KEY POINTS:
There's a job advert in the newspaper that you'd love to apply for. However, you lack the piece of paper that says you're qualified. What do you do?
Janine Begg, who now works at the Career Centre on Auckland's North Shore, says when she was an employment consultant it was not unusual for an employer to hire someone outside the spec that they had given her.
"'Why?' I used to ask them. And they would always reply: 'I said I wanted this, and I thought I did, but the person I hired actually had that and the way they put it to me, I could see that skill would be really useful to me so I took a chance and hired them'."
Career coach Lyn Rasmussen says whether you can get a job that you're underqualified for depends on what you're applying for and where you are applying. "You're not going to be able to convince an employer 100 per cent of the time."
Her advice is to read the job advertisement carefully and answer all the bullet points in your CV and cover letter.
"If you don't have the qualifications, look at your skills. It is a good idea, however, not to apply for anything that says a qualification is essential."
Packaging your CV professionally is important. Use action words such as 'I improved such and such' or 'I developed such and such' in previous jobs.
"If the job you want mentions that a qualification is preferred, then enrol in study so you can say 'I am currently enrolled in ... "'
Rasmussen also suggests networking.
At the job interview, present a confident image but don't go overboard. No fibbing. It's fibbing that recruitment professionals try to weed out, says director of Career Professionals in Auckland, Gerald Lange.
"People do try it on, it's the recruiter's role to temper that. We try to filter the hyperbole in CVs and covering letters.
He stresses that the recruiter is looking to protect his own back and reputation with career placement. "If a recruiter has another candidate with the correct qualifications, he's going to present that person to the employer."
Lange suggests that if you don't have all the qualifications, it may be better to go straight to the employer to apply.
Career Service's Janine Begg says getting your foot in the door takes detective work, an eye for opportunity, willingness or determination to take a few steps sideways or backwards and guts.
First, do your homework on what the job requires. "You could use www.careers.govt.nz (see link below) to get an idea of the requirements, but even better is to ring up and ask questions."
Talk to as many people in the industry or in the role you want as you can.
She says it's a mistake to assume that a specific qualification is essential. "That's not always true. Make a point of asking people in the industry 'how did you get started? What qualifications are most useful and respected in the industry?'
"Also, find out where people who work in a field /role hang out professionally. Are there professional organisations that hold regular meetings where you can network?"
As far as opportunity is concerned: look for the main chance. Keep your ears and eyes open to what's going on in the industry. "If someone mentions they are short staffed or really busy, volunteer to help them, even if it's doing mail outs," she says.
The key, Begg says, is to get into the information loop so you hear of opportunities before they're advertised. Better still, spot an opportunity and pitch it to the employer if you can.
Begg stresses that if you don't have the qualification, you need to do an honest evaluation, point by point through the advert, ticking off exactly what you have got that matches the advert and where you fall short.
"Then you can do two things: own it, or name it, then add fries with that. "I'm in favour of a longer covering letter than normal in this situation.
"For example, in the covering letter say something like: 'You are probably thinking I don't have the experience/qualification you asked for but what I do have means I can bring this and that to your organisation'.
"Always mention you really want to learn 'it' and be negotiable about pay and conditions.
"I have found it is better to be truthful, genuine and authentic. It takes courage to name it, and the reader will see that you are perceptive enough to spot where your skills and their needs don't quite match. And your added fries with that can be a positive point of difference in a pile of similar applicants."
She says it's good if you get a rejection letter to ring the employer, be polite and ask: 'if I was applying for this job again in a year, what would you like to see added to my CV that would encourage you to interview me?'
"You will be amazed at the useful information that comes out of this one question".
Next comes willingness. Answer three questions: what do you want, what's stopping you and what are you prepared to do about it?
"The third question is the hardest. Often it can all look too hard or be inconvenient. Study may be necessary, you may have to attend networking events etc.
"To make a transition you really need to weigh it up. Short term pain for long term gain."
Finally, there's guts. There's no room for shyness.
"Try to think of shyness as a personal indulgence. Be shy on your own time, this is work time so network, baby.
"Fortune favours the brave."
