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Apply for Jobs That Match Your Skills

I recommend that you apply only for jobs where you meet all the job requirements and required skills.

  1. If a job is for a company that contracts with the federal government, then by law all hired applicants must have the required experience listed in a job announcement, or the company is subject to cancellation of their government contracts.
  2. If a company hires someone without required experience as listed on the job announcement, the company is subject to civil rights/discrimination charges. This has been the law in the United States since 2006.
  3. If the skill is a key one for the job, the resume might pass the ATS but it is still likely to be rejected by the hiring manager.
  4. Even if you get an interview, you may not get the job. These days, many IT jobs require that you take a test to prove your competency with the technology. If you state you can easily learn a new technology, but fail the test, you will not get the job.
  5. The time you spend applying for a job that you have a low probability of getting can be better spent networking, learning the missing skills, or finding a job that fits your current skill set.
  6. Even if you get the job, you may not be able to perform well. Despite your belief that you can learn a new task or technology quickly, you may find yourself floundering.

Sometimes, if you have a networking contact, a company will consider you for a job without all the required skills (they can rewrite and re-post the job announcement). If you don’t have a networking contact, and you really want the job, you can apply for the job – but do not spend too much time on the application. The likelihood of getting the job, especially if you are missing a key skill, will be low. If you decide to apply for the job, you must show that you are capable of learning that skill, as you have learned so many in the past. For example, you can state in your resume that you used XYZ software (similar to ZYX software) and explain how you used it.

For more advice on applying for jobs that match your skills, please contact me at Robin’s Resumes®.