Why you don’t have to be the best person for the job:

Have you ever stumbled across a job description, got really excited, got to the bottom as read through the requirements and got put off?

You wouldn’t be the first to be discouraged to apply for that dream job, but realistically, do you really need to fulfil every single thing on the list? The first thing to remember is that a job description tells half a story. This is what the employer wants in an ideal world and how they think the candidate will best match up.

However, think this: If you believe you can do the job and you are the match, you should absolutely put yourself out there. The key difference here is being ‘almost qualified’ vs not even close.

Like we said before, the requirements listed in the job description are guidelines, not solid rules. Remember that employers want experience and the right skills, in most cases, this will usually come first over any qualifications. And if qualifications are stated such as a degree but you have all the relevant experience, applying gives you to the opportunity to be considered.

If you meet some qualifications, are excited about the position and can see yourself being a great asset to the company, convey that enthusiasm in your cover letter. Draw the reader’s attention to your strengths that make you worthy for consideration. Think to yourself when writing it up “does this show myself in a unique and positive way?” where have you made a difference at work? Taking time to personalise the cover letter will really pay off!

Read between the lines:

Don’t be fooled by all job descriptions, a lot of them are based on what the company has used before or they saw one listed on a similar position. Also, job descriptions are meant to daunt candidates slightly, this is to eliminate people who won’t even take the time to apply because they think they’re unqualified. Rarely does a person meet every single bullet point, so if you think you meet the core necessities, you should apply.

The candidate that a hiring manager will ultimately choose to hire is not always the most experienced or the most qualified. They want the one that demonstrates genuine enthusiasm, not fake enthusiasm because you need a job. Also, the one that believes in the company’s mission. Skills can be developed and acquired- but genuine enthusiasm is either there, or it’s not. Even if you do apply, you have nothing to lose. However, if you never applied you will always question what if.

There are many job seekers that hold back because of the lack of confidence, but this is a mistaken perception about the hiring process. There are ways of making yourself stand out. Firstly, keywords are king so use them. Pick out all the keywords you can see in the job description, this will make your CV and cover letter stand out particularly paying attention to your experience. Then research on Glassdoor, through networking and using LinkedIn to get that extra gain of knowledge on the company!