SaaSam

Account Executive

Do you still apply for a position if you fall short in some of the "requirements"

In my search for new opportunities I come across companies that I nearly hit all marks for in their requirements section. Primarily in the years experience, example I have 6 and a position I just looked at requires 7.

🧠 Advice

20 comments

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funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

Yes. "Requirements" are the ideal employee, the wish list. Most employers know that very few candidates will hit all those marks.

As long as you meet any legal/licensing requirements and the most major requirements (don't apply to be a sales manager if you've only ever worked as an SDR) why not apply? The worst that happens is that they don't call you back.

SaaSam

Politicker

Account Executive

Never thought about it this way but it makes perfect sense. Definitely gives me more confidence when applying. Thanks

SaaSMaster

Politicker

Strategic Partnerships Manager

Spot on. Worst thing is that you get a no or ghosted. Not like you’re getting the cops called on you for applying for a job you don’t meet a requirement or two for

alecabral

Arsonist

Director - Digital Sales Transformation

Keyword = some. If it's too many I will consider not doing so, but if it's just some, I'll go for it.

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

Absolutely. @funcoupons nailed it. It's for an ideal candidate that doesn't exist. Even better, if you can get a referral, that list can just get thrown away.

Ozz

Politicker

Account Executive

Yeah, 5 years exp for entry level jobs where I know for a fact plenty of new grads get hired especially in this tight labor market.

ChunkyButters

Tycoon

Yes. Always as long as you're not a crazy stretch - even then fuck it...SHOOT YOUR SHOT. No one ever got promoted or got a new fancy job they were perfect in. We learn as we go.

Besides, sometimes those posts are written by clueless HR people who don't know shit about fuck. You see the crypto posting asking for experience of 10+ years when that's pretty much Satoshi? Or the coding one where they asked for experience of 10 years when the code was only 5 years old?

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

Hell yeah I do, any good recruiter or company will understand they aren't going to get a perfectly checked off list. Your 5 or 6 years of experience can surpass someone with more in terms of your growth and productivity during that time.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Absolutely. You may be the best qualified for the role.

pattymayo22

Opinionated

New Business Account Executive

All the time worst thing they can do is not contact you

Balloons4baboons

Opinionated

Account Executive

Definitely! @funcoupons already hit the nail on the head - those "requirements" are more nice to haves. Should you have some of them? For sure. Are you a trash human for not having all of them and should feel ashamed for applying? Absolutely not.

Also remember there is 0 harm in applying. If you get rejected it's not like you're blackballed from ever applying to that company or role again, it just means you aren't a fit at that moment in time.

cw95

Politicker

Sales Development Lead

Yes. no win no learning.

Rachet

Politicker

Account executive

Yeah. Whats the worse thing that could happen? You don't get the job.

Applying for jobs is like sales in the regards of its a numbers game.

You may come short compared to your competition but theres gonna be one where you shine like the Golden Dollar you are even if you're missing a penny or two.

Panda4489

Politicker

Head of Some Shit

Fuck yes

SalesRecruiter

Opinionated

Recruiting Director

Always go for it. Especially with the sales roles, most companies just have a generic description. As a recruiter, I am not checking off boxes of the job description. I am asking the candidate questions to see what their quota attainment has been, what relationships they have in territory, channel partners they’ve worked with, how they’ve overcome difficult situations, etc. I’d say the only thing that might matter is years of experience. We won’t take someone for a large enterprise AE role that’s been an SDR for a year.

Bittersweet0326

Politicker

Digital Business Associate

Yes. Especially in the sales world. If asked about it during the interview process just emphasize the strengths you have for the job vs the (probably minor) requirement you don't have.

FromaBlankPerspective

Politicker

District Manager

Yes, always (but especially in this market)

GDO

Politicker

BDM

Yes, requirements are just part of it. And you have nothing to lose. You mis every shot you don’t take.

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SaaSam

Do you still apply for a position if you fall short in some of the "requirements"

20 comments

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