Cheeky Logo
Ready To Get Hired?
Apply To Book A Free Call With Our Transition Specialist Team

Here’s How To Get Hired When You Don’t Meet All Of The Job Requirements

To apply, or not to apply?

That was the question.

When I started to look for jobs outside academia, online job sites and job boards were my go-to option.

I knew I wanted a position away from the bench, but I felt that a research scientist position was the only thing I was qualified for.

At least, partially qualified for.

Even research scientist positions asked for previous industry experience.

How is one supposed to get industry experience when every job description asked for previous industry experience?

Was this one of those chicken-or-egg brain teasers set up by hiring managers to ward off academics?

I felt embarrassed at even the thought of applying.

I imagined someone reading my resume and laughing while feeding it through the shredder.

I felt like a joke and I hadn’t even applied yet.

It seemed like a complete waste of my time because it just seemed like a hopeless set-up.

Maybe the only thing I was qualified for was an internship or an academic postdoc.

I even thought about offering to volunteer my time at big pharma companies.

I had no sense of the value I could bring to a company — when in fact, all the transferable skills I obtained during my PhD made me the ideal job candidate.

I just didn’t realize it.

As soon as I saw a checklist of requirements that I couldn’t tick off 100%, I wouldn’t even bother applying.

It wasn’t until I started networking with industry professionals that I learned how foolish I really was.

No job candidate ever ticked 100% of the boxes.

Not only that, but hiring managers will choose someone who is a better fit culturally over someone with all the technical qualifications.

I didn’t even know what I didn’t know and it was holding me back.

My imposter syndrome prevented me from seeing my own true worth.

My connections encouraged me to apply for roles I thought I wouldn’t have a chance getting.

I followed their advice and got the call for an industry interview…

Why You Don’t Have To Meet All The Job Requirements

Job descriptions are created by hiring managers and human resources departments; people who rarely, if ever, have done the actual job they are recruiting for.

They create it based on a fictitious persona of the perfect employee.

Based on a list of technical skills that someone left on their desk for the job.

A checklist of skills with some added guesswork and imagination.

Just enough to create a job description that will attract top talent while warding off those who are completely unqualified.

The truth is, despite the checklist, a company would rather hire someone who has key transferable skills and is a good cultural fit irrespective of their experience, than just someone who meets every requirement on the list.

Why?

Transferable skills take time (and resources) to teach and some people will never be able to grasp them.

A recent Wall Street Journal survey of nearly 900 executives found that 92% believed transferable skills were equally or more important than technical skills, although harder to come by.

Luckily, as PhDs, we have mastered many transferable skills directly related to industry careers.

Cultural fit equates to higher employee retention and higher productivity.

Employees who match the company goals will want to work for that company for longer and work more efficiently.

Happy employees are good employees.

Unfortunately, too many PhDs take the job requirements too literally and are scared off applying for roles where their prior experience has otherwise aptly prepared them.

How To Get An Industry Job Without Matching The Requirements

For every corporate position posted online there is an average 250 applicants and, for larger companies, often up to 2,000-3,000 applicants.

Don’t let this deter you.

No matter how many degrees you have, or how many years of industry experience you have under your belt, you will never meet all the job requirements in a given posting.

Most of the applicants won’t meet all the requirements either.

Remember, the job posting is merely a hiring manager wish list.

They are meant to attract only the cream of the crop.

That means YOU.

PhDs are valuable to industry hiring managers, even if they don’t currently have any industry experience.

Unfortunately, PhDs often lack the confidence and know-how to prove it.

The following 3 strategies will help you get hired, even if you don’t meet all the job requirements to start…

1. Research what a typical day on the job looks like.

You have found a job description that piques your interest.

It’s time to separate your desire to have a job, any job, from the actual reality of doing the specific job you’re interested in.

Can you see yourself in this role?

Read through the job description carefully and try to piece together a typical day in the office.

Go a step further — set up informational interviews with employees who are currently in this role and ask them what a day in their life looks like.

Now go through your previous experiences and determine which current strengths you can apply to perform well in this position.

Hint: ignore the bonus requirements in the job description.

If you have them, great — if not, don’t lose sleep over them.

Most importantly, suss out what part of the job is non-negotiable.

Then, make sure you highlight this skill on your resume and during phone screens, video calls, and the site visit.

In particular, make sure you highlight the previous experiences that indicate you will perform the job well.

Use keywords from the job description and weed out anything in your industry resume that is not directly related to the role.

Use these keywords during the interview too — always be speaking the language of your employer.

Curb the urge to fill your resume and interview answers with other accomplishments to make up for the fact that you do not have all the job requirements.

The hiring manager won’t bother searching through your resume to find out which experiences are related to the job.

They never search.

They only skim.

If they have to search, they’ll just move on to the next candidate.

Tailor your resume and don’t be afraid of white space.

When it comes time for the interview, focus on your strengths and the non-negotiables for the position.

Don’t get caught up in the minutia and don’t stress over the requirements that you don’t meet.

