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How to Get a Job for Which You Are Not Really Qualified

Have you ever seen a job posting you really wanted, but for which you may not be entirely qualified? Here's how to convince a potential employer--and yourself!-- you are perfect for a position.

Steps

1. Prepare for the interview. Being prepared is more important than job knowledge, skills and experience.
2. Tailor your resume. Think creatively about how the experience you have relates to the job you want. Bullet aspects of your previous jobs relevant to the position you seek.
3. Get an interview. The hardest part of getting a job for which you may not be the most technically qualified applicant is getting an interview.
4. Conduct yourself professionally.
5. Be confident. Focus on why you honestly believe you would be good at this particular job. Make a list of reasons beforehand. If you have confidence in yourself, you are more likely to convince the employer of your ability.
6. Be up-beat. A positive attitude will show the interviewer you are a can-do person.
7. Be likable. We all want to hire and work with people we like.
8. Be informed. Know about the company and the business before you go to the interview. Know what they expect you to do for the company.
9. Ask intelligent questions. There is always more to the job than what can be said in an ad. As you find out more about the job, you may discover job functions for which you are more qualified and you can direct your focus on them.
10. Be open to training. If the employer is willing to train you for the job, demonstrate enthusiasm about learning new things and a willingness to put extra time and effort into training. If you are a quick study, now is the time to mention it.
11. Make the interview a starting point. If the job is not something you are qualified to do, ask to leave your resume with the company or ask if there are similar opportunities at a lower level. If you appear enthusiastic, intelligent and committed, your interviewer(s) is more likely to offer suggestions to help you break into the field.

Tips

• Consider taking training in the particular field you are trying to get into. It's not a good idea to apply for a job you're technically not qualified for, so actually becoming qualified is better than resorting to the steps in this article.
• Keep trying. You may not get the first job for which you interview. Each interview will leave you better prepared for the next one.
• Go back to school, get more training or take an entry-level position in the field, etc.
• Talk with someone who already holds your dream job--after all, they know how they got there!
  • Remember, nearly two thirds of the time, it's not the most qualified candidate who is hired 聴it聮s the one does the best job of promoting himself.
• Remember: "No" really means "not now", not "never".
• If it's an option and if you have the means to support yourself, you might offer to work free for the company for a period of time (ie. one week, one month) to prove yourself and your skills.

Warnings

• Never lie or exaggerate. It is fine to place your experience in the best possible light, but do not say you have experience in an area you don't.
• Be prepared to handle rejection. Some employers might not consider you for positions you have no experience in.
• You may get in over your head. Your new employer and colleagues may not appreciate your lack of experience in the job. They may not want to spend extra time getting you up to speed, when they expect a base level of competence and experience.You may be unhappy with the level of extra work required to keep up.
• This WILL NOT work if you are trying to be a medical professional unless you have an MD, DO, and/or PhD (in a scientific field). Applying to be a physician or researcher without one will get you a polite showing of the door, at best.