How to Be Chosen in the Part of Your Dreams

You've made the decision to advance in your field. You've been looking for great career options that match your tastes, skills, and working environment. However, you're concerned that the job descriptions for your ideal career need you to have a certain level of experience, education, or skills, which you now lack. How can you position yourself for a job when you don't have the required qualifications?

Contracts of employment must specify "preferred" applicant education, work history, and personal characteristics that will provide the company the best chance of making a successful hire and enhancing the position's ROI. The vast majority of hired candidates have transferable talents that demonstrate their ability to compensate for "must-have" flaws with equivalent earlier accomplishments. Applicants with a successful track record are given the most leeway when it comes to lacking one or two "must-haves."

What if you don't have the skills or knowledge to overcome your obstacles and meet the conditions?

Take on more responsibility.

Request more duties at work or volunteer to lead a project that will allow you to show off your leadership, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills. From the CEO on down, every company wants these talents in their mid-level managers.

If you are not chosen, review your assessments.

Inquire about your review, as well as any more training or skills needed, and any other information on how you can be reconsidered in the future.

Think about your goal.

You may need to adapt your career path objectives to an interim role that gives certain experience and competences for a limited time before applying for your ideal job.

There are certifications available online.

If earning a degree or certification while working seems difficult, there are now more possibilities than ever before.