Instead, keep the conversation focused on your strengths, not your weaknesses.

2. Highlight your transferable skills on paper and in person.

Applying for research-based roles can cause PhDs a lot of frustration.

You have found your dream company and the ideal position, but the list of technical skills is a mile long.

You know that being an expert in Western Blotting means you can easily pick up the skill to perform an ELISA.

So how do you communicate that you’re the best candidate for the job, and that you just need a chance?

Through your transferable skills.

Identify other strengths that will put you on equal footing.

Touch on experiences where you quickly learned new skills which led to business-savvy results.

For example: staying on budget, increasing efficiency, or displaying innovation.

Project management roles often call for applicants with previous project management experience.

Even if you are not officially working as a project manager, you have used this skill to efficiently manage your own projects.

You had to complete projects in a timely fashion to generate publishable data.

You need to highlight these skills.

You need to get comfortable highlighting these skills and get confident in talking about them.

Don’t simply list the skills and expect the hiring manager to believe you.

Give evidence and show them you can achieve results that will translate into business.

Write an amazing cover letter where you paint a picture of what you have done well and highlight that you have learned what the company wants and can deliver these results.

3. Get a referral from a current employee concerning your job skills.

If you don’t fit the mold of a typical job candidate but are confident you can do the job, and do it well, your best option is always to find an internal referral.

For PhDs, this may seem more arduous than reworking a resume a hundred times over, but it guarantees a positive result.

An inside connection will vouch for your work ethic and your qualifications better than anything you can write on a resume.

The key is to not wait until the job is posted online.

Start networking early and target companies that are of interest to you.

Attend similar networking events, connect with them through LinkedIn, and ask for introductions through mutual connections.

Put your referral’s name in the first line of your cover letter.

Make sure it stands out as the first thing the hiring manager reads.

You’ve worked to provide value to gain an inside track — don’t be afraid to use it.

Some online applications even ask how you heard about the opening, at which point you can also indicate an internal connection.

Best case scenario, your referral hands your resume directly to the hiring manager.

An internal referral like this will compensate for nearly anything you lack in terms of not meeting the job requirements.

The increasing popularity of online job boards and job sites means that the number of applicants per posting is increasing exponentially. Job descriptions posted for these jobs are a wish list of traits the hiring manager is looking for, but doesn’t necessarily expect all the applicants to possess. Many PhDs make the mistake of assuming that they must have all of those traits to even apply — so they don’t. Don’t make this mistake. Your PhD has prepared you for industry, whether you meet every requirement in a job description or not. You must learn to adapt your resume and interviewing strategies accordingly, highlighting your transferable skills and showcasing your prior experiences that highlight your business acumen.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

Book a Transition Call
Get Free Job Search Content Weekly

ABOUT CATHERINE SORBARA, PH.D.

Cathy has a PhD in Medical Life Science and Technology and is COO of the Cheeky Scientist Association. Cathy is passionate about science communication including translating science to lay audiences and helping PhDs transition into industry positions. She is Chair of Cambridge AWiSE, a regional network for women in science, engineering and technology. She has also been selected to take part in Homeward Bound 2018, an all-female voyage to Antarctica aimed to heighten the influence of women in leadership positions and bring awareness to climate change.

Catherine Sorbara, Ph.D.

Similar Articles

5 Miscalculations That Are Holding You Hostage In Academia

5 Miscalculations That Are Holding You Hostage In Academia

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

As a PhD student, I felt more and more lost the closer I came to graduation. That’s because I had started to doubt that I knew what I wanted anymore. You could say I was torn, but that would be an understatement. I was absolutely wracked with indecision. My original plan had been to continue on in academia.  I was going to apply for a postdoc.  Then on to Assistant Professor.  And so on. However, I was starting to see a real pattern emerge among the PhD graduates I knew. I liked to check in periodically with those colleagues and…

Is Cheeky Scientist A Scam? Who Shouldn't Join The Association

Is Cheeky Scientist A Scam? Who Shouldn't Join The Association

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Is Cheeky Scientist a scam?   Has anyone here had any experience with the Cheeky Scientist Association? Is Cheeky Scientist worth it?  What’s the deal with Cheeky Scientist? Is Cheeky Scientist legit? PhDs are trained to be critical.  In academia and in life, every decision they’re faced with is made with extreme prejudice. Examining facts, collecting resources, and determining what is a trustworthy source of information is one of their biggest strengths.  PhDs have superior critical thinking skills, so it makes sense for them to carefully consider any investment – even if it’s an investment in themselves. And in almost every…

Should You Delete Your PhD From Your Resume? The Answer May Surprise You

Should You Delete Your PhD From Your Resume? The Answer May Surprise You

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

If you have a PhD, you’re overqualified for an industry job. PhDs are lab rats and can’t understand business. You can’t get a job without industry experience. Do any of these sentences sound familiar to you? Have you been looking for an industry job unsuccessfully and have reached a point where you ask yourself if your PhD has any value whatsoever? These sentences are myths, commonly said by either academics who don’t understand anything about industry, or by other job candidates who don’t want to compete with PhDs. Hiring managers for PhD-level industry positions want the best candidates possible. After…

