Don't have the proper qualifications of the job posting? You don't need them. Here's how to land a job you're not qualified for.
I have worked at many Fortune 100 companies and while I was qualified for some of the jobs, I certainly didn't meet the “qualification criteria” they were seeking.
Bottom line: It didn't matter. This is how you land a job you're not qualified for.
I've worked for five Fortune 500 companies.
I'll admit it. I wasn't qualified for two of those jobs. However, I'm here to tell you that it didn't matter…and no, I didn't lie about it.
This post is all about how to land a job that you don't have the qualifications for.
What Do “Qualification Requirements” Mean
The truth is that when you see job postings with “15 years of experience required” or “seeking expert in the industry” or “must know XYZ systems”, and all the other qualification requirements you may see, think of it as a speed bump, not a stop sign.
These are essentially the employer's IDEAL requirements, but that doesn't mean it's a must, even if it says “requirement”.
Trust me, it's not a must.
In fact, the majority of the time, they don't even ever ask about any of them.
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When to Ignore “Qualification Requirements” in a Job Posting
Ignore the qualification requirements when YOU KNOW you're qualified to do the job!
You see, in my example above, I KNEW I was qualified for the job, but according to their unrealistic requirements, I wasn't. I just needed to prove WHY I was qualified for the job.
You just need to prove WHY you're qualified for the job.
They are posting for their “ideal” candidate and hoping that person will fall into their lap with a fantastic personality, work ethic, coachability, etc. This is what they're hoping for.
However, often that candidate is looking for a job that pays more than what they're offering. It's a classic case of having champagne taste on a beer budget.
Most likely, their dream, ideal candidate won't even want to apply for the job because they've got their eyes on another job.
What are Employers Really Looking For
So if they aren't actually looking for the exact qualification requirements they mention, what are they looking for?
I'm glad you asked!
The truth is that employers are REALLY looking for a candidate with an enthusiastic personality, strong worth ethic, confidence, a team player, listener, a career-seeker, and someone who is COACHABLE!
Yes, I said it. Companies are looking for someone that is COACHABLE and willing to learn!
Think about it.
If you owned your own business, would you want to hire the guy that has 10 years of experience, but wants to do things his way, doesn't listen well, isn't pleasant to be around, and isn't coachable?
No way! You'd want the person who is enthusiastic about the job and learning! This way you can mold them into exactly what you want!
Now, don't get me wrong, having experience is a fantastic thing!!
However, most people won't ever have 15 years of experience in one job title in one industry, because then you probably wouldn't be happy anyways.
My Experience with Job Qualifications: Story Time!
My best (and favorite) job that led me to numerous other incredible job opportunities (and still leads me to new job offers almost monthly even today), is a job at a Fortune 50 Company that required 15 years of experience in the industry.
I had 2 years of experience outside the industry and was interviewing against people that had 10-20 years of experience each.
After 7 interviews, I knew there were a few more interviews left. I informed them that another company had made me an offer, but that I preferred this job, but needed to know if I was being considered. (I figured I had no chance.)
Instead, they explained that it was down to me and another candidate. I was shocked!!
They scheduled an interview for an hour later with a Vice President, forwent the additional interviews, and then hired me an hour later. WHAT!!?? I went from thinking I had no chance to getting the job against someone that had 15 years of experience!!! CRAZY, RIGHT!?
I was the employee of the year 6 years in a row at that company.
Needless to say, do you think they cared that I didn't have 15 years of experience when I was overachieving beside thousands of my colleagues? Of course not! And they definitely didn't regret their decision.
So, what do you need to do to land a job you're not qualified for? Let's dive in.
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5 Things You Should Encompass to Land a Job
1. Confidence
The first key element you should possess is confidence.
Let me tell you…confidence will get you places in life!
Have you ever heard someone say something they were completely wrong about, but they said it with such confidence, you actually started questioning your beliefs? Me too!
Having confidence in yourself will be portrayed in everything you do. It will show through on your resume, in your interview, your interaction with your coworkers, and your work ethic.
Employers want to hire people with confidence who believe in themselves.
I mean, if you don't believe in yourself, how are they supposed to believe in you?
How to Improve Your Self Confidence
Need help in the confidence department? We all start somewhere!
