You don't meet your dream job's selection criteria ... Apply anyway?

The perfect job for you has just been advertised. You can’t wait to apply, but scanning through the position description, you see that you don’t meet the selection criteria.

Damn.

It’s a winding feeling to realise your skills or experience don’t measure up. But all is not lost. I asked career coaches in Australia and New Zealand whether a jobseeker should apply anyway. It’s a divisive topic but there’s a lot of agreement that it can lead to important discussions, and opportunities to learn from the situation.

While Michael White says, “Nothing to be lost, and everything to be gained from applying,” James Curnow sums up the counter argument, saying, “It doesn't matter how much you want the job if they don't also want you to do the job.”

Then there’s Ali Uren's pearl of wisdom, “Everyone's time is precious, including your own so use it smartly.”

So if you find yourself in that situation, read on for more advice. 

You might be more suited than you think

Johnathan Maltby: "I find that so many people undersell themselves because they don't realise just how capable or valuable they really are. Additionally, their modesty gets in the way of fully promoting themselves as well. If you can do 60%-70% of what's being asked for, then give it a shot."

Darren McFarlane: "A lot of the skills that the person has earned during their career to date may not, at first look, match the selection criteria exactly. But when you scratch the surface you will realise that the underneath base knowledge required is the same as what you have."

It depends on the skills you’re lacking

Narmie Thambipillay: "What part of the selection criteria are you falling short on? Is it an essential or ‘nice to have’? If it’s something that can be learnt on the job and you have all the skills, go ahead and apply. However if it’s something you can’t learn without years and years of experience, then it may be a waste of time applying."

Start a conversation

Gillian Kelly: "Find a way to avoid the online route that may have you screened out by tech as these look for 'perfect fit' candidates. Instead, find your way to the hirer directly through networking or referrals. The key is to understand their pain points and position yourself as a solution."

Lia Zalums: "I recommend connecting with people in the role in that company already to understand the challenges and daily reality of the role. This way you can target your cover letter using this intelligence."

Network

Kelly-Jo Seupakisi: "Start connecting and networking with professionals who are already doing your dream job. Let them know you are interested in what they do and you’re keen to hear their advice. You might be surprised at the leads that then follow."

Add some razzle dazzle

Simon Smith: "Find a way of making your application stand out so you don't get culled early on. Think out of the box. Do something striking, different, eye-catching (but professional) so people will actually read your application."

Learn from it

James Correy: "We all have performance goals but we often neglect the growth goals needed to reach a specific performance goal. Stepping outside of our comfort zone will provide the opportunity to work on the deficit, whether it be a skill, qualification or fear to move one step closer to landing the dream job."

Bruno Doring: “Use the situation as a networking and learning experience. Ask: how do I get from here to this dream job when it comes up next time?"

Christina Cummins: "Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Develop a plan with goals and milestones. Enlist the help of others, including a coach to get you there faster."

Rosie Nelson: "Look for stepping stones to your dream role if you can't get there straight away."

There you have it. If you want to apply for a dream role without the required experience or skills, get ready to put effort into making contact and selling yourself. As Rachel Atkinson says, “You cannot achieve a dream unless you try. But if you take this step, you need to accept your gaps and recognise that you will need to do more work if you are not contacted to further your application.”

Have you ever been offered a job on passion and enthusiasm alone? Share your experiences in the comments below.

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