Generally
speaking it’s not a good idea to apply for jobs for which you’re not
qualified. However, there are
instances when being the “almost” perfect job candidate can at least get you in
the door for an interview. In those cases, below are a few tips on how to take
your “almost perfect” status and make it appealing to employers.
1.
Make
sure that your background and experience meets all or at least most of the
employer’s basic requirements. If
the job asks for 10 years experience and you only have 7 years experience, that
might be enough to get you in the door. On the other hand, if you only have 4
years experience don’t waste the recruiter’s or employer’s time by applying for
a job which requires 10 years experience.
2.
Identify
and address concerns that an employer may have. If you are lacking a certain
type of experience that the employer desires, address that concern in your
cover letter. Let the employer
know that despite your lack of experience in one area, your experience in
another area more than compensates and may even bring added value to the
company.
3.
Focus
on how you can benefit the bottom-line of the company. For those job candidates
who are “almost” perfect for a job, emphasizing how you have brought financial
value to an employer in the past could be just what it takes to convince a firm
to seriously consider you for the job.