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“Just take a chance on me.”
It was a common line in my cover letters a few years ago, when I was desperate to make the switch out of management and into marketing—without a related degree or experience. Even so, I was so sure that if the employer just gave me a chance, he or she wouldn’t regret it.
But when an employer has a pool of fully qualified candidates, why would he or she take a chance on someone who’s on the edge of meeting the job requirements?
I’ll tell you this much: It takes more than including a pretty unconvincing pick-up line in your cover letter. Here are a few tips to get your foot in the door.
Don’t Draw Attention to Your Lack of Skills or Experience
The key to this whole process isn’t necessarily to convince the hiring manager to take a chance on you, but to get him or her to actually think you’re a good fit for the role. So the very first thing you have to do is stop apologizing for your lack of skills or experience.
Whenever you include a sentence in your cover letter such as “While I’ve never been in a marketing role before…” or “Although I don’t have any management experience…” or even “If you would just take a chance on me…” all you’re doing is telling the hiring manager you can’t do the job.
“Instead of drawing attention to your weaknesses, a better way to move on to your qualifications is to state your skills and ability to contribute directly,” recommends career counselor Lily Zhang. “Stay positive, focus on your strengths, and immediately launch into your transferable skills and infectious enthusiasm for the position.”
Showcase What Sets You Apart
No matter what you’re transitioning from or to, you do have transferable skills.
For example, while my management roles didn’t involve any true marketing, they did require me to network and form relationships with other businesses in the community, manage multiple projects at a time, and communicate effectively with our customers—all of which would be helpful in a marketing role. (Here’s a great cover letter template that can help you show off your transferable skills.)
Even more important is demonstrating your additive skills, says career expert Sara McCord. That means fully embracing your career background and finding a way to express how that background will uniquely suit you for this job.
“Think about it: If you’re slightly under-qualified, there’s a reason why,” she says. “If you spent the first two years of your career in a different sector, you bring experience from that industry.”
For example, when I first wanted to write for The Muse, I had absolutely no writing experience—but I did have management experience, which made me an ideal candidate to write management content.
Take a Risk
To get a hiring manager to choose you out of a sea of other applicants, especially when you may not be as qualified as the others, you might as well take a risk to stand out. Otherwise, you may simply pass under the radar. (And let’s be honest: What do you have to lose?)
For example, just take a look at some of the boldest applications we’ve seen around the web: an action figure resume, an interactive resume, and an infographic resume.
These types of applications certainly get the attention of the hiring manager, clearly conveying that the person just might have something the tips the scale in his or her favor. (Just make sure to follow these tips to make sure you’re not going too over the top.)
But maybe you don’t want (or don’t have the means) to be that bold. You can stand out in plenty of other ways, says counselor and Muse columnist Caris Thetford. For example, maybe you submit a project proposal with your application or compile your writing samples in an online profile. This can help you stand out from the other applicants just enough to show the hiring manager that you may deserve another look—and ideally, an interview.
Do Everything Else Right
You can’t afford to slip up when you think your resume might be on the bottom of the pile. That means sending every thank you note on time, following up in a timely (but not annoying) fashion, and proofreading your resume and cover letter a dozen times over to check for errors.
These may seem like small and insignificant gestures, but the smallest flaws can remove a candidate from the hiring process—and you don’t want that to be you.
By proving your worth in your application materials, you’ll have a much better chance of landing an interview—and then, you can showcase your cultural fit and passion face-to-face. Do that well, and you just may convince the hiring manager to take a chance on you.
Photo of claw machine courtesy of Shutterstock.
Updated 6/19/2020
You never forget your first.
I still remember my very first phone interview with laser-vivid clarity. I was sitting at my parents’ kitchen table, fingers twirling through an actual phone cord (how retro!), trying to persuade a woman I’d never met that I was The One To Hire.
The gig was a paid internship at a prestigious public broadcasting company and—even though I’d never worked in radio before—I knew I had the goods. Well, mostly.
As I responded to each question she threw my way, my heart was beating like a caffeinated hummingbird. The frightened animal portion of my brain was looping three words: “Please-hire-me-please-hire-me-please-hire-me.”
Meanwhile, another portion of my brain was looping 11 different words: “I’m really awesome. I think. No, I am. Wait, am I?”
Somehow, despite my hummingbird heartbeat, I was able to convey that I had a “body of work” to bring to the table—English tutor! Student journalist! Published humor columnist! Able to recite Garrison Keillor quotations on command!
I got the job—and it kick-started my entire career as a writer.
That first interview—and all of the please-hire-me conversations since then—have taught me a thing or two about how to build up your reputation (not to mention personal confidence) when you’re “just starting out,” either in your career, or in a new industry or position.
If you’re feeling anxious about an upcoming interview or conversation with a client and you’re doubting that you’ve got what it takes, here are three points to hold in your heart.
1. Unless You Were (Literally) Born Yesterday, You Are Not “Just Starting Out”
Nobody is “just starting out.” Not really. Even if you’re transitioning into a completely new industry, you already have what artists and writers call a “body of work”—your job history, and just as importantly, your off-the-record hobbies.
Want to work in marketing? All those flyers and newsletters you created for your improv comedy theater troupe count as experience.
Want to be the fundraising director at a nonprofit? Gathering signatures door-to-door for local governmental petitions helped give you the persuasive communication chops you need.
Want to arrange artful store displays and work in retail merchandising? All that “unofficial” interior design you’ve done for friends and family—while obsessively recapping every room on Instagram? That counts, too.
Just because you weren’t on a company’s payroll while building your body of work doesn’t make it any less real, impressive, or important. So, the next time you doubt yourself, practice saying the following sentence:
“Even though I’ve never been paid to do ________________ before, I already know that I rock at it, because I’ve successfully done ________________ in the past.”
2. Don’t Worry About Being a “Master.” Just Prove That You’re Curious and Studious
Jobs are like people—they’re dynamic. They grow and evolve.
As such, most employers don’t expect you to know absolutely everything about your industry. What they do expect—and seek out—is a willingness to keep learning and growing as your industry changes.
If you feel like there’s a gap in your training or skills, make up for it with gumption and drive. Show potential employers that you’re masterful learner—even if you’re not a “master of your craft.”
In your next interview, give this sentence a shot:
“I’m certainly not the world’s foremost expert on ________________ (yet!), but I’m constantly growing and refining my craft.
Just recently, I did ________________ , which helped me get so much better at ________________ .
And next? I’m going to be trying ________________ . There’s always more to learn!”
3. It’s OK to Be Honest About Not Knowing “What You Want to Be When You Grow Up”
In life, and especially in interviews, we feel a lot of pressure to not “not know” anything.
But if you’re beginning your first career—or making a transition—you might be in a place where you have more questions than answers.
So, if you’re not exactly sure what you’re looking for—or, you’re making a brave leap into a brand-new field—then say so. Just give your lack-of-total-clarity an uplifting twist.
Try this:
“To be perfectly honest? I know that I’m amazing at ________________ .
And I’ve learned from experience that I don’t want ________________ .
Beyond that, I don’t know exactly what the future holds for me—but I do know that this position will point me in the direction that I want to go.”
Now, go forth with confidence. You are awesome. And you’ve got this.
Want More? Check out Alexandra’s collection of positivity-fueled email scripts and her brand-new book, 50 Ways To Say You’re Awesome.