Applying to a Job You Aren’t Qualified For
When I was 19 I applied for an Assistant Manager position at DAVIDsTEA. I was under qualified, but I was also ambitious, eager to move up the ladder, and determined to show my worth. Even though I didn’t fully understand what it meant to be a business manager, I got the job! Why?
Better question… How?
Firstly, I had to do the easiest part, apply. Submitting the application is as easy as hitting send, but structuring your resume to ensure you stand out is a little trickier. I revamped my resume, specifically highlighting the skills I possessed that were relevant to the role. I used key words from the job application and ensured that my experience aligned with the requirements in the posting. Submitting a standard resume isn’t enough if you don’t meet the job requirements.In addition, I also submitted a cover letter acknowledging that I knew I didn’t meet all the qualifications that they were searching for. By acknowledging that, I took control over how they perceived me. They didn’t see me as some over ambitious novice, instead, they were able to see someone willing to grow into the requirements of the job. I created an image of a girl who was eager, moldable, and able to be taught how to be the perfect Assistant Manager and therefore, one day, the perfect Store Manager. I didn’t know if my resume would even get looked at, but what I did know is that there was zero chance if I didn’t try. I knew that I had strong leadership skills, enthusiasm and a deep desire to learn so that if they did decide to hire me, I would go above and beyond what they had expected.
After applying, you wait; wait to see if your resume intrigued the employer enough to get you an interview. In this case, it did. This was my chance to show them that I could learn the hard skills that they were searching for. I already had the natural soft skills that are hard to find: ambition, leadership and empathy, which gave me more to speak about rather than just my inexperience. These aren’t necessarily things you can teach, but learning how to read the numbers and manage sales are. No matter how qualified (or under qualified) you are, people hire people, not just qualifications. It is easy for them to teach you the hard skills that are required by the job and most leaders enjoy that form of mentorship. Now, more than ever, employers are looking for what makes you YOU, whether that’s your passion or your fresh outlook, they want to see it. The key to nailing the interview is vulnerability; show them your humanity and how unique you are.
And the rest is history. I got the job and thrived.
That experience taught me a lot about personal growth, ambition and advocacy. No matter how ambitious you are, if you can’t properly advocate for yourself, you will not progress when opportunities arise. Think about it this way, when you meet new people, do you remember the timid, quiet person that barely participated? Or do you remember the person who was outgoing and started the conversation? People who are willing to speak up create a presence, they portray confidence even if they don’t think they do, and those are the people who make the most of the opportunities presented, qualified or not.
No matter how intimidating the job posting is, you have to try. Like I said above, trying by simply applying isn’t enough. Trying through proper preparation and vulnerability will lead to results.