Here are 12 things you can do to improve your self confidence.
- Write positive things about yourself on sticky notes and post them on your bathroom mirror or somewhere you can see it daily.
- Remove all negative comments about yourself from your vocabulary.
- Join Toastmasters. This club meets all over the USA and will help you with your presentation skills.
- Practice presenting on a topic to your family.
- Do interview after interview. YES! This completely helps! The more interviews you do, the easier it gets! Even if you're not interested in the job, go on the interview. You will learn something every time.
- Set goals for yourself and then accomplish them.
- Make friends. You can make friends easily by joining a church or meeting up with groups on meetup.com. I actually met some of my friends through meetup so it's a great place to meet people!
- Make a list of things you've already achieved. I do this all the time and then cross them off when I achieve them.
- Make a vision board. Having dreams and goals gives you a purpose and makes you feel confident about your role in this role. Also, write down your goals in a goal tracker! You can download my free goal tracker here.
- Pick up a hobby. Having something that makes you feel good will help improve your self confidence. For example, I'm a runner and I love snowboarding, paddle boarding, and cooking. Those things make me happy and because I've gotten really good at them, I have confidence when I do them or talk about them.
- Learn a new skill. Aim to learn new skills by watching youtube videos.
- Read a book. Learning things from books will improve your vocabulary and make you confident about your new found skills.
2. Enthusiasm
Employers LOVE people that are enthusiastic. It's REFRESHING!
I can't tell you how many managers have told me they love how enthusiastic I am. It makes their job easier.
It's refreshing for them to talk to me because no matter how bad things are in the workplace, I turn it around and make it a positive.
In turn, they know they don't have to worry about me. They know I'm going to look at bad situations and find solutions.
When they announce a new boring task we all have to do, I say “alright, coming right up boss!” My colleagues would sometimes moan and groin about things so having an enthusiastic employee that just does what's asked of them is extremely refreshing.
Showcase your enthusiasm in the interview. You can do this by saying how enthusiastic you are and explaining your passion for the job and for the industry.
3. Coachability
Employers desire employees that are coachable. Nobody likes managing someone that won't adopt the new company's way of doing things.
It's a pain and it drags everyone down.
Therefore, BE COACHABLE!
What does this mean exactly? Show them in the interview that you can be trained, essentially. Yes, like a puppy. =)
You can even use the word “coachable”.
Employers want you to do it their way so even if you think you know better, do it their way. They already have tons of employees NOT doing it their way, so having someone that can learn and implement want they want will go a LONG WAY.
I know this sounds simple and easy…and it is! However, MOST PEOPLE AREN'T COACHABLE!
You will set yourself apart from the others by making it known that you want to be the best employee possible and will retain everything they teach you.
In the interview, ask them about their training program. Explain that you're extremely interested in their training program so that you can hit the ground running as a successful employee.
4. Drive/Hard Worker
Having drive and determination is also an important part of getting a job you're not qualified for.
If you can showcase to the employer that you have more drive than their other candidates, they will choose you for the position.
Having drive means that you are hard worker and that you want to grow with the company.
One of my favorite things to tell an employer in the interview is that I want to grow my career with the company. Employers love this because it essentially is telling them that you are an investment, not just another employee.
They want to hire people that are appreciative of the opportunity and have the drive to show you how thankful they are. If a candidate says they want to grow with the company, they are saying they will put in the hard work it takes to not only do their current job, but go above and beyond to be considered for future promotions.
This is a really positive quality in a candidate than an employer is sure to love.
5. Team Player
The final thing you need to showcase in an interview to land a job is discuss the importance of being a team player.
Employers love when their employees help each other. It shows that they not only care about their job, they care about their colleagues and the overall well being of the company.
This type of employee is so valuable to an organization and to a manager.
In your interview, ask about the team player environment within the organization. Mention that you like working in teams and that you see your job as more than just your day to day responsibilities.
You can even mention that since you want to grow with the company, being a team player is a crucial element in helping the company be as successful and efficient as possible.
I hope these tips help you land a job, even if you're not qualified. Remember, you've got this!
If you need a resume template, I've made my EXACT resume template available to you here.
If you need assistance in writing the perfect resume, you'll enjoy this tutorial here.
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