What to do when you don't meet every requirement
Very few people meet every line of an advert. What matters is which lines you're missing, and what you can honestly show instead.
First, is it really missing?
Many gaps are things people have but left off: a course from years ago, a system used in a previous job, a qualification listed only as an abbreviation. Check before you decide you don't have it.
Deal-breakers and wishes
- Deal-breakers: legal or safety requirements, such as a professional registration, a licence for the vehicle you'd drive, or a qualification the role must have by law. Without these, applying is usually wasted effort.
- Strong preferences: "must have experience of X". Important, but some employers will consider close experience.
- Wishes: desirable items, or long lists of tools. Missing some is normal.
Show your closest true experience
If you don't have exactly what's asked, show the nearest thing you do have, and say what it is. Don't word it so it sounds like the real thing.
Closest experience: fill the gaps with your own facts- Advert asks for Xero: Used [other accounting software] daily for bank reconciliations and sales invoices.
- Advert asks for team leadership: Trained [number] new starters and ran the shift when the supervisor was off.
A reader can then judge it fairly. If they accept close experience, you're still in the running. If they don't, you've lost nothing by being honest.
Show you're closing the gap
If you're learning it, say so with specifics: the course, how far through you are and when you expect to finish. A free course started this week counts if it's true. A plan you haven't started doesn't belong on a CV.
Should you still apply?
If you meet most of the must-haves and the gap isn't a deal-breaker, it's usually worth applying, with your best evidence for the rest. If you're missing several must-haves, your time may be better spent on adverts that fit more closely.
SmashTheJob shows which requirements are missing, unclear or clear for a specific advert, which makes this decision quicker.
Questions
Should I mention a missing requirement in my cover letter?
If it's an obvious must-have, a short honest line helps: what you have instead, and how you'd close the gap. Don't apologise at length.
Can I put a skill I'm learning on my CV?
Yes, if it's labelled honestly, for example "Python (currently learning, online course, due to finish [month])".