Overexperienced
—————–
Underexperienced
Underexperienced/ Underqualified
Being underexperienced can put you in a difficult position and will often limit the types of jobs you can realistically apply for and hope to attain. With that being said, if you never apply for the jobs you want, your chances of getting them will always remain at zero. That’s why when job hunting, it can sometimes help to go in with the approach that if you really want the job, instead of automatically assuming the employer is going to reject your application, give them the opportunity to tell you so first! They might end up doing the exact opposite – which is what job hunting is really all about…
While there are certain roles or industries that you DO need the relevant qualifications for, particularly in industries like Healthcare and Medicine, Engineering, Aviation, Architecture and Surveying, Finance and Accounting, Law, Education, Utilities, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, and Transportation and Logistics, there are plenty of others where this is not necessarily always the case, and with the above being taken into consideration, there are many roles throughout the economy you may not need to be fully qualified for to nevertheless apply for and still expect to have a realistic chance of landing
For this reason, where skilled roles are concerned, when it comes to the types of roles you’re applying for, if you don’t have all of the necessary qualifications but have some of them (between 50% – 70%), or where entry level roles are concerned, if you have some form of relevant experience, or are simply confident that you realistically stand some sort of chance, it can sometimes be highly worthwhile putting in an application even if you are underqualified for the role. Not only might this culminate in you landing the role, but occasionally, it can also culminate in you being offered alternative roles that you hadn’t initially anticipated but that are also highly suitable for you…
With the above point in mind, it’s also important to acknowledge that looking for work is a time-consuming endeavour, not to mention an emotionally draining one at times too. That’s why when deciding on what applications to make it is still important to consider the likelihood you realistically stand of attaining the role before taking the time to make the application. In this regard, interview professional can offer you the following advice when it comes to making that decision…that’s because when it comes to being underexperienced, there are 2 types of candidates:
Candidates with actual workplace experience or higher learning qualifications
These are candidates who have been in the workplace or in institutions of higher learning and have something in the way of experience or professional qualifications. Candidates in this bracket would normally be looking to apply for skilled roles where they have some, but not necessarily all, of the specified experience or qualifications an employer is looking for. This means there is potentially quite a broad range of roles someone in this situation could potentially apply for
Then there are candidates with little or no experience or qualifications whatsoever
Candidates who are in this latter category and have little or no experience or qualifications are more limited to the types of openings they can realistically apply for. In this type of situation, they would largely be limited to applying for entry level roles only
- In a situation where you don’t have the full experience or qualifications being sought after but really want the job…if you meet between about 50% to 70% of the criteria, most hiring experts would advise it’s still worth the time to make the application anyway. Sometimes your application will be outright rejected, but other times you may get lucky. (It depends on the employer and whether or not what they’ve specified in the job description is mandatory or more of a general guideline to them)
- To further expand on this, where a role advises you need to have 5 years of experience, but you only have 3; if you feel the experience you have is relevant for the role and you really want the job, take the time and make the application anyway. (Again, whether or not you are successful depends on whether or not what the employer has specified on the job description is mandatory or more of a general guideline to them)
- For college/ university graduates – Make sure you count relevant internships in your years of experience when applying for roles. That’s because internships give you valuable hands-on experience, practical skills, and also provide a valuable insight into industry practices, all of which are highly relevant when applying for jobs
- While time management is an important aspect of any job search, in an instance where you are inexperienced, putting in the extra effort to show an employer you are truly interested can go a long way when it comes to making it onto the next stages of the candidate selection process. In this case, taking the time to compose a cover letter can often help, especially if one is not required. (Although this step comes down to your own judgment as you will need to decide whether it is worth the time based on how much you really want the job and how realistic you think your chances are)
The thing to remember is that each company will have different standards when it comes to how stringently they stick to requirements they set out in their job descriptions. Some employers may stick to these rigidly, while for others, some of the requirements in these descriptions will be preferred, but not necessarily required, (and especially if you are someone who has qualifications or experience), there can sometimes be a degree of wriggle room as regards to what an employer is prepared to accept. This is because most companies understand the realities when it comes to hiring today and as such, aren’t looking for the perfect candidate, rather, ones that are just the right fit for the role, which is especially true where most entry to mid-level roles are concerned
If you are applying for a role you are regarded as being underqualified for – it means you have lower levels of qualifications or experience than has been specified by that employer. As such, this can lead to the interviewer having concerns about your ability to perform the role in question – so if you want to land the role, it’s your job to alleviate those concerns!!!
The good news is that there are several things you can do that will help you do this
When interviewing for a role that you are underqualified or underexperienced for, the most important areas to focus on are the following:
Focus on your Relevant Experience
Just in the same way you would if you were over experienced, highlight any skills and experience you possess that are relevant to the role, regardless of where you’ve gained them from
Also, again for the same reasons you would if you were overexperienced, consider placing the sections you make on your C.V or Resume in a functional based format as this will allow you to present any relevant experience you have to the role in the most effective way possible.
