London - You’re poking around while job searching and there it is: the dream position.
But, before you can get too excited, you see the requirements. At first glance, based on your degree or work experience, this role looks out of reach. Before you give up, though, know that’s not always the end of the story.
Read: Job-hunting? Go the extra mile
I understand that you don’t want to waste your time applying for a role you have no shot at. (Hiring managers don’t want to waste their time either.)
However, there’s a difference between not being qualified and having strong transferable skills that you’re not even aware of.
Here’s how someone who wants to change careers can decipher between the two.
* Get started by listing as many of your experiences, skills, accolades and past wins as possible
Go beyond standard resume blurbs like “fluent in SQL” or “graduate of FIT”. (Don’t self-censor; you can pare back later.) Ask yourself: What good things would past supervisors and co-workers say about me? What about friends, mentors or professors? Who else thinks I’m awesome – and why?
How have I contributed measurable results in the past?
How have I contributed beyond what’s easy to measure? Am I a natural leader? Have I served on a company culture committee?
Have I won awards?
What have I accomplished that is generally seen as “badass” (even if it seems unrelated to the role)?
How have I failed spectacularly in the past? Count this as a win too, because a willingness to stick your neck out can be a win if positioned properly (this is especially true in tech).
What might my prospective company need based on its unique situation (maturity, industry, stated objectives, culture, employee demographics, competitors, trends) that I might be able to provide, even if it’s outside the official job description?
What degrees or certifications do I hold, including online courses?
This is going to be a long list, and that’s okay.
Pro tip: Try this exercise across at least two sittings to get the most out of it. Understand what the very best people in your desired role actually do.
To get the full story of what your dream role entails – and get a better sense of if you could actually do it – speak with friends (or friends of friends) who excel in positions similar to the one you want.
To get beyond the job description, ask a lot of questions.
Some good ones include: “What do the very best people in this role do that the average ones don’t?” and “What’s required of this role that (company) wouldn’t actually say out loud?”
Sniff for the unspoken (and potentially more important) requirements.
* Highlight the traits most relevant for the role
Now you have the key ingredients: a comprehensive list of what you can do and a long list of everything the company needs in a top hire for the role.
Your next step is to draw parallels.
A student of mine who wanted to transition from being an art gallery manager learnt that the stated skills for product managers include strong analytical skills, laser focus in moving key performance indicators (KPIs), working on the big picture and in the weeds, understanding the company’s users and having an MBA or equivalent. The unspoken skills include instilling confidence in teammates, peers and superiors, sales skills, strong intuition, solid people skills, resilience and exceptional listening skills.
Armed with this information, she could match her qualifications with what the company really needed.
Note: If you’re missing key skills for the job, focus on plugging those holes before applying.
Check in with someone knowledgeable who’ll tell you the truth.
Reach out to knowledgeable contacts and ask them for honest feedback.
* Then, ask these four questions:
“How would you react to a candidate claiming to have these traits?”
“Is there anything on this you don’t believe or that makes you pause?”
“Can you think of any better words to use than the ones I have here?”
“Are there any red flags or gold stars that stand out?”
Now, incorporate the feedback!
Once your application looks ready to go, put your apprehension behind you.
Show the hiring manager that you’re the best choice because of your unique background, not despite it.
THE INDEPENDENT