4 Skills PhDs Have That Employers Are Desperately Seeking

4 Skills PhDs Have That Employers Are Desperately Seeking

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

The number of PhDs wanting to transition out of academia increases every year. Initially, most of these PhDs were recent graduates and postdocs.  But as the crisis in academia has gotten worse, we are seeing a lot of adjunct and even tenured professors wanting to leave. They feel professionally unfulfilled in academic positions because they are overworked, work in uninspiring roles, and/or are paid marginal academic stipends, fellowships, and wages.  Far too many PhDs are unable to find any meaning or joy in their academic careers, which negatively impacts both their professional and personal lives. Unfortunately, many of these PhDs end up…

The Exciting (or, Dreadful) First 90 Days Of A New Job. Here's What To Expect

The Exciting (or, Dreadful) First 90 Days Of A New Job. Here's What To Expect

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Like many PhDs, I thought I could jump into my first industry position ready to hit the ground running. Much to my surprise, this was not the case.   During the first few months of my new position, I felt like I was drowning. Everything I thought I knew about my field, how research is conducted, and how companies operate was turned on its head. I was not prepared for this major shift, and it showed. I waivered between trying to impress my managers and sitting mute in meetings, intimidated by everyone in the room. If I had known what…

The Inside Scoop On The Industry Onboarding Process

The Inside Scoop On The Industry Onboarding Process

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Nothing could prepare me for the shock I received walking into my first industry onboarding experience. Literally, everything was different from what I had experienced in academia. The processes, the culture, the pace – absolutely everything. I also had no idea what onboarding meant. I heard the word tossed around but, to me, it was just the process you went through to get all the mandatory paperwork out of the way. That was so far from the truth. My first onboarding experience lasted almost 6 months. Yet, throughout that whole process, I had no idea that I was still being…

The One Productivity Hack Every PhD Needs To Get Hired In Industry

The One Productivity Hack Every PhD Needs To Get Hired In Industry

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

If your job search isn’t producing results, perhaps you’re doing too little. Or, just as likely, you’re doing too much… too much of the wrong things. You may think “If I just spent more hours of the day searching and applying for jobs, I’m sure to land a job eventually.” But investing more time into a job search without a strategy is time wasted. An effective job search strategy is one that conserves our most precious resource: our mental energy.   Protecting your mental energy is the one productivity hack that every PhD needs to get hired in industry. As…

3 Factors PhDs Must Consider When Deciding Company Fit

3 Factors PhDs Must Consider When Deciding Company Fit

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

If you recently started your job search, you probably feel the pressure of proving that you’re a good fit for the industry roles you’re applying to.  You have to carefully craft your cover letter, resume, and LinkedIn profile, and prepare for countless interviews just to prove you’re  qualified for a position.  This pressure can make you feel that employers hold all the power, and the only thing that matters is convincing them that you’re the best candidate for the role. Don’t let this pressure make you neglect other key components of a successful career, like company fit.  You’ll likely accept…

8 Work Qualities PhDs Should Assess When Planning A Career Move

8 Work Qualities PhDs Should Assess When Planning A Career Move

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

If you have a PhD, you’re among the 2% of the population who has committed to push a field of knowledge forward.  That makes you one of the most innovative people in the world. This is something special. As such, you deserve to work in a position where your tenacity and ability to solve problems are out of good use. Where you feel satisfied and are rewarded for your job. That’s why I encourage all PhDs to look for an industry position, because academia is a dead end where dreams go to die. However, you have to be strategic when…

Top Industry Career eBooks

63 Best Industry Positions For PhDs

63 Best Industry Positions For PhDs

Isaiah Hankel, PhD & Arunodoy Sur, PhD

Learn about the best 63 industry careers for PhDs (regardless of your academic background). In this eBook, you will gain insight into the most popular, highest-paying jobs for PhDs – all of which will allow you to do meaningful work AND get paid well for it.

Industry Resume Guide for PhDs

Industry Resume Guide for PhDs

Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Learn how to craft the perfect industry resume to attract employers. In this eBook for PhDs, you will get access to proven resume templates, learn how to structure your bullet points, and discover which keywords industry employers want to see most on PhD resumes.

AI & ATS Resume Filters

AI & ATS Resume Filters

Isaiah Hankel

In today's competitive job market, understanding the impact of AI is crucial for career success. This involves ensuring your resume stands out in the digital realm, mastering your online presence, and being aware of how AI assigns reputation scores. Discovering how to leverage AI to your advantage is essential, as it plays a pivotal role in shaping professional opportunities.

Complete LinkedIn Guide For PhDs

Complete LinkedIn Guide For PhDs

Isaiah Hankel

The LinkedIn tips & strategies within have helped PhDs from every background get hired into top industry careers.