Application Confidence: Why You Should Aim High

Jobsearch, Jobseekers / 16 July 2019

Rejection is never an easy thing to handle, especially when it comes to applying for jobs – but what if that fear was holding you back, and preventing you from finding the role you deserve?

We’ve all been there. You’re browsing the results of a job search, and see a role you know you’d be great for. As you read more of the job description, you realise you’re missing a few of the skills they’re after, or don’t feel like you have enough experience. Chances are you sighed, didn’t apply, and looked for something else – already certain in your head that you wouldn’t have got it anyway.

The fact is that more often than not, you won’t need every single skill or qualification that’s listed on a job post. With this in mind, and you’re confident you fill the most essential requirements for a role, it’s often worth applying rather than not. We all spend a lot of time at work after all, so don’t settle for less than what you want – neither you nor the employer win in such a situation anyway.

Aiming high is certainly not as easy as it sounds, of course, but there are some things to keep in mind during your job search that can help make sure you don’t miss that perfect opportunity that initially seemed just out of reach.

 

Know What You Want


It might sound obvious, but knowing what you want is the first step to making sure you don’t undersell yourself, or miss out on job opportunities that you might be ideal for. Once you’ve decided on this, you can then craft your CV and cover letter around these aims (read our guide on how to write a cover letter for some extra tips).

So how can you decide, if you’re not too sure? It’s something of a cliche, but ask yourself where you see yourself in five to ten years, and be completely honest about what you want. If your ultimate goal as a driver, for example, is to be head of logistics one day, then making sure you find a company that offers room for this progression is going to be important.

The shadow of a woman reflecting on her skills and experience while reaching for the sun

 

Understand Your Value


It’s all too easy to underestimate your real value to an employer, but knowing exactly what you, your skills, and experience are worth is what can open the door to opportunities you might have previously thought were out of reach. Even if you don’t meet some of the requirements on a job listing, you might have other skills, experience, and qualities that more than make up for this.

Before deciding on whether or not you should apply for a role, consider asking the following questions:

  • Do you have most of the skills and experience required for the job?
  • Even if you haven’t done something exactly the same, do you understand what is required in the job, and are you confident you could do it?
  • Even if you’re missing some of the skills or experience listed in the job post, do you have any other supporting skills or experience that makes up for this?

Soft skills are very important to factor in too – are you a good communicator, a good team player, and a motivated learner? These kinds of attributes are normally very valuable for an employer. If you can show you’re determined, genuinely passionate, and willing to learn new processes and skills, especially at the interview stage (make sure you’re as prepared as possible by reading our guide to interview questions), then you could well land a job you thought you weren’t quite qualified for (but more than capable of) regardless.

 

Recognise Your Limits


While it’s important to stay positive and focus on your strengths, acknowledging your weak spots is just as crucial. There’s a fine line between aiming high and over reaching, and it can be tricky to know which is which unless you’ve taken a real objective look at your skills and experience.

One thing that is sure to annoy recruiters and employers is applying for roles that you’re clearly not qualified for (a web designer applying for a job as a commercial airline pilot could be one, admittedly extreme, example).

Another thing to try and avoid is applying for jobs simply for the sake of it using a ‘shotgun’ approach – especially when using online job boards. If recruiters or employers are posting multiple jobs, they may start to recognise your applications, and simply choose to ignore you for any future opportunities as a result. If the stress of not having a job is starting to get the best of you, which is entirely understandable, then try to remember that a focused search and application strategy is much more effective in the long run. You’re also more likely to end up with a job you want.

A person celebrating a confident, successful leap to their future

 

Don’t Hesitate


Once you’ve taken the above into consideration, and feel that you’ve got a lot to offer a role despite not ticking every single box on the description, then don’t hesitate – apply straight away. Not only is an early application a potential advantage, the longer you leave an application, the more time you’re giving yourself to talk yourself out of it!

Whether you’re just starting your jobsearch or not, make sure to check our jobseeker guides for additional advice, and to get you as prepared as possible.

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