The post Job Interviews: How To Explain Being Under Qualified appeared first on Career Point Kenya.
By Tabitha Makumi,
The mere fact that you got invited for an interview in the first place and your CV didn’t get thrown in the trash considering that you lack experience is something to be proud of.
This is considering that a good number of Kenyan job seekers can peg the whole reason they are not getting a job to one thing only and that is ‘lack of experience’. But how can you get experience without getting your foot in the door.
But it happens that , you apply for a job especially entry level jobs without experience thinking that this application too won’t yield anything and will fall out like the rest of them. Give or take, a week later after application you get a call inviting you for an interview.
As a job seeker you will need to reassure the employer that he is the right person for the job, regardless of your experience level and you can be rest assured that a question regarding your lack of experience is going to be directed to you in that interview.
Here is how to handle it.
1.Always anticipate this question
You have to know that it’s a must that you will be asked about your lack of experience and address the issue early in the interview, rather than waiting for the hiring manager to ask you about it. This allows you to present the issue on your own terms and not to be caught off guard and start stammering
2.Be one step ahead.
This is how, go through the job description and identify the key skills and abilities required from the ideal candidate, and address how your education, qualities and background help you to meet the requirements of the job, regardless of your lack of experience in a specific area.
3 Identify your transferrable skills
For example you can say . “Although I don’t have direct experience in human resources, my retail and customer service experience has prepared me for this job because it gave me numerous opportunities to resolve conflicts and defuse heated situations.”
4 Bring in your education
This is where you make sure that you any professional certifications and qualifications you have obtained. You can say, “While working full-time in my former position, I completed an evening class to get professionally certified in the industry. Taking the class has enabled me to stay updated on the most recent legislative developments in the field.”
5. Come up with a plan
Identify a plan for your first few months on the job, to reassure the employer you will get up to speed quickly. You can say something along this line, “I understand your company offers a mentoring program to new employees. I hoped that if I was successful I might be assigned a mentor who specializes in that area.”
While you are at it, don’t apologize for your lack of experience, and don’t try to cover it up. Be sincere and honest, but explain why you are the ideal candidate for the job, regardless of experience level.
The post Job Interviews: How To Explain Being Under Qualified appeared first on Career Point Kenya.
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