{"id":18095,"date":"2023-11-02T09:40:06","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T13:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/?p=18095"},"modified":"2023-11-02T09:40:08","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T13:40:08","slug":"how-to-apply-for-a-job-when-youre-not-a-perfect-fit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/en\/how-to-apply-for-a-job-when-youre-not-a-perfect-fit\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Apply For A Job When You\u2019re Not A Perfect Fit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Don\u2019t deny yourself a potential opportunity, when instead you can learn how to apply for a job when you\u2019re not a perfect fit.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When scrolling through job descriptions, it\u2019s rare to find one that perfectly aligns with your CV and specific skill set \u2013 at least for roles that\u2019ll be a forward move in your career. However, this shouldn\u2019t deter you from applying to those aspirational roles. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is a great <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/9-ways-to-keep-learning-and-growing-in-your-career\/\">opportunity for growth<\/a>, both professionally and personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Often, it can be easy to read a job description and immediately rule yourself out of the running. This is especially true for female candidates, with research showing that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/90661349\/dear-female-jobseeker-apply-for-the-job-ignore-the-qualifications\">women apply to fewer jobs than men<\/a>, and are less likely to apply if they don\u2019t meet almost 100% of the required qualifications.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you do end up applying, your lack of confidence may reflect subconsciously in <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/how-to-use-job-application-forms-for-an-efficient-recruitment-process\/\">your application<\/a>, meaning you don\u2019t show yourself in the best possible light. Luckily, there are many things you can do to&nbsp; learn how to apply for a job when you\u2019re not a perfect fit for a role.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-focus-on-the-skills-you-do-have\">Focus on the skills you <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">do<\/span> have&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Lots of us find it difficult to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/parents\/mytutor-for-students\/how-to-write-a-cracking-cover-letter-and-cv\/\">talk ourselves up on a CV<\/a> or at <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/tell-me-about-yourself-how-to-leave-a-good-impression\/\">a job interview<\/a>. Particularly if we feel underqualified for a role, or have been <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/how-to-address-an-employment-gap-on-your-resume\/\">out of the workforce<\/a> for a while, a sense of imposter syndrome may lead you to selling yourself short. But it\u2019s important not to focus on the negatives, and instead concentrate on <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/how-to-sharpen-these-essential-skills-for-success-in-2023\/\">highlighting the skills<\/a> that you do have and are relevant to the role.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As an experienced professional, you will have acquired an entire arsenal of skills that you will be able to call upon. Even if you\u2019ve never worked in a similar role or even the same industry before, <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/the-most-important-soft-skills-you-need-to-have-in-any-workplace\/\">draw on the transferable skills<\/a> you would have picked up across the course of your career, and demonstrate how these can be applied in the role. Doing this yourself in <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/23-keys-traits-to-include-in-your-2023-resume\/\">your resume<\/a> and job application rather than leaving it to the hiring manager will make you stand out to recruiters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As long as you\u2019re being honest about your abilities, and aren\u2019t making anything up, you should be proud of everything on your CV, no matter how small it may seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-address-any-gaps-in-your-cv\">Address any gaps in your CV&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A gap in your employment history can make you think that you\u2019re not a perfect fit for a job role. When <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/how-to-overcome-job-hopping-on-your-resume\/\">talking about gaps in your CV<\/a>, this could refer to either breaks in your employment history and\/or skills gaps that may need filling. If you have taken a career break, it may seem like the best approach is to brush over it. But in this situation, it\u2019s always best to directly address this aspect of your CV \u2013 it shows honesty.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whilst you don\u2019t necessarily have to explain the personal circumstances that might\u2019ve led to a gap in your career, it can be helpful to provide the interviewer with some context. Otherwise, they may be concerned that your previous employment came to <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/how-to-write-a-termination-letter\/\">an unexpected end<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, if you have taken some time away from work to take care of your family, it might be worth disclosing this information. It may even spark a connection and talking point with the interviewer, and paint a better picture of you as a person, not just a name on a job application. And even if you weren&rsquo;t in a professional role at this time, you can always discuss any other means of personal or professional development you engaged with, such as any learning opportunities you took part in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, consider how you plan to address any skills gaps through courses, <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-upskilling\/\">committed upskilling<\/a> or any other means, to demonstrate you can be responsible for your own progression and development. Even a short online course can show <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/stay-motivated-how-to-keep-learning-new-skills-during-difficult-times\/\">intent to learn<\/a> and an <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/skills-based-hiring-how-to-emphasize-skills-over-traditional-credentials\/\">awareness of the skills<\/a> that are needed for the industry you\u2019re applying for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-come-equipped-with-strong-references\">Come equipped with strong references&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>References and recommendations are a key part of the recruitment process for many businesses. They can offer employers an insight into your capabilities and work ethic, and help to reinforce any of the skills and experiences you have discussed in your application.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Especially if you\u2019re a little concerned about not being a perfect fit for the role, it\u2019s important that you take the time to carefully <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themuse.com\/advice\/your-ultimate-guide-to-picking-and-getting-the-best-possible-references\">consider who you want to approach for a reference<\/a>. As an experienced professional, it\u2019s likely that you will have several people to call upon as part of <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/how-to-build-a-professional-network-5-creative-ways-for-when-youre-just-starting-out\/\">your network<\/a>, so think about which former employer would give you the best chance to stand out to recruiters with their reference. This is especially important if you feel that you don\u2019t meet all of the required qualifications \u2013 a strong recommendation from a colleague, manager, or <a href=\"\/blog\/en\/how-to-be-a-strong-mentor\/\">mentor<\/a> can encourage the hiring manager to take a chance on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-be-confident\">Be confident<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easy to look at a job description and only notice all of the places where you don\u2019t have the right skills. Try and turn this around and look at what your unique experience can bring to the role instead. If you\u2019re struggling, ask a friend or family member to help you \u2013 an outsider&rsquo;s view can help you see how to frame your skills in the best way possible. When you learn how to apply for a job when you\u2019re not a perfect fit, you\u2019ll open yourself up to a whole new world of exciting career opportunities. This way, you\u2019ll be fully prepared when you hopefully get a call for that coveted job interview.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Be confident in your skills and abilities that you&rsquo;ve worked to develop when wondering how to apply for a job when you&rsquo;re not a perfect fit.","protected":false},"author":193,"featured_media":18096,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[482,4766],"tags":[4816],"class_list":["post-18095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-comment-trouver-un-emploi-facilement","category-conseils-emploi","tag-strategie-rh"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/193"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18095"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18102,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18095\/revisions\/18102"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobillico.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}