The Myth of Job Requirements

Far too many people hold the belief that you need to meet 100% of the job requirements in a posting (especially women). This hesitation and second-guessing is even more pronounced for those looking for their first job when they finish college. Taking the leap to apply to your first job is daunting; however, you are far more qualified than what’s bulleted on the (very general) job description.

 We believe that if you have at least 40% of the listed needs, you should take it as a sign to press ahead. So, even if you don't have the required number of years of experience or can’t tick off every listed skill, it is still worth applying for the position. Not everyone meets all criteria. Have the confidence to portray what you have done and outline plans to address your gaps in the cover letter and during the interview process.

Another few important things to consider:

 - Not all job requirements have equal weighting. Find out which matter the most and share and emphasize your experiences in these areas

- Think through your background - you may have experiences that you are simply overlooking

- The best leaders and interviewers that have I worked with look to hire based on potential, not experience.  It is very hard to validate experience and you should spend your time instead explaining (via a 30 60 90 planning tool) how you would approach the job as if you were in the role!

 Let us help lay out the path. Have a partner in the journey that has been there before.