- Sometimes a job looks good on paper, but it’s not worth applying.
- That’s because you might be grossly under-qualified or overqualified, or because you won’t fit in with the company culture.
- We asked career expert Amanda Augustine to tell us about the signs that you shouldn’t waste your time submitting an application.
The fastest way to turn off a hiring manager, says Amanda Augustine, “is to apply to a job you have no business applying to.”
Augustine is the career advice expert for TopResume. She says when you apply for an inappropriate position, you’re wasting the hiring manager’s time — and your own.
We asked Augustine to share some of the main reasons why you shouldn’t apply for a job, even if it looks awesome on paper. Read on for the top signs that you should move on in your search.
You don’t meet the core requirements in the job description
Some job postings have a “laundry list” of desired qualities, Augustine said — but the hiring manager probably isn’t expecting to find someone who meets all those criteria.
So take a second look at that posting and see if you can pinpoint the smaller subset of must-haves. “If you truly don’t meet those,” Augustine said, “it’s probably not worth your time because those are probably the pieces that they’re scoring you against.”
For example, if the position requires an MBA and six years’ experience and you don’t have either of those things, that’s likely what Augustine called a “deal breaker.”
You’re not a fit for the company culture
It’s not just about the specific job description.
Augustine recommended learning what you can about the company culture, based on what’s shared on the company website and social media channels. Then consider whether that’s an environment where you’d thrive.
For example, Augustine said, maybe you’ve worked exclusively at startups in the past and enjoyed the more casual atmosphere. Unless you want a drastic change, you might think twice about applying to an organization with a highly corporate culture.
“Even if you did have a perfect skill set,” Augustine said, “you’re probably going to be miserable in that job.”
You’re really overqualified for the position
When considering whether to apply for a job, Augustine said, most people overlook the possibility of being overqualified. But she said it’s “just as much of a concern for a hiring manager” as being under-qualified.
For example, if the job description lists three to five years’ experience and you have 10, you probably shouldn’t waste your time applying. That’s because the level of responsibility — and the compensation — associated with the position aren’t suited to someone at your level. Meaning the hiring manager may skip right over your application.
What’s more, applying to a job you’re overqualified for can hurt your chances of ever getting a job at that company. The hiring manager may remember that you didn’t read the job posting carefully.
The commute is miserable
Augustine said this is a less obvious red flag that you shouldn’t apply for the position. But research suggests people are a lot less satisfied at work when they have a lengthy commute.
“If you already know [your commute] is going to be ridiculous,” Augustine said, “that’s probably not going to be feasible in the long-term.” Unless you’ve already thought about moving, or talked to the company about a flexible work policy, you might think twice about submitting an application.
This post originally appeared in Business Insider.
