Are you fully qualified for any job? No, you can never be! But you know what? That’s absolutely fine!
While it’s important to accept that no one is perfectly qualified for every job, reaching a certain threshold of qualifications is crucial for each position you apply for.
This blog will guide you through a step-by-step process to evaluate your eligibility for any job.
By following these steps, you can assess whether you meet the essential requirements and determine how to strengthen your application.
Step 1: Identify Job Titles That Match Your Aspirations
The first step in checking your eligibility for any job is to list down all the possible job titles that align with your career aspirations. This requires a deep understanding of your career goals, interests, and the industry you want to work in. Here’s how to get started:
- Explore various roles within your chosen industry. Use resources like industry reports, job boards, and professional networking sites like LinkedIn to gather information.
- Think about where you see yourself in the next five to ten years. What roles will help you achieve these goals?
- Discuss your aspirations with mentors, colleagues, and industry professionals to gain insights into potential job titles you might not have considered.
By compiling a comprehensive list of relevant job titles, you create a foundation for the next steps in evaluating your eligibility.
Step 2: Shortlist Job Descriptions (JDs) for Different Titles
Once you have a list of job titles, the next step is to find and analyze job descriptions (JDs) for these roles. Here’s how you can effectively shortlist JDs:
- Use job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn to find job postings for each title on your list.
- Choose job descriptions from various companies to get a broad perspective on the role.
- Shortlist at least 10 job descriptions for each job title. This will give you a good sample size to identify common requirements.
Step 3: Analyze the Responsibilities Section
The responsibilities section of a job description is crucial for understanding what the role entails. Here’s how to analyze this section:
- For each JD, note down all the listed responsibilities.
- Repeat this process for all 10 JDs and look for recurring themes and tasks.
This step is essential for identifying the core requirements and expectations for the job title you’re interested in.
Step 4: Categorize the Job Requirements
Now comes the magical part. After analyzing multiple job descriptions, you’ll notice certain patterns. You can categorize the job requirements into three main groups: Mandatory, Important, and Additional.
Mandatory Requirements
These are the skills and qualifications that appear in almost every job description you reviewed. They are non-negotiable and essential for the role. Here’s how to identify them:
- If a responsibility or skill is mentioned in nearly all the JDs (at least 8-10 out of 10), it’s a mandatory requirement.
- These often include technical skills, educational qualifications, and significant work experiences.
Important Requirements
These requirements appear frequently but not in every job description. They are highly valued and can significantly enhance your application. Here’s how to identify them:
- If a responsibility or skill is mentioned in at least half of the JDs (5-7 out of 10), it’s considered important.
- These might include additional technical skills, soft skills, or specific industry knowledge.
Additional Requirements
These are the nice-to-have skills and qualifications that appear occasionally in job descriptions. They can give you an edge over other candidates but are not essential. Here’s how to identify them:
- If a responsibility or skill is mentioned in less than half of the JDs (1-4 out of 10), it’s considered additional.
- These might include specialized certifications, unique experiences, or advanced skills.
Step 5: Assess Your Eligibility
Now that you’ve categorized the job requirements, it’s time to assess your own qualifications. Here’s how to do it:
- Check Mandatory Requirements: If you do not already possess the mandatory skills and qualifications, you’re not yet eligible for the job. These are critical and cannot be overlooked.
- Evaluate Important Requirements: If you have the important requirements, you’re in a strong position to apply. These qualifications will make you a competitive candidate.
- Consider Additional Requirements: If you also have the additional requirements, you’re in an excellent position. This might be the time to not just apply for the job but target the company itself.
Then comes the most important steps:
Step 6: Create a Personal Action Plan
If you find gaps in your qualifications, don’t be discouraged. Instead, create a personal action plan to bridge these gaps. Here’s how:
- Determine which mandatory and important skills you’re lacking.
- Enroll in courses, attend workshops, and seek certifications to acquire these skills.
- Look for opportunities to gain relevant experience, such as volunteering, internships, or freelance work.
Step 7: Tailor Your Application
When you’re confident that you meet the mandatory and important requirements, tailor your application to highlight these qualifications. Here’s how:
- Resume/Portfolio: Emphasize your skills and experiences that align with the job description.
- Compelling Cover Letter: Address how your qualifications match the job requirements and express your enthusiasm for the role.
- Interview Specific: Be ready to discuss your skills and experiences in detail during interviews. Practice answering common interview questions and providing examples that demonstrate your qualifications.
Conclusion: Reaching Beyond Job Applications
If you’re even sure of those additional ones, then it’s time to level up and target the company, rather than targeting for a job! Building a relationship with a company can open doors to opportunities that aren’t publicly advertised. Here’s how to do it:
- Connect with current employees, attend industry events, and join relevant professional groups.
- Share your expertise and insights through blogs, social media, and professional networks.
- Reach out to hiring managers and express your interest in the company, even if there’s no current job opening.
By following these steps, you can effectively assess your eligibility for any job and take proactive steps to enhance your qualifications.
One more thing – the job search process is dynamic and an evolving scape of career!
Continuously improving your skills, experiences and job search strategies will keep you competitive in the ever-changing job market.
If you require any assistance with this, feel free to leave a comment here, and I’ll get back to you.
Before that, do watch this demo video of how we followed the above steps, to get you started.