You find a job you would like to do. The responsibilities look familiar, but the qualifications include a tool you have never used or more experience than you currently have. Is applying a reasonable next step, or a poor use of your time?

Yes, it can be worth applying when you meet the essential requirements and can demonstrate relevant ability, even if you lack some preferred qualifications. The decision depends on what is missing and how it relates to the work.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s February 2026 Resume Essentials guide encourages applicants who meet required qualifications to apply even if they lack preferred ones. It also cautions that missing a required license, degree, or certification may prevent an application from being reviewed (U.S. Department of Labor, 2026).

The following checks can help you decide where to invest your effort.

Separate Essential Requirements From Preferences

Read the entire posting before deciding you are underqualified. Look for terms such as “required,” “minimum,” “preferred,” and “equivalent experience,” and check the application instructions.

A certification required before starting is different from one listed as helpful. A posting that accepts a degree or equivalent experience gives you a stated alternative to evaluate.

Make a short note of the qualifications you meet, those you lack, and any wording you do not understand. Include practical conditions such as location and schedule, so your decision accounts for whether the job works for you, too.

An unclear requirement deserves closer attention. Avoid assuming it is optional just because your other qualifications are strong.

Look for Evidence That You Can Do the Work

With the stated requirements in view, compare your experience with the role’s main responsibilities.

In his September 2026 SHRM advice column, Johnny C. Taylor Jr. recommends explaining how transferable skills connect to the new position. He also distinguishes a reasonable stretch from a role someone cannot realistically perform (Taylor, 2026).

For each major responsibility, write down a relevant example: what you did, how you handled it, and what happened. This gives you something more concrete than “I think I could learn.”

Consider a hypothetical customer support employee applying for a project coordination role. Their title has never included “coordinator,” but they have tracked customer requests, arranged handoffs, and followed up on unresolved issues.

Those activities may provide useful evidence for a role involving tracking and communication. If the new job also requires independently managing complex budgets, that needs separate evidence. Strength in one area does not automatically cover every responsibility.

This comparison helps you identify both a credible application and the gaps that need clarification.

Ask About a Gap When the Answer Could Change Your Decision

Sometimes the posting leaves an important question unanswered: does the employer accept experience with a comparable system, or is a particular credential essential?

SEEK’s career guidance, updated in July 2026, recommends contacting the employer or recruiter when you cannot tell how important a missing requirement is (SEEK Content Team, 2026).

If a contact is available and the instructions allow questions, be specific. For the hypothetical applicant above, a question might be:

“Your posting mentions experience with your project management platform. I have tracked requests and team handoffs in another system. Is experience with that specific platform essential, or would comparable experience be considered?”

A focused question gives the recruiter something clear to answer. If you cannot get clarification, base your decision on the published requirements and the evidence you have. Silence does not confirm that an exception is available.

Make Your Relevant Experience Easy to See

If you decide to apply, use what you learned from the posting to organize your application. The Department of Labor (2026) recommends connecting your experience to the employer’s requirements and terminology.

The hypothetical support employee could use a resume bullet such as:

“Tracked customer requests from intake through resolution, coordinated handoffs between support and technical teams, and maintained status updates for follow-up.”

This is illustrative wording. Use it only if it accurately describes your work, and add a specific outcome when you have one you can substantiate.

For a skill you are developing, state your current level clearly. An introductory course, a practice project, and independent workplace experience describe different levels of preparation.

Answer screening questions accurately. You can present a strong case without overstating your experience or treating a planned qualification as one you already hold.

Why This Matters for Inclusive Career Opportunity

Making relevant experience visible matters when your path does not neatly match the wording of a job advertisement.

You might be changing industries, returning after a career break, or bringing experience from military service or volunteer work. Ask what that experience demonstrates and whether the employer’s criteria allow it to count.

For Diversity.com, this is an inclusion issue: job seekers deserve a clear basis for recognizing opportunities and presenting their abilities. A missing preference should prompt a closer look at the role before you rule yourself out.

Employers also have a responsibility to explain and apply their criteria clearly. Your part is to assess the match honestly and make the relevant evidence visible.

Final Thoughts

You do not need a perfect match to every preferred qualification before considering an application. You do need a credible connection between your abilities and the work, along with an honest understanding of any essential requirements you lack.

For the next promising posting, identify the gap that concerns you most. Decide whether it is a preference, an essential condition, or a question worth clarifying. That gives you a practical next step instead of a vague feeling that you are “not qualified enough.”

If the match is credible, apply with specific examples. If an essential gap makes this role unsuitable, use that information to focus your search or plan your development.

Explore opportunities on Diversity.com and compare each role with the skills and experience you can demonstrate.

Get Started with Diversity.com

At Diversity.com, we connect employers with qualified candidates through inclusive hiring, and help job seekers find employers committed to it.

For Employers & HR Professionals:

✔ Post a job and reach candidates across healthcare, higher education, government, nonprofits, and private industry
✔ Browse our resources for guides, checklists, and reports on inclusive hiring
✔ Join our community in LinkedIn for hiring and compliance updates

For Job Seekers:

✔ Find Inclusive Jobs at organizations that chose to post here
✔ Create a free account to apply and get matched to new openings
✔ Browse our resources for career guides and tools

Have questions? Reach out to our team. We're here to support you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I apply if I meet only 60% of the requirements?

Do not decide from the percentage alone. Several missing preferences may matter less than one missing essential qualification. Examine the responsibilities, the stated minimums, and the evidence you can provide.

What if I have fewer years of experience than requested?

Taylor (2026) suggests that highly relevant experience can justify considering an application despite a gap in years. Flexibility depends on the employer and role. Check whether the number is a firm minimum or whether alternatives are accepted, and report your experience accurately.

Should I mention every qualification I lack?

Focus on the relevant experience you can demonstrate. Explain a significant gap when the application asks about it or when clarification is necessary. Distinguish skills you already use from those you are still learning.

Related Articles

• Required vs. Preferred Qualifications: How to Set Clear Hiring Criteria

• Inclusive Leadership Examples: 5 Everyday Management Decisions

• How to Talk to Your Manager About Cultural Taxation

• Job Description Bias Checkers: What They Flag and What You Still Need to Review

Sources & References

• SEEK Content Team. (2026, July 19). I don’t have all the requirements, should I apply? SEEK. https://nz.seek.com/career-advice/article/i-dont-have-all-the-requirements-should-i-apply

• Taylor, J. C., Jr. (2026, September 16). Ask Johnny: Should I apply if I don’t meet every requirement? SHRM. https://www.shrm.org/in/topics-tools/news/employee-relations/ask-johnny-should-i-apply-if-i-dont-meet-every-requirement

• U.S. Department of Labor. (2026, February). Resume essentials: Participant guide. https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/VETS/files/ResumeEssentials_PG_Interactive_Feb2026.pdf