possibly consider?

Many times, the qualifications for a job are the IDEAL qualifications, not the bottom line quals. So it's possible that you could still be considered for a position, even if you don't meet all the quals they list in the job announcement.

And don't B.S.

[prolesunited]

2. When I say B.S., I don't mean lie

Just being upbeat about what skills you do have and glossing over the rest.

[MrCoffee]

3. Unless it says "Resumes will not be considered unless X", I apply

Without language indicating that the requirement is set in stone, why not go for it? Hell, even if it says "You must have 25 years experience to even think about being considered", what do you have to lose?

[prolesunited]

6. I guess nothing

just wasting their time and mine

[Seeking Serenity]

4. Heck, yeah. All the time. Just for kicks.

[XemaSab]

5. Sure

I can usually bring in other things that I think would be helpful to the position.

For example, I recently applied for a senior editor position, despite the fact that I have about three months of experience. I told the folks that having worked in the field as a scientist writing the documents gave me a unique perspective, and that I would probably be better equipped to deal with some of the problems inherent in the documents than someone with no scientific background.

I didn't get the job, but it was worth a shot. :shrug:

[tigereye]

7. sure, you never know! I guess I'd address the difference in the cover letter

and then explain why I think I should have a shot anyway!

[busybl]

14. I wouldn't address the difference at all

Send in your usual letter and resume. They will know if they are interested. You'd be surprised how many times I've heard, well not exactly what we were thinking, but let's talk to her/him anyway.

[PeaceNikki]

8. Absolutely.

Hail Mary!!

[tjwash]

9. Hell yeah...that's what interviews are for.

No ones going to fault you for applying. What's the worst they can do to you? Not call you back?

[DarkTirade]

10. Occasionally.

Hasn't helped a whole lot for me though.

[Nikia]

11. I have and occaisionally gotten interviews

It helps if the qualifications aren't something that many people have anyway though. They won't interview you if they don't think that you are possibly qualified.

[LostinVA]

12. Don't lie, but apply -- I didn't have enough experience in ONE way for the job now

However, I did in another way, and that's the direction they were thinking of going. It was a huge raise for me -- an almost 25% raise over what I had been making. Go for it -- don't lie, but don't highlight.

[busybl]

13. of course

you never can tell. Having had to write ads for people I found you can't sometimes spell out exactly what you need and an applicant might bring something that you realize might be a good thing. And in the other direction, you may be just the person we want without knowing it.

[Robeson]

15. In this economy, I've been applying for jobs I'm over qualified for...

...it sucks just trying to make a buck.

[grannylib]

16. I apply anyway; I don't lie on my resume or in the interview, but try

to impress upon the interviewer my potential and ability to learn, to pick up on things quickly, etc.

[sniffa]

17. I apply for any job I'm remotely qualified for

The resume is impressive yet vague, and I also add a section I label "potpourri" that includes a hobby or two and a quirky fact or two about me.

The potpourri section always dominates the interview and it allows me to quickly take control of the interview and before long we're laughing and sharing pictures and the job is mine if I want it. The only issue that has ever come up is salary. I've almost always been offered the job (and %50 of the time I've taken it) but the interview/offer has always hit the wall when it came to the salary issue.

The last interview I went for was back in 2005 and it was really intense (one of the few interviews I couldn't dominate) and it lasted about 1.5 hours. At the end they were excited to have me work for them and asked me what I was looking for. My initial offer made the guy almost fall out of his chair so we began to haggle. The best he could do for me was a $7k/year pay cut from what I was making at the time for less work/responsibility..... but with the possibility that after 6 months I could be making only $4K less of what I was making for less work/responsibility. Oh, and I would have been commuting 1.5 hours every day to get at work by 7am at the latest. It didn't work out.

Moral of the story: apply for any job that you want or even need.

[Orrex]

18. Hell yes! That's how I almost got the job as a Hooters waitress.

But in the end they decided that I was too tall. Or something.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

19. No. n/t

[UrbScotty]

20. Never hurts to challenge the system a little.

If you can convince them that you have what it takes to do better for the company than anyone who has more qualifications... then hey!

Of course it's not easy, but still...