Applying for jobs your not qualified for?

Amanita_2

LisaB85 wrote: »

Remind me not to apply for a job with you then......You could end up rejecting someone who would be prefect for another role.

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Unlikely.

I work in a specialist field and need my staff to have specialist skills and specialist relevant experience. Anyone with even potentially transferable skills would need far too much training. Been there tried that.

It is made crystal clear in the adverts what skill set is absolutely required.

scooby088 wrote: »

Yes but i say in the opening of my cover letter that i have no experience and it does say in the subject header for the application speculative application so wouldn't be wasting your time. I send more email applications rather than the written variety these days.

Takes as long to read an emailed application as a written one - actually longer if it is via some online sites. They can screw up the formatting so badly the CVs are just a mess.

In fact I get far more speculative apps via email than written. I think it is just too easy to apply for everything and the poor recruiter has to sift through a load of unsuitable applicants to find the ones that DO match the job spec. The risk there is that I do miss a good applicant.

I am serriously considering next time round asking for all applications to be by letter rather than email to try and reduce the number of applications.

Kirri

MrSnuggles wrote: »

Have you noticed most secretary jobs say it's suitable for school leavers? It's a tacky way to discriminate on age.

I've seen a variety of jobs using words that would more likely describe a very young candidate which is annoying! I tend to think they get what they pay for though...!

Also I do wonder if describing how they want someone to look and what personality they should have is as widespread in other job roles as it is in secretarial work... I find some of it rather insulting.

dizzyrascal

Often jobs will ask for a degree or the equivalent experience, therefore, where you can match your skills to a job or person spec you should be considered, equally, alongside those with a degree.
It is pointless though to apply for a job where you don't have the skills they are asking for. That just wastes everyone's time
Just keep searching till you find one where you can match the criteria

scooby088

gibson123 wrote: »

With school leavers getting severely squeezed out of the labour market by much more qualified and expereinced candidates, I am very happy to see that some employers are looking very positively about employing school leavers.

Only reason i think anyone gets a school leaver is because they are cheap..ok being mean there as i am sure school leavers can offer alot.

mildred1978

falko89 wrote: »

I guess you could get away with it if you can sell yourself.

I once had an interview for a dream job, found it through the job centre, I made the interview, went in and they asked "So tell me about your education," and went on to ask for a load of qualifications I didn't have, turned out the job centre failed to add these to the requirements, rather than sell myself I explained the situation and was rather embarrassed, apologised for wasting there time and went out with my tail between my legs. Looking back they must of saw something on my CV they liked or I wouldn't of made the interview stage, either that or they didn't get many applicants.

Perhaps they were looking for someone who understood "there, they're and their" and doesn't use "of" when they should use "have".

MrSnuggles

Kirri wrote: »

I've seen a variety of jobs using words that would more likely describe a very young candidate which is annoying! I tend to think they get what they pay for though...!

Also I do wonder if describing how they want someone to look and what personality they should have is as widespread in other job roles as it is in secretarial work... I find some of it rather insulting.

If the advert says you need to be presentable then the employer is looking for an attractive young employee. Secretarial work is often easy so employer is probably going to find someone for the eye candy and able to do the job, than someone who's middle aged or old.

How many times have you seen a receptionist/secretary/admin/office junior roles with old or unattractive looking people? All the secretaries I've seen in law firms, building societies, banks, construction companies etc are all what I'd label as stunning young females.

renowen

A little different, but I have applied for jobs within the company I work in that I know I havn't a hope in hell of getting.

I don't see it as a waste of time as those 'up high' then see that I have drive and ambition and, while I don't get the job, I find that I am suddenly being put forward for specific training and being left in charge of certain situations to give me the experience I currently lack, meaning next time the opportunity comes up I may be in a better position to actually land myself the job!

x

falko89

mildred1978 wrote: »

Perhaps they were looking for someone who understood "there, they're and their" and doesn't use "of" when they should use "have".

Useful contribution thanks.

heartbreak_star

I can see Mildred's point - I wouldn't employ anyone in my line of work who had a grammatically incorrect CV/covering letter, or indeed any spelling mistakes - however, bad English is a bugbear of mine anyway!

Good luck with your job hunt Falko - and if you like the look of a job, no harm comes from applying

HBS x

falko89

heartbreak_star wrote: »

I can see Mildred's point - I wouldn't employ anyone in my line of work who had a grammatically incorrect CV/covering letter, or indeed any spelling mistakes - however, bad English is a bugbear of mine anyway!

Good luck with your job hunt Falko - and if you like the look of a job, no harm comes from applying

HBS x

MS Word is my friend.