Mars versus Venus

I’m trying to persuade one of my friends to apply for a job that she thinks is out of her league. Admittedly it would be a big step up, but why shouldn’t she apply and let the recruitment team decide if she’s got what it takes? And there lies the (well, one) difference between men and women: women see a job vacancy and think they they have to tick all the boxes; men will take a chance and just go for it. It’s daft really. As someone who has written vacancy notices I know it’s really a wish list. If a candidate already possesses all those skills, they’re probably already in the role and would only be moving sideways. A good recruiter looks for potential, someone who can grow into the job. So what do you do if you don’t think you satisfy all the vacancy requirements? You can’t lie in your CV, but you can state your case in your cover letter. Show how the job would be the next logical step in your career progression. You may not have the direct experience asked for – don’t forget it’s usually a wish list unless it explicitly states otherwise - but you may be able to give examples of how you have demonstrated your aptitude in another way. Ultimately, what have you got to lose by going for it?