October 16, 2002 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Q. I see jobs with consulting companies posted all the time. They typically ask for more than seven years of varied experience in fund raising, but I’m sure there are other factors they take into account. What are they really looking for?
A. When you see something like “more than seven years of experience required” in a job posting, the company is telling applicants that what they’re really looking for is someone with significant experience, says Mary N. Wong, president of HRizen Solutions, a human-resources consulting company in Houston that works with nonprofit clients. In the case of a fund-raising position, “they’re asking for an experienced person who has communicated with people at the top levels of corporations, or with high-net-worth individuals,” she says. “They’re not looking for someone who is just trying it out, or who has been a volunteer, but someone who has been in charge of actual fund raising.” Even if you have seven years’ experience — but in junior-level positions — you might not have what the company is looking for, says Ms. Wong.
The question of whether the seven-year requirement is set in stone depends to a large degree on the organization. In general, you can assume that if you have five years of very-senior-level experience, you’re not going to get automatically turned away. But, Ms. Wong says, some organizations are quite particular about filling their requirements to the letter. It is impossible to know if you’re dealing with that kind of a prospective employer until you apply.
The important thing to remember is that for most organizations, a job listing is a wish list — that’s why they often make mention of “the ideal candidate.” In reality, many people land jobs without having absolutely every credential their employers requested. When you’re trying to decide whether to apply for a certain job, Ms. Wong suggests that you review your résumé and make a list of your qualifications.
“If you find that you can’t meet more than half of the requirements, you’re probably not going to be a very strong candidate,” she says. But if you find you match up with most of the criteria for a job, don’t worry about perfection — send in that résumé.
