As a job seeker, are you tired of feeling like you never have all of the job qualifications an employer is asking for? I understand your frustration. Perhaps you need to go back to school or gain more experience, but not necessarily.
Why do I say this?
It's because job postings reflect the employer’s *ideal* candidate. Rarely do applicants measure up to this ideal – and there is no such thing as a perfect fit. In fact, employers often prioritize less qualified applicants who demonstrate a stronger willingness to learn than their more qualified counterparts.
So as a general rule of thumb, if you only have 75% of the qualifications an employer is asking for, you should still apply for the job if you really want it.
This means emphasizing the value of your soft skills - e.g. communication, self-motivated learning, teamwork, collaboration, reliability, etc - and highlighting any transferable skills from your past experiences that would be an asset on the job. Remember, soft skills and transferable skills can be just as attractive to hiring managers as educational qualifications.
So if you are feeling frustrated, my advice to you is this: don't discount yourself just because you aren't a 100% perfect fit. You can still be an attractive candidate without measuring up to the ideal.