Do you ever apply for jobs that you're not currently qualified to do?

4 Comments

1. Kimberly JohnsonNovember 21,2024 at 5:13AM UTC

   What do you have to lose?

2. AnonymousNovember 21,2024 at 4:52PM UTC

   I was given that advice too. What does it hurt to apply. You can learn during the interview phase if you really could attempt in the job. Usually, this also helps if you know someone in the company willing to help you get that personal recommendation.

   1 level up is more what I've heard of. 2 is a risk, but give it a try. Hopefully you're not wasting your time and applying to things you know you know nothing about and an expert should be doing it. Good luck!

3. Hold on Lee LouNovember 21,2024 at 7:12PM UTC

   Yes. Apply! Women often wait until they are overqualified for a job, while men apply willy-nilly to jobs they want regardless of qualifications (this is a generalization of course). There is ALWAYS a learning curve at a new job, and the only way to level up is to challenge yourself.

   Apply. Look for the aspects of the job you are confident and excited about and focus on those. If there are glaring holes in your qualifications and the job requirements, research how you can fill the gap.

   Most companies - at least good ones - look for a good fit culturally, and then support your growth as you learn the role and that company.

   The worst that happens here is that you never challenge yourself and don't get the opportunity to advance your career. The second worst is that you get the job, learn some stuff, and then have to look for a different position (with the benefit of this added experience). . The third worst is that you don't get the job. There's not a down side to applying!

4. AnonymousNovember 22,2024 at 6:03PM UTC

   For sure, apply anyway. But what I would advise against is overselling yourself. Don't claim you know how to do something you don't. Or that you have knowledge of a specific subject that you don't. If you check enough of the boxes and demonstrate growth and ability to learn and continue to grow, go for it. If you do get called for an interview, also pay attention to the hiring manager. Remember, you are basically interviewing them to. And I'm going to leave the specifics to someone else, but make sure you are asking the right questions of them that will show whether or not they are a supportive manager and will help you grow - not hire you and leave you to flounder or micromanage you to failure.