How Qualified are you? Preparations to Make Before an Interview

You can now apply for the job of your dreams. Though it's practically pleading with you to apply, you still haven't sent in your credentials. Why? Sorry, but I can't give you my endorsement for this job.

Worrying that you won't even get an interview is understandable if the advertised position requires years of experience that you don't have or a specific ability that you haven't yet perfected.

Avoid letting that discourage you from applying.

Managers will often exaggerate the number and variety of duties associated with an open position in an effort to attract a stronger pool of applicants. As long as the position is not controlled by the state, the qualifications can be more flexible. The best course of action is to submit your complete application and wait for a response.

Even if you don't have all the necessary certifications, you can still strengthen your reputation and prove your competence. This article will show you how to get past the initial screening process and into the interview phase with a company.

Never put all of your faith into an application.

While online resources can be helpful, the vast majority of employment opportunities are secured through networking with current or former colleagues. Make use of your connections before blindly sending out your resume. Meet someone who works there in a similar capacity as you.

LinkedIn is a great place to meet people who work for companies you're interested in. Reach out to the person you want to meet with a cold email. In your online application, please explain how you would like your information to be presented to the reader. Keep working hard, at least. If you don't hear back after sending an email around the company, keep at it. Candidates who demonstrate resilience are highly sought after by hiring managers.

You should try to find an issue that you can fix.

Expert problem solvers are always in demand. Make sure your cover letter sells your problem-solving abilities. How do you deal with that? We cannot review your application without a cover letter.

Get creative with your cover letter. Do not use more than one page to explain how to fix the issue at hand. Include examples of how you've helped other companies fix their issues in your cover letter. Think twice about including complaints about the position or the company's difficulties in your cover letter.

Describe the steps you will take to isolate the ideal clientele for their advertising efforts. If you're providing assistance with, say, targeted marketing for the company, keep your message brief and to one page, and offer no more than five concrete suggestions.

Use your special skills to shine.

You've applied, made some connections, and are now prepared to talk about how your skills will help the open position, the team, and the company. Instead of focusing on the skills they are seeking, it would be better to emphasize the ones they do not have. It's okay to be a rank amateur once in a while; sometimes it even helps.

You can distinguish yourself from the other applicants by emphasizing your unique background and skill set, despite your lack of experience and strong beliefs about how things should be done. For instance, if you have a college degree, include it even if it isn't directly applicable or if it took you longer than usual to earn it. Education at any level reflects the ability to set and accomplish long-term goals.

You need to strategically use keywords.

Typically, software collects resumes in response to job postings automatically, and then an algorithm decides which applicants are the best fits for the open position. For your resume to get noticed by a real person and possibly land you an interview, its relevance score needs to be high. Pay close attention to the keywords in the job description, as doing so will increase the likelihood of you being called in for an interview.

Keep in mind that the first three items under "Qualifications" are the most crucial. It's possible to look for frequently used terms by conducting a search. There is greater significance attached to words that appear more frequently in prominent positions. If you include these terms in your resume and cover letter, the computer algorithm will do the rest.

Don't miss out on the necessary training.

Lastly, improve your employability by getting the training or education you need if you don't already have it. Thanks to platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning, there is no longer any reason to put off getting the professional development education you need. You should then list the courses you are taking to acquire these skills under "education" on your resume. This shows initiative and a drive to get things done, while also being honest about your lack of relevant training.

If by some miracle you manage to secure an interview in the end, you can highlight how you enrolled in the program solely to boost your application. Even if your job search doesn't pan out as planned, you still gained knowledge that will help you in the future.