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Job qualifications – sometimes called “job requirements” – are the experience, skills and knowledge needed for a role. Qualifications act as a benchmark for employers to assess whether candidates have the right attributes to excel in the position.
If, while looking at a job posting, you find yourself asking, ‘am I qualified for the job?’ check out my five telltale signs that you’re a good candidate, along with my advice on how to communicate your qualifications during the interview.
5 signs that you’re qualified for the job
1. You meet the requirements of the job.
A job candidate should meet most – if not all – of the requirements listed in the job description. Doing so increases the likelihood of being considered for the position.
To see if your background aligns with what the employer is looking for, assess your:
- Educational background.
- Professional expertise.
- Work experience.
- Certifications.
- Specialized training.
There may be times when you’re just short of meeting all the qualifications. For example, maybe you have two years of relevant work experience, but the job description asks for three to five. If you meet most of the other qualifications, I encourage you to still apply for the job.
2. You have relevant work experience.
A job candidate with relevant work experience is more likely to understand the responsibilities of the role they applied for, compared to someone else who applied and does not have the right experience.
Think about your current or past job and your responsibilities. Ask yourself:
- Is there an overlap between my current/previous job duties and what’s outlined in the job description?
- What projects have I worked on that are similar to what’s included in the job responsibilities?
- Have I acquired any specialized skills or knowledge in my previous role that would be valuable for this position?
Don’t count yourself out for a job if you don’t have the exact experience listed in the job description. The skills you’ve learned could still be easily transferred to the job you’re interested in. For example, a restaurant server could transition to a role as a customer service representative, because they have experience working directly with customers.
3. Your skills match the job description.
Having the same skills as what’s outlined in the job description shows you have what it takes to do the job – and do it well.
Even if your skills don’t line up perfectly with the way the skills are listed in the job posting, it’s important to remember that skills are often transferable across different industries (as I mentioned above).
In your resume, highlight how your existing skills can be adapted and applied to the requirements of the role by:
- Identifying areas where your existing skills align with the desired qualifications.
- Providing specific examples of how you have successfully used these skills in different contexts or projects.
- Demonstrating your ability to quickly learn new skills and adapt them to meet the needs of the role.
4. Your background is on par with others who’ve been in the role.
Researching employees who are/were in the same role you want to apply for can give you a better idea of whether you’re qualified for the job.
LinkedIn is a great resource for researching people who have the job/previously held the job you’re applying for:
- Log into your LinkedIn account and type the name of the company and the role you’re applying for into the search bar. The search should bring up people who currently work in or have previously worked in the role you are considering applying for.
- Visit their profile and see what they had listed for their education and work experience when they were hired for the role.
- If you find someone who didn’t seem to meet all the job qualifications, investigate what other achievements might have made them stand out.
Understanding what made the hiring team consider this candidate can give you a better idea of how you can market your own strengths and improve your chances of getting the job.
5. You can confidently speak about the work you would be doing.
Being able to articulate your understanding of the role's responsibilities shows you have a solid grasp of what it entails. That level of confidence will be beneficial to you during an interview and will help capture the attention of potential employers.
Once you apply for the job, take the time to research and familiarize yourself with:
- The job description.
- The company’s website and social media channels.
- Industry trends.
- Read industry news.
- Watch TED Talks.
- Listen to industry-related podcasts.
