Alyson Iuchs ⋅ Edwards, CA Photogenic, Inc ⋅ 5 years experience

Job descriptions often have recommended work experience and skills needed that employers want potential candidates to have. However, this is more of a guideline and not every candidate has to meet every criteria. If you believe that you are “almost” qualified then you should put yourself in the running, but realize that you have some extra work to show the employer you can make up for the lack of experience. Here are three ways to showcase your skills are more valuable than the other candidates interviewing.

1. Cover letter
Personalization can be the key to a cover letter that draws the attention of the reader to your unique skill set. You shouldn’t focus on the experience you lack, but instead focus on other evidence such as your strengths and transferable skills. You will also want to tell the reader how you can contribute to the company in a unique and positive way. If you can show your enthusiasm for the company and job, hiring managers are going to take that into consideration when calling candidates for interviews. Hiring managers don’t always choose the candidate with the most experience, but you can be sure they will choose someone who is genuinely excited about the position and knowledgeable about the company.

Tips on Writing a Cover Letter: https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-write-a-cover-letter-31-tips-you-need-to-know

2. Company connection
Another way to overcome lack of experience is to network in the relative field and find someone related with the company. This direct connection can give you a leg up on the competition. According to an ABC news report, 80 percent of today’s jobs are landed through networking. Your company connection can put in a referral for you or make sure your resume is at the top of the hiring manager’s pile.

Networking and Becoming Successful: http://onlinemasters.ohio.edu/tips-for-becoming-a-successful-executive-leader/

3. Unique qualities
Hiring managers have a list of non-negotiable skills every candidate must have, but the addition of other quantifiable skills can set you apart from your competition. On your resume you will want to provide an equal amount of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are often learned through school work or apprenticeships such as operating systems, foreign languages and programming while soft skills include communication, patience and interacting with customers. During the interview you should make sure to identify those unique qualities. When answering questions, showcase your independent thinking and refrain from typical interview answers. If you tell a story be sure to use specific qualities employers are looking for including how you problem solve, learn new things quickly, work well on a team and are goal oriented.

When looking at job postings remember that the description is only a guideline of wanted qualities and experience. When creating your resume and cover letter make sure to highlight desirable skills and qualities that set up apart for others. During the interview, do forget to ask the hiring manager questions about the company to show your enthusiasm and interest in the job.

Use Evidence-Based Decisions: http://online.rutgers.edu/resources/infographics/mpa-how-much-evidence-is-enough-learning-how-to-use-evidence-based-policy-and-practice/

Qualities Employers Look For: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2016/03/02/12-qualities-employers-look-for-when-theyre-hiring/2/#1db757aee32f

Matthew Parker ⋅ Woodridge, IL U.S. Army, Captain ⋅ 6 years served

William,

I would say one of your biggest advocates here is networking. If someone within the firm is willing/able to vouch for you or at least get your resume in front of the right people, that is often much more impactful than words on a resume. For example, I transitioned into finance after the military and had neither the educational background nor experience they were looking for according to the job description. However, I knew someone currently in that group and did well networking with some recruiters. That got me an interview where I would have normally been screened out. From there it was just up to me to demonstrate that the experience I did have, made up for anything that I appeared to be missing on paper.

