A career coach has shared the best approach to nailing interviews for jobs you’re underqualified for.
Erin McGoff, from New York, explained how you can put your best foot forward when you’re interviewing for a position you believe you don’t meet all the requirements for on paper.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: How to nail interviews for jobs you’re underqualified for.
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The expert said job interviews are a great way to highlight the qualifications you do have and show how your existing skills and experiences make you a strong candidate for the role.
Rather than confess to the hiring manager that you’re inexperienced, McGoff suggested emphasising on any transferable or “soft skills” that align with the job requirements.
She shared a worse case scenario to help people avoid making the mistake.
“Thank you so much for coming in for today’s interview. So what makes you a good fit for this role?” McGoff said as she reenacted a hiring manager in a job interview.
Acting out as a flustered job candidate in the interview, she responded: “I’m underqualified. I don’t have more than three years experience. I’ve only worked for tiny companies. I don’t even know a lot about TV production.”
McGoff explained how some candidates would speak negatively about themselves in an interview because they feel they are “wasting the interviewer’s time”.
“I’m not qualified and there’s no way I’m going to get this job,” she said as she reenacted the candidate.
However, McGoff said this was not the case.
“Why would they be interviewing you if they didn’t think you were qualified for the role?” she explained.
“Listen, if you’re in the room, you belong there. They want you to be the perfect person for the job.”
She said the best approach was to focus on your “soft transferable skills”, especially your “unique offerings”.
“What do you have that other candidates might not?” McGoff pointed out.
She gave an example of the best way to answer the question: “What makes you a good fit for this role?”
“I’m confident that I’m a great fit for this role. Not only do I have the hard production skills, but I also have the soft skills that you’re looking for,” McGoff shared.
“I’m resourceful, detail-oriented and I pride myself in my work ethic. And an added bonus is that I actually got my degree in journalism so if you ever need somebody to fact check or review for AP style of writing (basic rules for grammar and punctuation), I’m your girl.”
She added: “General reminder that if you meet 1000 per cent of the job description, you’re probably overqualified — apply.”
Her video has been viewed more than 1.5 million times — with many weighing in on her career advice.
“I love this because it shows us how to reframe how we present ourselves and focus on what we can do. This is good advice also for entrepreneurs,” one suggested.
Another said: “I feel like most of being in an interview is just showing them you’re not a crazy person. Like you said, if you’re in the room, you belong there. They already know your skills. Just show them you’re nice and normal and can have a normal conversation and will be pleasant to work with.”
One added: “I got a job last year that I was 100 per cent not qualified for just because why the hell not try your best and shoot your shot? What’s the worst that can happen? They turn you down? Who cares — you move on! Always go for it with everything you’ve got because you never know what can happen, sure as hell happened to me.”
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