Perhaps it's the optimist in me but I have a philosophy when it comes to applying for jobs. You may find it a surprising one since I am on the receiving end of the application process but I believe it can work. It's simple: apply for everything (although that does require some clarification).
I am not condoning the filling out of applications to every open job in a 50 mile radius but rather, I am encouraging job seekers to apply for positions they might otherwise pass over even though they meet most of the qualifications/requirements. Case in point, most of the recruiting roles that I have been in have required a college degree (which to my own disappointment, I do not possess)...yet, here I am.
What I lack in a formal (expensive) education, I make up for in wit and charm - uh, I mean, experience and skills. You see, I started in the staffing industry as a coordinator. With a little patience and a lot of drive, I soon found myself as a full-fledged recruiter. By giving my best in the administrative role and taking initiative to learn the perimeters of staffing and recruiting, I was given added responsibilities which in turn led to doors of opportunity. Today, I sit as a senior talent acquisition team member working for managers I love, on a team I love, supporting a client I love, for a company I love. On paper, I may not have technically met all of the pre-requisites but I sold myself by means of a strong background with solid past performance. Being in the right place at the right time helped too! I still owe a good friend a fancy dinner for telling me about the position, otherwise, I may have never found it in the first place.
There I go getting off topic. Alright, back on track - the point of today's blog is to reassure you that there is nothing wrong with applying for a job (or sending your resume) when you do not meet the entire list of requirements. That is not to say that if there is an opening for a Director of Marketing, you should apply for the position just because you make up your own jingles for your favorite grocery items. However, if you have been a Marketing Manager for seven years but the advertisement states that applicants should possess 10 years or more of marketing management experience - I say, GO FOR IT! Or perhaps you have been an individual contributor for many, many years with no management experience. This should not hinder you or cause hesitation to bid on a supervisor opening that you otherwise are the ideal candidate for.
Yes, recruiters in our day and age have dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes to sift through. And no, we do not enjoy receiving resumes from candidates who are not remotely qualified. Who's to say that you are not a diamond in the rough though? Job descriptions are pretty standard. What one hiring manager may write off as not the "right fit," might be a (duh!) winning match for another manager. At the very least, you have put yourself (via resume) out there and may end up in the hands of someone who finds your credentials to be of value to their team or department. You'll never know unless you try and trying should only take you a few minutes. And after all, what's the worst they can do (file your resume away) or say (thanks but no thanks)?! It's their loss anyways...right?!
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