(This would include the listings in your education section, employment history section, and any optional sections you include too!)
Lastly, consider adding a relevant courses subsection – irrespective of your educational level! For more information on the best way to comprise a relevant courses subsection, as well as how to compromise an effective C.V or resume in general, see interview professionals C.Vs and Resumes section
Practice your presentation before the interview
In a situation where you lack all of the skills and experience an employer is asking for in a role, being able to present the relevant experience you do have becomes even more important, which is why it’s advisable to practice the things you want to say beforehand so you are able to present them in the most effective way possible
Like you should do before any interview anyway, practising the things you want to present about yourself will enable you to deliver smooth and flawless responses to important answers or pitches during your time in the interview
Practicing what you want to present beforehand can be highly important, especially as the playing field becomes more level and any perceived disadvantage you had when it comes to being underqualified starts to dissipate once you make it to the interview stages. From there, landing the role will centre largely around building a great rapport with your interviewer, as well as giving strong answers to each of their questions (showing, not telling them) through solid verbal examples about the relevant skills and work experience you do possess. That’s why practicing your responses beforehand can be such an important step, as it will enable you to give solid verbal examples to each of the interviewers questions
In order to help you do this you may wish to review the following sections:
Interview Professional’s – Recommended Preparation Steps For Your Next Interview
Interview Professional’s 3 most Effective Rehearsal techniques for Interviewing
How Interviews Are Evaluated
Example
Here is an example where a customer service advisor who is clearly underqualified is applying for a project manager role
Interviewer: ‘Can you tell us about the relevant skills and experience you possess for this project management role?’
Candidate: ‘Certainly. In my current role as a customer service advisor I’ve developed several important skills that would be essential in this project management role. To start with, the amazing organizational skills I’ve built over the years from overseeing the workflow of cases managed offline to resolve issues after customer contacts would be invaluable in a role like this, and it’s duties such as these that have also enabled me to hone my time prioritization skills to perfection too. This is because in my current role I am required to manage a heavy workload and deliver successful customer outcomes within a very condensed timeframe.’
‘Effective communication is a must in my current role too, and it requires a constant dialogue between myself and my customers which is why it’s an innate skill I would bring with me into this project management role as well’.
‘On top of this, I was recently chosen to participate in a pilot project to improve service response time. It not only required close coordination with other departments such as the IT, HR, and marketing teams, but this, along with other in-house company projects I’ve participated in over the course of my career, has enabled me to develop highly effective goal setting abilities, and has also exposed me to important methodologies used in project management too, like Agile and Scrum. This particular project enabled us to further reduce service response time by 7%, and it was a valuable experience as far as managing different stakeholder expectations was concerned. It also empowered me to make an effective contribution to my organisation by ensuring that each team was aligned with our project’s objectives, all of which is relevant experience I would bring with me into this project management role too’.
‘On top of this, I also have important transferrable skills that would further enable me to perform brilliantly in a project management role. For example, there will often be lots of back and forth when it comes to reaching a resolution with my customers, and in this respect, it’s very similar to the type of negotiation that may sometimes be involved throughout the course of performing project management duties. I also have extensive experience in using different types of customer management relationship software such as CMP and Agent Workbench. I’m highly confident that such experience would enable me to easily pick up on the type of project management software your company currently uses…’
‘…Moreover, I also feel another highly relevant skill for this role is my willingness to learn. Because of the fact there are bound to be times where I will need to learn new skills or employ new strategies in order to overcome problems in this project management role, it’s for this very reason that I’m currently in the process of signing up for a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. I believe that this will not only allow me to make up for any shortcomings in experience that may currently be stopping me from reaching my full potential, but aside from being something that will equip me to succeed by providing me with an even greater repertoire of tools at my disposal, l feel my eagerness to learn is one my most indelible qualities, and as such, is something else I will also take into this project management role with me too. That’s why, even upon its completion, I’ll still be looking for new ways to learn and continuously improve within this role’.
‘Lastly, my background in customer services taught has always taught me to remain adaptable and solution-focused. As such, I’m accustomed to utilising my unique problem-solving abilities to come up with results in difficult situations on a daily basis, as well as adjusting when unforeseen challenges arise, which is just one more reason why I’ve decided to apply with you as I believe I make a really great fit for this project management role’.
