Revealed! 3 Things Recruiters Consider When A Good Candidate Is Under-Qualified

By Michelle Wanjiku

How many jobs have you applied for that you clearly weren’t qualified for?

A friend of mine got a job recently that required someone with five years’ experience yet she has close to three years’ experience. She says that even she was shocked to get an interview invitation because even as she was applying she didn’t think she had a chance.

According to Carolyne Kariuki, a recruitment manager at Corporate Staffing Services, an employer can hire someone who is seemingly under qualified for the job if they have these three things.

What do recruiters consider when a good candidate is under qualified?

1. Is This Person’s Previous Experience Relevant to the Role?

For example, if a position requires five years’ experience but someone with three years’ experience applies, they can be considered if the experience is relevant to the role.

“Why? Because even when candidates don’t have the exact amount of experience we asked for, many of them have done tasks that were far more advanced than someone who has the number of years’ experience we want,” says Ms. Kariuki.

As a job seeker, you shouldn’t let the fact that you don’t have the exact same number of years’ experience keep you from applying for a job.

However, you need to ensure that you are not so far off the experience required and you satisfy all the other requirements.

Check Out >>> Ask HR: I am Under-Qualified; Can I Still Apply For A Job?

2. Is This Person Motivated to Keep Learning?

One of the key skills employers want from an employee is the ability and desire to keep learning.

So even if you are applying for a job you are not that qualified for, if your CV shows that you are someone who is willing to learn then an employer might consider your application.

So, if you are looking to change careers or apply for a job you are slightly under-qualified for, show you are willing to learn by taking short courses that are relevant to the jobs you want. And then, of course, list them on your CV.

3. Does this person have the potential to be great?

If you’re an awesome candidate, companies want you!

This means that if an employer feels like you have a lot to offer, they will be willing to hire you.

Your job is to ensure that you show that you have a lot to offer the company.

While, it is crucial for you to ensure you don’t waste time and resources applying for jobs you have absolutely no chance of getting, you can still apply for positions you are under-qualified for.

According to Ms. Kariuki, employers can decide to hire someone who is not fully qualified for the job but they believe has the potential to do the job.

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In Conclusion,

It is not always advisable to apply for jobs you are under-qualified for; however, if you choose the jobs wisely, you could end up actually getting hired.

As a job seeker, you need to ensure that whatever job you apply for, you sell your skills and capabilities, this means your CV needs to be well written and should show the value you will bring to the company.

An employer is more likely to hire someone who has shown they can be valuable but are under-qualified over someone who is qualified but has not shown their value.