Take The Shot!

A friend’s manager just gave her notice. He doesn’t feel qualified to take his boss’ job yet, but her role is one he’d like to land eventually. Should he apply for it? There are many considerations, but in my opinion, yes, he should apply, for these reasons:
Getting ready to submit an application to a job, even if you’re not fully qualified, nudges you to get in shape for other positions down the line. Thinking through your career goals, updating your resume, and actually sending in your materials are all positive steps.

Applying for an internal opening signals upper management that you’re interested in growth. They may not view you as an ideal candidate, but they will notice that you’ve tossed your hat in the ring, and that eventually you could be worthy of advancement.
As an internal candidate, you stand a better chance of getting an interview, and landing an interview gives you a chance to work your self-promotion muscles. The ability to talk about your strengths and answer questions under pressure comes in handy in many life situations. Plus, by going through the process, you’ll learn lots about what you’ll want to improve on for the next time.
Surprisingly, you may actually be the one chosen for the job. It’s possible that you’re undervaluing your experience (I find that many people do!), and that you truly are qualified. That, plus many factors play into a hiring committee’s decision on which candidate to select. Rarely do decision makers find an applicant who meets all of their desired criteria, and your knowledge of your company’s culture, processes, and product details could trump an outside candidate’s offering.

Most importantly, you’ll change your opinion of your own potential. It’s easy to say, “I’m not qualified for that job, so I’m not going to apply.” But instead if you tell yourself, “I may not be the one selected ultimately, but I owe it to myself to at least try,” builds your self-belief. And to quote the hockey-star Wayne Gretsky, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

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