Although underqualified, the candidate gives a highly effective answer here by conveying the skills they do possess in a way that is highly relevant and eloquently delivered. Not only do they highlighting their transferrable skills as well, but on top of that, they do a great job of acknowledging their shortcomings in terms of the experience they lack, framing this constructively by way of telling the interviewer what they intend to do about this. (In this answer they explain to them they are in the process of signing up to a project management course – which is a great answer as it highlights proactivity while at the same time giving them wriggle room without fully committing to set dates or timelines here). They continue to build on this by presenting this as a ‘willingness to learn’, which they are then able to further expand on by presenting themselves to the interviewer as a candidate who is committed to continuous improvement – that’s why even though they are a candidate who lacks some of the experience sought after for the role, the way they’ve presented the abilities they do possess would still make them a highly eligible candidate in the mind of any interviewer
Focus on your transferrable skills
Where you lack actual experience, focusing on your transferrable skills is a must!
This can be used as a powerful tool that can help you demonstrate your potential in a situation where you’re interviewing for a role that you don’t have the full experience or qualifications for
Rather than viewing your lack of specific experience as a disadvantage, focusing on your transferable skills can help you reframe them as an asset instead. This is because there may be instances where having a certain transferrable skillset will not only come across as comparable to the actual skill or qualification being sought after by the employer, but in some cases, may also come across as giving you a perceived advantage in respect to the perspective it gives you in having a comparable level of experience itself (this is where the concept of having a more diverse range of experiences than other candidates comes into play). Though while in other instances, such a concept may be little more than wishful thinking, at the very least it will enable you to give the interviewer some type of answer as opposed to no answer at all which is something that is a crucial in any interview!
That’s because where you’ve knowingly applied for a role in full knowledge of the fact that you lack some of the necessary requirements for it, simply telling the interviewer you don’t have the necessary experience or qualifications will not be enough to land you the role.
In order to have a realistic chance at succeeding, it’s important you are able to effectively answer each one of the interviewer’s questions. So in a case where you don’t have skill or experience in a particular area, you need to be ready to emphasise what transferrable skills you do have that would equate to some sort of a comparable type of experience instead…while in many instances these responses may be regarded as a weaker type of answer by the interviewer, having something you can say for yourself is definitely better than having no answer at all!!!
Remember that if necessary, these are skills that can also be instanced to from areas outside of work such as school, social clubs, voluntary activity, as well as any other activities and interests where you’ve utilised skills relevant to the role in question
Once you’ve reached the interview stage, even if the answer to some of your questions is a bit weaker, don’t worry and certainly don’t dwell on this fact in the interview! Because if the rest of your answers are strong…if you’ve managed to build a decent rapport with your interviewer, and… if you’ve followed one of the cardinal rules of interviewing, (keeping everything positive and upbeat), then you’ve got as good a chance as anyone else of landing the role you seek
Use Industry Terminology
Using specific terminology like keywords and industry specific terms can be another great tool you can employ that can help not only in the actual interview, but throughout the entirety of the candidate selection process too
Industry experts advise using industry terminology because it helps reassure the interviewer that you are a candidate who is familiar with the industry and with the duties associated with the role, that’s why its important because words and the specific terminologies you use will be picked up on by your interviewer, sometimes even on a subconscious level! This is especially true when answering competency and behavioural based interview questions. Basically, the types of words you use will help to shape the perceptions your interviewer has not only of yourself as an individual, but also of your ability to perform the role, irrespective of what your true competency level actually is
Many companies use keywords and industry specific terminology in their job descriptions nowadays. As a candidate this can be very useful especially as studying the job description should be one of the first parts of your interview preparation, see our Recommended Preparation Steps For Your Next Interview. That’s why, incorporating the type of vernacular you come across in them when answering an interviewers questions can be a highly beneficial tactic indeed. Remember, it could be one simple thing you’ve said that the interviewer will pick up on that makes all the difference when it comes to making their final hiring decision. You may also want to check out the section, Keywords and Industry specific terms for your C.V or Resume, to give you a better idea of the types of words or phrases you should be looking to rehearse for and incorporate into your answers
Don’t worry if you’re a candidate who doesn’t have as much experience as others, this is not necessarily something that will make or break your chances in an interview. What interviewers will look for in candidates can vary drastically depending on the organisation and the role itself. Everyone will have something new to learn on a job, whether it’s new systems, new processes, or new ways of doing things in general. For this reason, experience is not always the overriding concern for an interviewer when making hiring decisions, and they will oftentimes prioritise other important qualities such as, adaptability, a willingness to learn, customer focus, flexibility, and leadership ability, when looking for the candidate they feel will make the best fit for a given role
Be on the lookout for Upskill Opportunities
