Stop Waiting for the “Perfect” Job Match - It Doesn’t Exist. Apply Anyway.

Maria Frey
52 minutes ago
3 min read

You know what is going on right now? Job seekers looking at job descriptions they want to apply to are seeing they fit 6, 7, maybe 8 of the 10 qualifications in the job spec and decide they don’t have what it takes. “I don’t have that skill”, “I don’t have that certification” or “I only managed teams of 5 not 10.”

Meanwhile the hiring manager who wrote that job description made an overblown and unrealistic job spec. They were most likely asked by a hiring authority to provide a certain amount of bullet points, so they copied it from a previous job description, added a bunch of

“nice to haves” that became “requirements” and voila… - the Job Spec Wish List.

Because that’s exactly what most of them are: a wish list of everything a company dreams they could have in one human being. Someone who can code in Python, run corporate strategy, manage a team of 20, present to the board, bake sourdough, fix the office printer, and bring emotional intelligence to the room.

Meanwhile, the person who wrote the job spec?Probably doesn’t even do half the things listed, nor do they have the clinical expertise to understand what is a MUST HAVE vs. WOULD BE A PLUS…because reality check: they likely don’t work within your niche, they are support staff like Human Resources.

Here’s what actually happens in hiring:

Job specs are not hiring decisions. People are.Companies hire:

Those they connect with
Those who show value
Those who fulfill voids
Those who demonstrate drive

The resume you apply with gets you considered. Once on “the call” or in the interview room, things are usually completely different.

So, the real question is: how much of a job description needs to match your resume?

Not 100%.Not 90%.Not even 75%.

If you match at least 50-60% of the required skills, you should apply.

Let me repeat that in ECNY fashion:

If you fit half of the job spec, GO. FOR. IT. APPLY.

Then…NETWORK!

Networking Beats “Perfect Match” Every Time

I bet you’ve worked with someone who…

Did not have the qualifications
Could not provide real solutions
Could not explain their own job responsibilities
And yet… they somehow had the job.

We’ve all seen it.The “How on earth did they get here??” coworker.

How do you think they got in the door?

Networking. Visibility. Relationships.Not because they checked 43 bullet points in a job listing.

Not everyone in a role deserves to be there.Not everyone in a role had all the skills when they got hired.

So why are you waiting until you are a “perfect” fit to apply?

A Story from the ECNY Vault

I once had a boss who literally threatened my team’s jobs every time he walked through the door. A team that was ranked #1 nationally in every measurable performance metric.

And still - threats, stress, fear and no ability to do the job.

So, I quit and so did my team shortly thereafter.

Want the punchline?

Eight months later, that same inept boss, had to stand on stage and accept an award on the behalf of his stellar Team - because the results we built were so strong they carried long after we were gone. He still didn’t have the skills – and now he had to figure out how to rebuild a new Team to support him – not an easy feat.

There Is No Perfect Candidate. No Perfect Job.

You are evolving.Companies are evolving.Your career path is allowed to shift.

Now the flip side: You have more than the qualifications…

A few perfectly valid reason to take a job “below” your highest title or pay:

You want to work with your dream company
You need work-life balance due to caregiving or personal health
You want to hit the ground running and have immediate impact instead of ramping up for months
You want to rebuild confidence and avoid burnout
You want to mentor and strengthen teams, not just manage from above