We’ve likely all been in this situation at some point in our careers: You come across a posting for the perfect job, but your experience and skills don’t quite meet the listed requirements. This predicament can be even more vexing to deal with for women, who may be less likely than men to apply in such scenarios.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing expert advice about competing for a role when your background doesn't fully match the job description. I’m also looking out for my consulting friends with networking tips specific to their unique world. Plus, you can explore job opportunities at the United Nations Office for Project Services, Save the Children USA, and more.
Top jobs this week
Business Development Manager
African Society for Laboratory Medicine
Remote
Senior Audit Specialist
Save the Children USA
Remote
Human Resources Specialist
UNOPS
Denmark
Program Manager
World Learning
United States
Now you know: When job ‘requirements’ aren’t required
Getting past the first stage of the application process can be difficult for globaldev professionals. Some organizations even use software to filter out candidates who fail to meet any of the basic requirements.
But in other cases, potential employers may come across a slightly deficient application and still find it intriguing enough to warrant consideration. This is when it’s crucial to know how to make up for any areas that might concern them. Here’s what to do:
• Show a willingness to learn. If you meet at least some of the job criteria, figure out how to compensate for the skills you are lacking. Be clear during the application process that you are open to learning the technical skills on the job.
• Play to your strengths. Identify aspects of your background or skills that could be advantageous to the organization, and make sure you sell those. Look into how it operates, who already works there, what their backgrounds are, and how you would be able to complement their skills.
• Demonstrate passion. If you are looking to make a career transition, convey your passion and reasons for wanting to contribute to a new type of work. Recruiters can find this quite compelling.
Read: How to apply for a job when you don’t meet all the criteria
Learn more: Top recruiter tips for development CVs
Members-only jobs this week
Programme and Partnership Specialist
U.N. agency
China
Environmental Consultant
Sustainability consultancy
United States
Head of Information and Communication
Regional trade organization
Belgium
Senior Communications Manager
Environmental advocacy group
Belgium | Germany | Netherlands
Tipsheet: Networking as a consultant
While hundreds of consulting opportunities are available on Devex’s job board at any given time, many more are not advertised at all, which makes networking particularly vital to securing work. Here are a few pointers to remember on your networking journey:
• Know who to contact. Consulting positions aren’t necessarily filled by the same processes as full-time staff roles, so just talking with an HR professional might not get you as far as finding someone directly connected to the team you’d be working with.
• Have genuine conversations. Discussions with contacts of interest will have a larger impact if they are meaningful. If you show that you’re knowledgeable about and truly interested in the work you’re pursuing, you’ll likely leave a strong, positive impression.
• Talk to other consultants. Seek out those whose perspectives are closely aligned with your own or who hold the types of roles that you want. These conversations can be invaluable for helping you plot your career path.
Read: 5 networking tips for independent consultants
Watch: Getting started with networking and engagement
+ Explore current consulting opportunities on our job board.
Ask an expert
You have questions, Career Hub has answers, thanks to Devex’s network of job coaches and other experts. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
I know I’m expected to ask questions at the end of a job interview, but I’m unsure of how to best prepare or what the interviewer is looking for. How should I approach this?
It's good to think of several questions in advance and be smart when considering which ones make the most sense. I made this mistake in the past. I once went in ready to ask about the reporting line of the position, because this was not clear from the job description. But then the interviewer spoke about that during the conversation, so I couldn’t ask the question anymore and I was lost.
So, I would ask a question related to the conversation, when possible. You will have been talking for 30 or 45 minutes, and when it’s your time to ask something, it doesn’t really make sense to change the topic completely. It's good to give a sense that your question is fresh and based on the conversation.
Also, remember that it’s your last chance to say something, so if you feel you didn't have a chance to talk about something important, you can say something like: “I think this position would also require xxx. Am I on the right track?” This demonstrates that you have done an assessment and have a vision.
Roberto Amorosino is a career coach supporting senior and young professionals to make informed, strategic decisions about their career path, job search, and professional development. He previously served the World Bank Group as a senior HR specialist.
Explore more: How to ace the interview
Have a career development question? You can email Devex’s careers editor directly.
What we’re reading
What your youngest colleagues wish you knew. Generation Z is getting antsy at work. A key undercurrent may be the lack of mentoring and access to seasoned management when working remotely. [Charter]
More training won’t solve your company’s problems. Here’s a perspective on why training alone may not fix workplace issues and how to address the core problems directly. [Harvard Business Review]
A plea for racial equity. U.S. development organizations are being asked to sign a new pledge about taking practical steps “to build racial and ethnic equity.” [Devex Pro]
To keep up to date with all the must-read global development coverage, be sure to sign up to the daily Devex Newswire.
Sign up to Devex Career Hub for global development’s top jobs, expert career advice, and practical tips to help you do more good for more people.
About the author
Justin Sablich
Justin is a contributing writer and editor who previously led Devex’s careers content strategy. Before joining Devex, Justin served as the managing editor of Springwise, covering sustainable and climate-tech innovation across all business sectors. He also spent over 13 years as an editor and writer for the New York Times, specializing in digital content production and strategy while producing written and multimedia content on a range of topics, including travel, sports, and technology.
