Lacking experience doesn't always mean you shouldn't apply. (Shutterstock)
When looking for a new job, many of us often feel like we’ll never be able to meet any of job listing requirements. Sometimes it feels like companies are looking for some magical creature that probably doesn’t exist on this planet. However, there are possibilities for slightly underqualified applicants. If you are confident that you are capable of doing a job and the three features below apply to you, you should take your chances.

1. You’ve got relevant experience.
When you’re a recent graduate and the company is looking for someone with 10 years of experience, you better pass this one up. But if you are reasonably close to the amount of years of experience the job listing suggests, and if this experience is very relevant to the skills required, you do have a good chance of being invited for an interview.
The relevance of what you have done in the past is way more important than the number of years you’ve had to get well-versed in it. Inviting you for the first round of interviews is a chance the company may take to make sure they don’t miss out on someone amazing.


2. You are eager to learn.
If your application is lacking some years of experience, try to compensate for it in other domains. Show the hiring company that you are someone who is, and always has been, eager to learn. Even if you already have a job, continuous learning benefits you either way. Proving that you are able to keep learning on moments when it’s not required, will convince the recruiter that you will also be able to learn when it’s needed. If you don’t have the ideal skillset yet, but you have a long track record of taking extra courses, they will be tempted to make that phone call. Plus, the company will have the opportunity to teach you their ways without you being influenced too much by previous experiences.


3. You have loads of potential.
Make sure the hiring company is convinced that you will be a great addition to their business. Not by bragging about your many adventures during your time off, but by being a good candidate who is almost qualified enough, very eager to learn and has obvious potential. Make them feel like they could benefit from hiring you and it would be a mistake to pass up on you.
The perfect candidate often doesn’t exist, and if you are an awesome person who perfectly fits in the company they might adjust the role they had in mind for their new employee, provide extra support to get you to where they want you to be or even create a completely new role where you would be very valuable for the firm.
Not having enough experience for a job doesn't have to be a problem...


http://m.careers24.com.ng/career-advice/job-hunting/how-to-improve-your-hireablity-even-if-youre-underqualified-20160928-2

J

Good one on a More Monday morning.

Few but Nice points, besides who would be hired would be hired.

you can't b good at what you are not trained for sha
.

Nice piece

We see interview tips and every other job tips everyday on Nairaland. Fact is that once you have experience, you'll always have the upper hand during an interview. Nigerian system doesn't encourage fresh graduates. Fresh graduates better start applying for graduate internships to gain relevant experience.

OP u forgot to add the 4th and most important, attach a letter of recommendation from a top "OGA" that you know and the job is yours. This is Nigeria!!!

Na wa o

That's true. Thanks

i am a graduate engineer.. i am currently looking for a graduate trainee position at any production, construction, ICT or managememt firm around owerri and portharcout..or onitsha and aba..

please help. quote me..
my DM isn't accesible

Great!

Sometimes, I just checkout my CV n say 2 myself " nna ehh, u might even be 2 good to be hired sef" only 4 employer 2 say "don't worry young graduate, u're still a beginner"

Nwanne, just checkout dix lubbish

Okay! Tanx

You didnt mention what area you specialized in, but i suggest you learn some CAD programs and get really good at them, in this way you become useful to any potential employer..

OgidiOlu3:
We see interview tips and every other job tips everyday on Nairaland. Fact is that once you have experience, you'll always have the upper hand during an interview. Nigerian system doesn't encourage fresh graduates. Fresh graduates better start applying for graduate internships to gain relevant experience.

This should be the best post I ve read so far in any job search related thread on nairaland.
Since work experience is what recruiters hammer on the most, and fresh graduates lack that the most, I think they should listen to your advice on how to get it.

Nice post

ayusco85:


This should be the best post I ve read so far in any job search related thread on nairaland.
Since work experience is what recruiters hammer on the most, and fresh graduates lack that the most, I think they should listen to your advice on how to get it.

Nice post

Nice one OgidiOlu3 and ayusco85. I advised someone lately to go any company that suits his field and ask to work for free in order to garner experience. If he performs well, they can even employ him. On the other hand, he will not be wasting time sitting at home. Thumbs up guys!

donogaga:


The relevance of what you have done in the past is way more important than the number of years you’ve had to get well-versed in it. Inviting you for the first round of interviews is a chance the company may take to make sure they don’t miss out on someone amazing.

Aside the fact that this is so misleading, it also doesn't make any sense.

ayusco85:


This should be the best post I ve read so far in any job search related thread on nairaland.
Since work experience is what recruiters hammer on the most, and fresh graduates lack that the most, I think they should listen to your advice on how to get it.

Nice post

Yea it's a nice post but what makes you think fresh graduates don't listen to the advice going by the last few lines of your post? I for one have been consistent in applying for internship positions all to no avail and I am pretty sure there is a sizable number of others doing what I'm doing.

Sometimes u have to be a Lil dishonest, the only problem is defending the honesty.

Very helpful. Thanks OP

dfrost:


Nice one OgidiOlu3 and ayusco85. I advised someone lately to go any company that suits his field and ask to work for free in order to garner experience. If he performs well, they can even employ him. On the other hand, he will not be wasting time sitting at home. Thumbs up guys!

Yea. That's true. Pls all fresh graduates listen to this advice. Work for free and gain experience

agrovick:

Yea it's a nice post but what makes you think fresh graduates don't listen to the advice going by the last few lines of your post? I for one have been consistent in applying for internship positions all to no avail and I am pretty sure there is a sizable number of others doing what I'm doing.

May God bless you real good. The earlier graduates start thinking of acquiring a skill to better their lives rather than keep wasting the monies they don't have to attends countless number of fruitless interviews, the better. They told us to go to school to get jobs and now it's a hard nut to crack to get jobs, most especially those of our disciplines. Even if you offer to work for free, they will still give you reasons why they can't give you a chance to. Don't ask me how I got to know about this, cos I've tried it myself. I won't even advise anyone to try this shit with the current Nigerian economy. I'd go to an artisan and beg to work for free so as to learn for posterity's
sake. I SHM for this shame called Nigeria.