Hope this helps,
Matt

Stevie Ray ⋅ Burnsville, MN Stevie Ray's Improv Company ⋅ 30 years experience

Hi William:
As Sara and Ron pointed out, employers are really looking for someone who will not cause them extra work. As others have mentioned, your task is not to downplay the four-six year difference between you and the listing, your task is to present yourself as a hit-the-ground-running candidate.
Here is a thought that doesn't relate to your question, but relates to how you present yourself. Hiring managers have to sift through dozens, if not hundreds, of applications. As such, they are looking for any little glitch that allows them to toss the resume on the "Decline" pile. Four out of five resumes in America are declined just because of poor grammar. Why? Because if someone can't prepare an important document like a resume, how can they be trusted with company e-mails, inner-office communications, and the like? Poor communication makes the company look bad.
I say this because little slips in your post included "my chance" instead of "my chances," and "ask" instead of "asks." Another grammatical rule is that numbers that are below three digits are spelled out instead of using the numeral ("six" instead of "6"). Also, your post includes "Are jobs a stickler..." when you meant "Are prospective employers sticklers..."
These may seem like nit-picking, but as I mentioned, hiring managers look for any sign that someone is more qualified than another candidate. Also, communication skills lead people to make assumptions about overall intelligence. If someone uses poor grammar, the manager questions whether they can be trusted with other tasks.
My goal is to remove every possible obstacle from your path, so I encourage you to pay close attention to word choice, grammar, and spelling in the future.
Good luck to you, sir!

Mark Dahlstrom ⋅ Nevada City, CA Hewlett Packard ⋅ 20 years experience

You can convince them that your 4 years of experience is more valuable than the 6 years they're after by pulling in relevant accomplishments that fit what they're seeking. Pull out the projects or experiences that show you have the skills and experience they're after. if they're sticklers about it, there's not much you can do. But, if you really want it, go for it and don't let the 6 years scare you away.

Jonathan Horn ⋅ Needham Heights, MA Coca-Cola ⋅ 12 years experience

William,

I also agree with what others have posted relative to the number of years of experience. You must on some level disregard the number and show that what experience you do have may be more meaningful and may provide more value to the employer. If you are able to show that you have done more in a slightly less period of time than other potential candidates, some may view that positively. Be sure and prepare to give specific, substantive examples demonstrating your experience during an interview, meeting, etc.

Bob Molluro ⋅ Wilmington, DE Benchmark Consulting Services ltd. ⋅ 30 years experience

The number of years experience is very misleading. I know many people who would say I have twenty years experience and what they have is two years ten times over. Don't let the six years requirement throw you. Demonstrate that your four years are quite diverse. Question to find out what specifically they need and then give them examples of why you satisfy that need. You don't have an experience problem you have a sales problem.
Warmly,
Bob

Elizabeth Hendler ⋅ New York, NY Grantwriter ⋅ 20 years experience

When people apply to work for me, I look carefully at their resume but also their cover letter. Folks who take the time to connect their experience to the desired job qualifications in their cover letter essentially are doing the work for the employer of demonstrating their capacity to do the job. So if they list certain things they are looking for, the cover letter is where you can make that case that you have those qualities. When you make it easy for the employer to see you as the right candidate you are making it easier on them. This is also a point of view walking into a job. Employers will never say it, but they all want people who are going to make their life easier not harder. They have team goals and are trying to get something done. Tell them how you being in the role will make it easier for them to get that job done.

Sara Bagby ⋅ New York, NY Mastercard ⋅ 5 years experience

William -

I agree with Rob - length of experience is often just a proxy for readiness / likeliness to need training or onboarding in specific skills, not a requirement in and of itself. If you're confident that you have the skills and adequate experience, then I would focus on framing a cover letter around your skills and the variety of contexts or challenges you've faced in your 4 years of experience (with the implication being that more dynamic and challenging roles provide much more experience and development in a shorter time frame), and how you're completely equipped to be up and running in the first thirty days.

It's also a great opening to ask specifically what experience they're looking for (do they think a more tenured person will have a certain certification, or be able to manage people?) - which is again not necessarily tenure based, but potentially what they're really looking for.

Best of luck with the application!

Sara

Ronald Carvalho ⋅ Avon By The Sea, NJ Marketing Resource International ⋅ 40 years experience

William,

When an employer uses a term like 6 years, they are looking for someone that needs no training. From day 1, that person is proficient with the technical aspects of the job and can step in an be immediately functional. If you are that person with only 4 years experience, you must convince them that your 4 years experience is as good as someone's 6 years - convince the employer that you can walk in and do the job day 1.

Ron Carvalho