Wednesday, March 20, 2019

How to Get a Job When You're Not Qualified



In the Great Recession many years ago, employers were ridiculous with the job qualifications they requested -- a master's degree to be a receptionist or NASA astronaut experience to drive a bakery truck.

That was when jobs were in short supply. Now, those tables have turned and employers are lowering their requirements. You won your elementary school's spelling bee? You can now be CEO!

OK, that may be stretching it a bit, but a new survey by Robert Half finds that 84 percent of companies are willing to hire and train a candidates who lack required skills for a job. Some 62 percent of employees say they've been offered a job when they were underqualified.

"Workers can be trained on duties for a role, but individuals with the right soft skills and fit with the corporate culture are often harder to come by," explains Paul McDonald, senior executive director at Robert Half.

How do you get a job when you might not possess all the qualifications? Here are some ideas:

1. Focus on what you can do. You've got to make it easier for the hiring manager to see how you'd be a good fit for the role. For example, maybe you don't have a "project management" job title, but for years you've coordinated projects in your job, from beginning to end. You've worked with clients, vendors, colleagues, partners, etc. to bring in projects on time and on budget. Try to link your experience to the job as much as you can by highlighting comparable skills.

2. Highlight your understanding of the company. While I always advise doing your homework on an employer, in this case you're going to have to dig deeper. You need to not only understand the company's culture and what they do, but you need to understand how that really translates into the relationship they have with their customers, how they compete with others in the marketplace and how they position themselves in the industry. This will give you a stronger standing as a job candidate as it shows greater passion, interest and motivation to work at that company. Hiring managers always appreciate those attributes in a candidate.

3. Be a learner. If you want an employer to believe that you're going to seize the day and grow to fit a job, then show them you're already on that track. Listen to TED talks that increase your understanding of the job or industry, start following company leaders on Twitter or LinkedIn and even take online classes if possible. All those things show the employer that you're proactive and really want to learn and develop your skills. 

Finally, show that you've got soft skills that often are more difficult to learn: good communication, problem-solving skills, a solid work ethic, adaptability and teamwork. Employers are often willing to teach hard skills, so finding a candidate with good soft skills is considered a real plus.


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