If you’re looking for a role you might not be fully qualified for, don’t forget to search for opportunities to take on additional duties and responsibilities that may present themselves in your place of work. This could be things like cross-departmental projects, process improvement initiatives, taking the lead at team meetings or presentations, assisting with event planning, or even mentoring and training opportunities. These are not only great things to add to a C.V or resume to strengthen it when applying for different types of roles, but can also be highly useful in your current role too if your job search doesn’t pan out
The same applies if you are out of work too. In this case it’s good practice to seek out training and volunteering opportunities that are relevant to the types of roles jobs you are applying for. Even if you don’t end up participating in them, having an understanding of what these are will not only give you some type of awareness of what is needed or desirable in those types of roles, but more importantly, it can also give you something to mention in your interview, exactly like the candidate did in the example response that was given in the (Practice your presentation before the interview) dropdown in this section
Compose a great enquiry message
Just like in a situation where you are overqualified or looking to transition into a different role altogether, when you are applying for a role that you are unexperienced or underqualified for, then networking and making connections ahead of the actual interview itself can be an invaluable tool that will help show an employer just how serious you are about the role itself. In this situation, the best way to do this is by networking with people (ideally from within that organisation…)
You can do this by seeking out the details of people who work in that organisation or industry who are knowledgeable about the role you seek. Do it with one specific purpose in mind. You are looking to connect with those people by composing an enquiry message for the purposes of arranging an informational interview/ informal meeting with them. An informational interview is not technically an interview as such, rather its more akin to an informal meeting, where a person looking for employment in a certain field seeks advice on a job or organisation within that field from a person who has an in-depth knowledge of it. Not only is it a great way to give yourself an advantage in terms of the practical information you can gain, but more importantly, it can give you a big advantage in terms of the additional talking point you’ll have to take with you into the actual interview itself
Example of an enquiry Letter/ Email for someone who is underexperienced
(Your name – Mr X Blue)
(Your Address)
(City)
(Postal Code)
(Email Address)
(Phone Number)
(Social media links)
00.00.0000
(Hiring Manager’s Name)
(Organization Name)
(Organization Address)
(City)
(Postal Code)
Dear Mr X Green,
I hope your day has been as well as mine has,
I came across your details on Interview Professional and I’m writing to you because although I am relatively new to the field, I’m highly motivated to learn and passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals. After making some enquiries, it has come to my attention that your company has a job opening that I feel would be the perfect fit for me…(job ref number 89472904). However, as I’m just starting out in my career, I currently lack some of the experience your company might desire for the role. I am writing this enquiry to see if it would be possible to arrange a meeting to get any insights you might be able to share that would better enable me to align my current skillsets with the needs of your company.
If you’re free I’d love to schedule a 30-minute chat via phone or Zoom with you at some point in the next 2 weeks. If not, I am available for a meeting or further discussion at your own convenience. Thank you so much in advance for considering my request and I sincerely hope to hear from you soon.
Sincere regards,
{Mr X Blue}
Here we can note several things that an effective enquiry message does
- It introduces the candidate and makes their purpose clear. This is because it clearly states their intention of transitioning into a fitness instructor role
- It states how they know the recipient/ how they acquired the recipient’s details, and also indicates that the candidate is in some ways underexperienced for the position they are applying for. (Making this fact known, and/ or highlighting the relevant experience you DO possess as it relates to the role is recommended so the recipient has an understanding of your background and of why you are contacting them)
- It clearly outlines the reason the candidate is looking to make this application. In this case, they explain that while they are just starting out in their career, they feel this role would be the perfect fit for them
- It contains a clear request for a meeting. In this example the candidate politely asks for the opportunity to gain a further insight into the role/ industry by arranging a virtual or phone meeting
- The message is respectful, formal, and expresses enthusiasm about the opportunity for the chance to discuss the role further
If they agree to the meeting, be sure to use the time wisely. Have a list of questions prepared and focus on what it’s like in the day-to-day aspects of their role. What are the most effective actions within that organisation and/ or industry to take when it comes to career progression? What was it like when they were onboarded? What are the most relevant things they have learned and how have they grown since starting out in the role?
There may be different reasons why people would agree to a request to participate in an informational interview/ meeting with you. Perhaps they are looking for career progression themselves and see the prospect of hosting an informational interview as something that would look good on their C.V, or perhaps they were in the same situation as you at some point and understand what you are going through…whatever their reasons though it never hurts to ask, because if you don’t the opportunity to do something like this will simply continue to remain at zero!
A helpful thing to keep in mind is that if you’ve made it onto the interview stages, someone somewhere must think you have what it takes to do the job. So when it comes to explaining a rationale as to why you’d make the perfect fit for the role, don’t be afraid to emphasize to your interviewer that inspite of the fact that you are under/ overqualified, you’ve nevertheless managed to make it this far
Just remember that there is only so much you can do in a situation where you are applying for a role that you are either over experienced or under experienced for. From there it will come down to confidence, preparation, and determination. Just remember that if you believe you are right for the role then you probably are – you’ve taken the first step and made the application…now the rest is up to you!!!