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Should I Apply for the Job I’m Unqualified For?

Should I Apply for the Job I’m Unqualified For?

No job is out of reach, and your application plays a key role in your ability to garner a company’s attention and receive an invitation to interview for a position. To create an effective job application, here’s what you need to do:

1. Accentuate Your Strengths

A company may seek a job candidate who possesses hands-on industry experience or various certifications. You might lack some of the required experience or skills outlined in a job description, but you can overcome these shortfalls if you accentuate your strengths in your application.

For example, you may lack a bachelor’s degree, but you could instead highlight your industry certifications in your application. Or, if you lack hands-on industry experience, you can always provide samples of any industry projects you’ve completed on your own.

2. Learn About All Aspects of a Job

Your overall talent is significant, and it can help you overcome any challenges that come your way, regardless of role. If you include details about skills that can help you accomplish the tasks related to a specific role, you could move one step closer to scoring an interview with a prospective employer.

There are lots of skills you can highlight in your cover letter and resume. For instance, if you apply for a management position, share details in your cover letter about your ability to lead peers. Or, if you apply for a customer relationship management (CRM) role, include information in your resume about your use of Salesforce, HubSpot, and other CRM software.

3. Prioritize Your Recommendations

It’s one thing to say you have what it takes to perform a job well, but it’s another for a colleague or superior to recommend you for a position. If you dedicate time and resources to find relevant references for a particular role, you could boost the likelihood of securing the job of your choice.

Identify potential references who will attest to your skills related to a specific role. Then, ask these individuals if they are willing to speak with a prospective employer on your behalf and provide them with details about the position. This allows you to prepare your references for a phone call or email from a prospective employer, so they can explain why you are a good fit for a job.

4. Complete a Test Assignment

Give a prospective employer the opportunity to test you on your skills. That way, you can show a prospective employer exactly what you can offer on a day-to-day basis.

Remember, completing a test assignment provides insights into your ability to perform work according to a company’s specifications. If you offer to complete a test assignment for a prospective employer, you can make it easy for the employer to evaluate your skills. In addition, you can differentiate yourself from other candidates.

Accelerate Your Career Success with Techneeds

At Techneeds, we help job seekers find the right positions based on their skills and experience and build successful careers. To learn more, please call us today at 800-346-8810.