So how can you decide, if you\u2019re not too sure? It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"\/explore\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Image-1-1-1-1024x682.jpg\")
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Understand Your Value<\/h2>\n
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It\u2019s 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\u2019t meet some of the requirements on a job listing, you might have other skills, experience, and qualities that more than make up for this.<\/p>\n
Before deciding on whether or not you should apply for a role, consider asking the following questions:<\/p>\n
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- Do you have most of the skills and experience required for the job?<\/li>\n
- Even if you haven\u2019t done something exactly the same, do you understand what is required in the job, and are you confident you could do it?<\/li>\n
- Even if you\u2019re 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?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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\u2019re determined, genuinely passionate, and willing to learn new processes and skills, especially at the interview stage (make sure you\u2019re as prepared as possible by reading our guide to interview questions<\/a>), then you could well land a job you thought you weren\u2019t quite qualified for (but more than capable of) regardless.<\/p>\n
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Recognise Your Limits<\/h2>\n
\nWhile it\u2019s important to stay positive and focus on your strengths, acknowledging your weak spots is just as crucial. There\u2019s a fine line between aiming high and over reaching, and it can be tricky to know which is which unless you\u2019ve taken a real objective look at your skills and experience.<\/p>\n
One thing that is sure to annoy recruiters and employers is applying for roles that you\u2019re clearly not qualified for (a web designer applying for a job as a commercial airline pilot could be one, admittedly extreme, example).<\/p>\n
Another thing to try and avoid is applying for jobs simply for the sake of it using a \u2018shotgun\u2019 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\u2019re also more likely to end up with a job you want.<\/p>\n
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Don\u2019t Hesitate<\/h2>\n
\nOnce you\u2019ve taken the above into consideration, and feel that you\u2019ve got a lot to offer a role despite not ticking every single box on the description, then don\u2019t hesitate – apply straight away. Not only is an early application a potential advantage, the longer you leave an application, the more time you\u2019re giving yourself to talk yourself out of it!<\/p>\n