How to apply for a job when you don’t meet all the criteria

Women are less likely than men to apply to a job when they don’t meet all of the requirements. This can be a real barrier to women in going for promotions, switching sectors, and pursuing new roles. During a recent Devex webinar on how to transition to a STEM role in global development, Natasha Beale, assistant director of the evaluation and learning unit at The Asia Foundation, and Mihan Borhani, product owner at Devex, spoke about their experience on moving from international relations to tech-focused roles within the development sector. Beale and Borhani share their top advice for women and those looking to transition their career and apply for a role where they don’t meet 100% of the job description. Show a willingness to learn If you are interested in a job opportunity and meet at least some of the job criteria, figure out how to compensate for the skills you are lacking, Beale said. It is important to recognize your weaknesses as well as highlight your strengths, she added. In her own experience applying for jobs where she didn’t meet all of the role requirements, Beale made it very clear during the application process that she was open to learning the technical skills on the job. Similarly, Borhani encouraged women to go for it and apply for jobs even if it is a little out of their comfort zone. If you are able to get your foot in the door, acknowledge the skills you lack and demonstrate a “growth mindset,” she said. Play to your strengths Find aspects of your skills or background that will be advantageous to the organization and make sure you sell those, Beale advised. This is where it is also important to have done your research on the organization — know how it operates, who already works there, what their backgrounds are, and how you would be able to complement their skills, she explained. Previously, when Beale — who had no technical background — was applying for a role in technical implementation for public health interventions in India, she emphasized her extensive work experience and knowledge on public health topics in the region. This experience made up for her lack of technical skills and helped her land the role. Demonstrate passion for the work For professionals looking to make a career transition, convey your passion and reason for wanting to contribute to the type of work. This can be very compelling, Borhani said. “If you are really passionate about what they are doing, if you are a quick learner and you have some of the skill sets but you’re willing to learn the other components,” she explained, “they are likely to take you on if you can get past that first step.”