Is It Okay To Apply For A Job When You Don't Have The Right Skills?

In a single word, yes.

Seeing as you're looking for work, you've probably seen a lot of ads for jobs that are almost right for you but not quite. If you're a recent college graduate or looking for a complete career change, you probably aren't qualified for any of the jobs you're looking at. But you probably know of people who got jobs even though they weren't really qualified. If you've ever had a job outside the home, you've probably had this happen to you.

This is because companies are looking more than ever for potential instead of a perfect match. This means that there may be jobs for which you feel "underqualified," but you should still apply.

But there is a difference between not being qualified enough and not being qualified at all. Here's how to tell the difference.

Almost what they're after

Figure it out: Are you a 10% match for the job or an 85% match? If the skills and experience are only a 10% match, don't bother. If you do this, you and the person in charge of hiring will both waste time. But let's be honest: screening software for resumes often gets rid of applicants who aren't qualified at all. On the other hand, if you're close to meeting the requirements, go ahead and apply. I would recommend applying if the job is at your dream company, you fit in well with the company's culture, and your skills match the job's requirements by 80% to 90%.

This is especially true for recent graduates and people who are just starting out in their careers. Not because you are likely to get the job (though it is possible), but because it can help you get your foot in the door. It can be worth taking a chance and applying.

You have done great things

This strategy doesn't work for everyone, but you can benefit from it if you've done something very impressive in your job, like winning a big award in your field, serving your country with honor, or selling your startup for a lot of money. Hiring managers and their peers in talent acquisition are looking at candidates' performance and success indicators instead of immediately getting rid of those who don't have the "necessary" skills or experience in the industry.

These include past accomplishments, a history of going above and beyond in terms of performance, career growth and title changes, and credentials from school and the workplace. This has made it possible for applicants who are "A-players" to apply for jobs they might not have been able to apply for before.

You know for sure that you can finish the job.

When you are sure you can overcome the learning curve and get all the skills you need to do the job, you should feel comfortable looking for work.

This doesn't just mean that you think, "I'm smart; I can learn how to do anything," but also that you know exactly what skills you need to learn new things as you go. You might have worked in sales in one field and want to do something similar in another. This doesn't mean that if you're a good accountant but a great cook, you should try to get a job as head chef.

Knowing what you think a business needs and being able to sell it are important parts of selling.

Willis says that a sure sign you should apply is if you can honestly say in your cover letter how you would help the company and the position right away. If you know you don't meet the requirements, you must explain what you can bring to the table.

What can you give the hiring manager that none of the other candidates who are better qualified can? This is where you can talk about your past achievements, preferably ones that make you stand out from the other applicants.

You can get into the company

Finding a friend on the inside is often the fastest way to get noticed. "Minimum requirements are often overlooked, and the best way to find out what they are is to get a good recommendation from someone at your target company with whom you may have worked before.”

Sometimes, these connections and recommendations are more important than the main job requirements. Google found that college GPAs had almost nothing to do with performance. Because of this, it hired up to 14% more people who had never finished college for some teams. It's interesting because if Google, one of the hardest companies in the world to get a job at, is willing to overlook a typical minimum requirement like a college degree, then job seekers should be optimistic about their chances.

You don't mind being rejected

It's common to hear "no" when you're looking for a job, but it can be especially disheartening if you're looking for a job that you're not fully qualified for. You can only move up to the next position if you know how to act when you are passed over.

Never tell yourself "no." Let the employer turn you down, no matter what. If you don't try to get the job, you'll never know if you've got it or not. What are you going to do next? If you get an email telling you that you didn't get the job, move on to the next chance and try again.