Job interview...can I do it?

amtc

I work in a very specialised area. Currently on contract at 800 per day but want to go back to salary as no certainty. Anyway I applied for a job before Christmas and was in a rush so didn't read full job spec in full. Literally got application in Christmas Eve. This would be a c level position...over 120k. Anyway I have interview next week and finally read spec. There's words in it I don't even know what they mean! I could do 80% of it. I presume I go and try and bluff it. It would be clear from my cv that I don't have skills in the 20%. Advice?

Well, as you say they have your cv, so I assume any shortcomings would be clear to them

I'm sure 99.9% of people apply for jobs even when they don't adhere to the minimum requirements, I know I always have and it's never stopped me

Go get that 120k!!!!!!

CIARAN_BOYLE

A c-suite position always have reportees.

It sounds to me as if they are bringing you to interview in one of two situations

1. They can't find any suitable candidates are thinking of letting someone that's not suitable take the job and rely on reportees to cover parts of the job they are unable to do.

2. They didn't realise you don't have the skills needed.

For your sake hopefully it's the former.

Glen_Quagmire

Go for it, as another poster has said they have your CV so know what you're experience and skills are. As the career guidance counsellor in DIT used to say, if you get called for an interview the company believes you can do the job, the interview is to ensure you are a good fit for the company and vice versa. Obviously there is a little more to interviews than this but that always stuck in my mind.

What is the specialist area if you don't mind me asking, you don't have to be specific?

amtc

I looked up the bits I don't know and looks like as long as I could take a course I might be ok.

It's a regulatory role by the way. I do like where I'm contracting but working a lot from home and rumours of lease not renewed on building plus nearly everyone is interviewing. Doesn't make for good atmosphere.

JustAThought

Most jobs have bits not everyone can do. Thats the 20% - you may not even need to do these aspects but just be competent in outsourcing or managing it - or you may be working with a sme in another division that will handle much of it. It may not be relevant to the immediate job so you can upskill / consolidate your skills in that area. Have you researched - can you do a intensive 'refresher' course in that area?

80% for 120k is fantastic - noone is 100% and you may be a perfect fit for the role . They woukd not have called you in to waste senior recruiters/managers time if they did not think you had a strong chance at it. They need you to be approachable and confident - breathe deeply, go, you will be fabulous. If you sre already getting e800 per day you will be worth it. Pretend it is a 70k job & you will be amazing in interview! It is 'just' the salary that has you phased. Noone is perfect at everything. Good luck. Knock en dead!

Lux23

Sure go for it and see how you get on, sometimes employers take on people without the minimum requirements because they might be a better fit overall.