An age-old dilemma
for many job seekers is applying for a job for which they may be slightly underqualified.
Maybe they are a year or two short of the years experience desired or maybe
they don’t have the exact type of job history the employer is searching for;
but they still feel that they could be a match. Many job seekers wander if in certain cases they should
still apply for the job. The
answer is maybe; but only if they the following applies:
1.
Your
job qualifications are not dramatically different from what the employer
desires. Maybe you are just a year
or two short on experience but feel that the years experience you do have more
than make up for the shortcoming. Make sure that you explain to the employer in
your cover letter that you experience may not be “long” but that it is “dense.”
2.
You
don’t have experience in the industry or field they desire; but you do have
skills and experience that is transferable from another industry or field. In this case you need to make it clear
to the employer how these skills can benefit them.
3.
You
have someone who is connected to the employer willing to refer you for the
position. When an employer is searching for a new hire they want someone who
they can trust. When you are referred by someone they already know and trust they
can sometimes overlook certain shortcomings.