Would you apply for a job where you don't have all essential skills?

sweetilemon

It depends on the other applicants, if they are exactly what the company is looking for then they might not shortlist you. However, if you put a good enough application in and minipulate the experience and qualifications you do have around their criteria you could be in with a chance. I got the job im in without the 'essential' qualifications although i highlighted relevant experience in other posts that would make me suitable for the job. They asked for an svq in the subject, i highlighted my HND in another. Its not the same but it shows I can learn to that standard. Worth a try, just be clever with what you ephasise. Oh, and i got the job over people who had the essential criteria.

getmore4less

I have seen job adds where to meet he criteria you would have to be doing the job allready and in some cases working for the company as thats the only place you could get the skillset.

Recruiters should look for is talent that can learn.

You also have to watch descrimination, asking and only accepting certain qualification narrows to an age group. eg GCSE < 40-45(ish).

Only picking people that allready do the job gives them no room to grow/learn unless the recruitment is into a possition that gives potential.

The more current exprience you ask for the more likley the person should be looking to move onto better things, so might be looking at same jobs because they have issues at the current place.

jobbingmusician

In my role as Complaints Co-ordinator, I provided information about Trust policies and about how people could get further help with their issues. I always tried to ‘go the extra mile’ to help people access facilities and access Trust and community facilities, whilst managing a complex caseload of very varying complaints and clients. I love researching and finding solutions to people’s problems, and the contents of NVQ3 in Guidance (which I have read with interest*) would fit in well with the way I would like to develop my skillset.

I have not used formal assessment processes such as FACS*, but our office has developed its own assessment procedures to judge the priority to give to complaints, and

.
I also hold an AVCE in Health and Social Care.

Job done! Who said you didn’t meet the criteria!

*Make sure you Google these things before your interview.......

[Deleted User]

I still apply for stuff that says "2:1" minimum. Heck, my masters course needed 2:1 (just had a chat with the coordinator and go in on my 2:2) and then my first graduate job needed a 2:1 (they were happy with more experience rather than a better degree class)

coin_operated_girl

I applied for a support worker job around a year ago and despite having no experience that is even remotely relevant (worked in a supermarket and a call centre), I still got the job. Admittedly, only one other person turned up for the interview due to an HR !!!!-up, but this other person did have experience. So I would say go for it because you don't know how many other people will apply for the job (we recently recruited a new person and only had 3 people turn up for the interviews). I would do a bit of this:

I_luv_cats wrote: »

You could mention in the notes/additional info. box why you feel you are the right person for the job and how (+ what you would do) you will develop with them! Mention any transferable skills you bring along.

And a bit of this:

anamenottaken wrote: »

Those three items are to an extent matters of opinion.

In your work related to Complaints, do you not provide information and guidance to those making complaints or those who need to respond?

Does that not also provide you with a complex caseload - that is not just one complaint to deal with and nothing else to do in the day? Does not your PA work provide evidence for this element?

Assessment processes - do you assess/follow guidance on how to deal with the complaints and other actions you take?

And some more of this:

SueC wrote: »

Apply, but tackle the 'missing' criteria head on...

"I appreciate that I don't have experience of assisting people ... blah blah... blah, however, I do have [enter a load of positive stuff that counteracts the shortfall in experience] which I hope, coupled with my enthusiasm, is sufficient for you to consider progressing my application".

dawyldthing

And out of all these how many actually turn up for the interview, or who do and then don't want the job/ wasn't what they wanted. I know we've recruited a few times and people just aren't turning up for interviews. I think they've done it 6 times and most times there lucky to have 2 or 3 turn up for interview out of upto 15 called in for interview.

eamon wrote: »

You've got to think of the recruitment process and the maths for example an advertised public sector job.
2000 people request the application pack
1500 people can be bothered to open the pack, of those 200 put it down and forget about it. Of the remaining 1300, 200 imediately realise that they applied for the wrong pack, 200 can't meet the UK/EU eligibility criteria, 200 are away on holiday, 200 don't understand how to fill in the form, 200 read the job spec and run away to hide, 200 complete the form in the wrong ink colour and unintentionally exclude themselves.
Without you even lifting a finger (apart from requesting the application pack) your odds of getting an interview have increased from (only 10 people are interviewed) 200/1 to 10/1
Those are good odds (assuming that my maths is correct) therefore you must apply.
Best of luck

JamesK10

For me, it all depends on the job, I have never received an interview when applying for these on-specs or jobs where I didn't have all the criteria required, so I would only do it to keep up my application rate these days and I would fire off and forget those apps.

This has been less of a problem since I stuck to job ads posted within 48 hours though.

LannieDuck

For NHS jobs, there's usually a contact person and tel number given. I would call them up and have a chat. You can explain what you've told us here and any relevant experience you do have, and ask whether it would be considered as equivalent to their requirement.

At least that way if you're encouraged to apply, they'll probably remember your application and won't immediately reject it as not fulfilling all the criteria.