When Lindsay Angus finished a post-graduate program at college, she began her job hunt.
The 25-year-old Toronto resident was fresh off a co-op when she applied for a full-time operations manager position — a job she wasn’t qualified for.
“It called for three to five years experience in operations and project management,” Angus told Global News. “I had about six months at the time.”
WATCH BELOW: The best-paying jobs you can get without a university degree
Still, Angus’ resume got the company’s attention. She was called in for a group-style interview with people who had “way more” experience than she did.
Angus says she made it through several rounds of interviews, and eventually the job was down to her and one other candidate.
“In the end, they went with the other candidate,” she said. “He had slightly more experience in operations while I only had the project management background. They said it was an extremely difficult decision, and they had no feedback for my interviewing skills.”
READ MORE: Stop telling young people to find jobs they love — it hardly happens
Even though she didn’t get the job, the experience was a good lesson in applying for roles that are seemingly out of reach. Angus now works as a project coordinator for a furniture manufacturing company — another position that asked for more years of experience than she had.
“I was able to secure the job because I could speak to my experience and it aligned with their needs,” she said. “I think companies now are looking for employees that fit the culture of the team and would work well inside it.”
The importance of applying for jobs outside of your qualifications
According to B.C.-based career coach Irene Giesbrecht, Angus has the right idea.
WATCH BELOW: How to solve brainteasers when applying for a tech job
“Generally speaking, yes, you should always apply for something that you are not 100 per cent qualified for if that’s the job you want,” Giesbrecht told Global News.
Giesbrecht says that employers also want to hire someone who has genuine interest in their company and sector. This means that a passionate person with five years experience may get a job over a more senior candidate with less zeal.
READ MORE: Want a raise? Here’s how to ask your boss for more money
- Buzz kill? Gen Z less interested in coffee than older Canadians, survey shows
- ‘She gets to be 10’: Ontario child’s heart donated to girl the same age
- Canada updating sperm donor screening criteria for men who have sex with men
- Indigo nears privatization but experts warn turnaround won’t be ‘quick fix’
Angus believes this comes down to making it clear to an employer what you can bring to the table.
Aligning with company culture is also important. Giesbrecht says she advises clients to put themselves in the mindset of the employer to try to understand what qualities they’re looking for. If you think you’d be a natural fit, convey that.
Another tip? If you don’t end up landing a job but made it to the final round of interviews, Giesbrecht suggests calling the workplace back about four to six weeks later.
WATCH BELOW: How to make a side gig work for you — and keep the money you make doing it
“About 10 to 15 per cent of the time, the person who was number one on the list, for some strange reason, doesn’t work out” she said. “It saves the company enormous legwork to take a look at number two, seeing that number two just called and is still interested.”
When not to apply for a job
While Giesbrecht encourages people to be ambitious and go after the jobs they want, it’s also important to be realistic. If you just graduated university, for example, you’re probably not going to get a job that requires at least 10 years of experience.
Giesbrecht says a good rule of thumb is to have around 75 per cent of the experience listed on a posting.
READ MORE: Hot Jobs: Career strategies for a new era in the Canadian workplace
“So if an employer is asking for five years experience, and at the beginning of your career you’ve got three, then you should be applying,” she explained.
“That changes at different stages of your career, but if you’re in the first decade of your career, that’s a good formula to use.”
The career counsellor also says that you need to be honest with yourself about the jobs you’re applying for. “It’s about knowing who you are, and knowing whether or not you can do the job to begin with,” she said.
WATCH BELOW: 3 things you should be trying to land your dream job
Learning from the job hunt process
Angus believes that applying for jobs outside of her experience level has been a good learning opportunity. She said she now encourages her friends to adopt this mentality, too.
“There are a lot of people out there who may not have the perfect qualifications, but they can speak to their experience,” she said. “Sometimes it is amazing what you have dealt with in six months at a job that will prepare you for tasks ahead that you didn’t necessarily need ‘three to five years’ to learn.”
Comments