Occasionally, you come across a job that sparks your excitement, and you think, ‘Yes, this is exactly what I’d love to do!’ You believe you are the perfect fit for the role, yet you realize you don’t meet all the criteria listed in the job advertisement. So, what’s your next move? Do you go ahead and apply, or do you hesitate? If you decide to apply, what are the odds of landing the job? Better yet, how can you tweak your application to maximize your chances?

General Advice

As a general rule, it’s advisable not to apply if you don’t meet at least 80% of the criteria. Tailor your resume to clearly demonstrate how you fulfill as many criteria as possible. Utilize active language, provide concrete examples, and quantify your achievements. Highlight skills and experiences that compensate for any criteria you don’t meet. Additionally, showcase other qualities you possess that, while not mandatory, can bring additional value to both the job and the company. If you lack required examples from your professional experience, consider drawing from your hobbies or personal life. Emphasize your passion for the job and the company, your future potential, and your ability to learn quickly.

Find Your Blue Ocean*

In the first place, your chances depend on the level of competition. If there’s an abundance of more qualified candidates applying for the same role, the likelihood of securing an interview is relatively slim. However, if the competition is weak, and none of the candidates meet all the job criteria, you stand a decent chance. Therefore, if you are aiming high and trying to secure a job that is at the stretch of your capabilities, it’s advisable to focus on opportunities where you can expect limited competition.

One Man’s trash Is Another Man’s Treasure

One approach is to target companies that may not be as popular or desirable as employers. In this case, steer clear of the FAANGs and other well-established enterprises that often attract hundreds of applications for each vacancy. Instead, search for companies with negative employee reviews and low rankings on platforms like Glassdoor or Indeed. These companies usually struggle to attract candidates and chances are you will be one of a few applicants for the role.

In the job advertisement, watch out for red flags such as unrealistic expectations, excessive use of “family” terminology (“We are a happy tribe,” “We work hard, play hard,” “We are like a family”), and an emphasis on startup status. Pay attention to quirky or amusing job titles, especially for senior management, and inflated job titles or salary ranges compared to market standards. These factors usually indicate a specific company culture and challenging working environment that is not for everybody.

Additional signs may include a brief tenure for your interviewers, turnover in the advertised role, and the overall staff fluctuation. You can find it out by checking LinkedIn profiles of current and former employees of the company. Also take note if the job posting has been active for an extended period (several months) or if it’s been reposted multiple times.

While working for such a company might pose challenges and is generally something I advise people to approach with caution, it’s essential to weigh all the pros and cons. Despite potential difficulties, the experience, exposure, and the record in your CV can be pivotal for your career.

Become a Rare Species

Another proven strategy is to cultivate a rare combination of skills—something unusual yet what employers may eventually require—and focus on roles that demand such unique expertise. This could involve mastering another foreign language, becoming proficient in a niche technology, gaining in-depth knowledge of an industry, or developing a distinctive blend of technical and soft skills.

Start by identifying your interests and strengths. What are you naturally good at, and what are you passionate about? Evaluate your existing skills, both technical and soft, and consider leveraging transferable skills from past experiences or hobbies.

While it may take some time to find a job opening that perfectly aligns with your unique skill set, when the right opportunity arises, you may find yourself as one of the few (or perhaps the only) candidate. This exclusivity enhances your chances of being hired significantly.

Networking

When you feel underqualified for a job and fear your application might get lost among other candidates who meet all the criteria, having someone in your network who personally knows the hiring manager and can recommend you for the role can help you cut the queue and secure a spot at the top of their shortlist.

Conclusion

Aiming high with your career can be tricky, but an experienced career coach can provide you valuable guidance. Once you get to a job interview, learn how to stand out from the crowd in my article here.

Good luck!

*Blue Ocean Strategy is a book published in 2004 written by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, professors at INSEAD, and the name of the marketing theory detailed in the book. You can also learn more about it here.

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