Finding a job that you’re 100% qualified for is tough. Whether you’re seeking your first job or trying to shift careers, convincing employers to give you a chance even though you lack some qualifications requires deft communications skills. If you have passion for a particular industry, company, or job, don’t let a few missing qualifications derail you from applying because hard work, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn new skills count and can land you the job you’re looking for!
So, how are you going to get noticed? Let’s be clear, companies hire people for one of three reasons; 1-to make money, 2-save money, or 3-in some way affect the bottom line. To get noticed, you need to tell them how you did that in the past and will do one of the three for them.
First, focus on the two documents that will be most critical to securing a sit down with a prospective employer – your resume and cover letter (or more likely, email). Both the resume and cover letter must be organized to make it as easy as possible for employers to understand your skills in the “Big Three” and motivation to achieve them. The resume can’t be a list of jobs and tasks, it has to tell the story of how what you did contributed to the larger work effort of your past or current employer. So, it’s less of the what the task was and more of the why the work mattered to the bottom line. Your cover letter is the primary way you will communicate to prospective employers about the “intangibles” – passion, motivation, and work ethic. This is where you will impactfully articulate why you want this job, how your skills are transferable, and, when combined with work ethic and motivation, make you worthy of consideration – so make it memorable and personal!
Second, when you do get that interview, your focus should not be on your flaws or shortcomings but on how what you have done can translate to success in this new role. Articulate parallels from work and personal experiences. Research the new firm’s culture and verbalize how your interpersonal skills fit. And of course, reiterate your willingness to work hard to learn either by enrolling in courses, attending workshops, or working with a mentor at the firm. Be enthusiastic and creative in how you convey your motivation.
So, don’t use “I’m not fully qualified” as an excuse. Craft your story, share your passion with employers, and in no time, you’ll be exactly where you want to be.
