Most ambitious job application
Discussion
What’s the most ambitious job application you have submitted and did you get it?
Was it ambitious because you felt you lacked the necessary skills or experience, or maybe for another reason?
Are you the sort of person to “just go for it” or are you more hesitant about applying for a job that interests you?
I am currently eyeing up a role and having mixed thoughts on whether to apply. Of course my friends and family are encouraging but I’m in two minds. I know there is no harm in trying but equally you should be realistic, right?
Was it ambitious because you felt you lacked the necessary skills or experience, or maybe for another reason?
Are you the sort of person to “just go for it” or are you more hesitant about applying for a job that interests you?
I am currently eyeing up a role and having mixed thoughts on whether to apply. Of course my friends and family are encouraging but I’m in two minds. I know there is no harm in trying but equally you should be realistic, right?
If you believe every bit of business world fluffyiness thats posted endlessly on Linkedin these days...... then yes go for it.
Like the quote (apparently) from Richard Branson that says "if you are offered an opportunity and are not sure you can do it, take it on and learn the skills later" or words to that effect. What a load of rose tinted bull.
Yes I think you have to be realistic. There's ambitious and then there's ambitious.
What are you thinking of stepping up to and from what (you are doing now or have been doing - to get an idea of how big a step this might be for you) ?
Like the quote (apparently) from Richard Branson that says "if you are offered an opportunity and are not sure you can do it, take it on and learn the skills later" or words to that effect. What a load of rose tinted bull.
Yes I think you have to be realistic. There's ambitious and then there's ambitious.
What are you thinking of stepping up to and from what (you are doing now or have been doing - to get an idea of how big a step this might be for you) ?
I've had a few ambitious jumps a long the way. I've hardly a qualification to my name but my current title is Production/Design Engineer. Not a huge role for some but I didn't work hard in school so it's something I'm quite proud of, as I feel I turned things around when I eventually started working.
I did a basic CAD course in my 20's (which I never finished) got a job as a a CAD Technician, and I've just been slowly self progressing through applying for higher roles ever since.
I've learnt a hell of a lot over the years by mainly keeping my mouth shut when I don't know what I'm talking about and listening closely to my peers.
I'm still relatively young, so I don't plan on stopping yet. I'd like to eventually progress to some sort of Production/Technical/Operations Director.
I find not having a degree hasn't held me back at all. I obviously don't claim to have one but I suppose people assume I do! Never had a problem getting an interview for jobs that require an engineering degree and I haven't stated I have one on my CV either!
I did a basic CAD course in my 20's (which I never finished) got a job as a a CAD Technician, and I've just been slowly self progressing through applying for higher roles ever since.
I've learnt a hell of a lot over the years by mainly keeping my mouth shut when I don't know what I'm talking about and listening closely to my peers.
I'm still relatively young, so I don't plan on stopping yet. I'd like to eventually progress to some sort of Production/Technical/Operations Director.
I find not having a degree hasn't held me back at all. I obviously don't claim to have one but I suppose people assume I do! Never had a problem getting an interview for jobs that require an engineering degree and I haven't stated I have one on my CV either!
welshjon81 said:
I've had a few ambitious jumps a long the way. I've hardly a qualification to my name but my current title is Production/Design Engineer. Not a huge role for some but I didn't work hard in school so it's something I'm quite proud of, as I feel I turned things around when I eventually started working.
I did a basic CAD course in my 20's (which I never finished) got a job as a a CAD Technician, and I've just been slowly self progressing through applying for higher roles ever since.
I've learnt a hell of a lot over the years by mainly keeping my mouth shut when I don't know what I'm talking about and listening closely to my peers.
I'm still relatively young, so I don't plan on stopping yet. I'd like to eventually progress to some sort of Production/Technical/Operations Director.
I find not having a degree hasn't held me back at all. I obviously don't claim to have one but I suppose people assume I do! Never had a problem getting an interview for jobs that require an engineering degree and I haven't stated I have one on my CV either!
Nice one. My wife is the same, no degree but in her mid thirties found herself as European head of people at a global advertising company. That said, getting a degree now is much more important for entry level jobs where they get so many applicants the degree is pretty much part of the box ticking process, many jobs are asking for 2:1 or above so even having a degree isn't enough to get a conversation with the recruiter it has to be a good one. I did a basic CAD course in my 20's (which I never finished) got a job as a a CAD Technician, and I've just been slowly self progressing through applying for higher roles ever since.
I've learnt a hell of a lot over the years by mainly keeping my mouth shut when I don't know what I'm talking about and listening closely to my peers.
I'm still relatively young, so I don't plan on stopping yet. I'd like to eventually progress to some sort of Production/Technical/Operations Director.
I find not having a degree hasn't held me back at all. I obviously don't claim to have one but I suppose people assume I do! Never had a problem getting an interview for jobs that require an engineering degree and I haven't stated I have one on my CV either!
ToothbrushMan said:
Like the quote (apparently) from Richard Branson that says "if you are offered an opportunity and are not sure you can do it, take it on and learn the skills later" or words to that effect. What a load of rose tinted bull.
I actually think that is very true, as you progress up the food chain you realise everyone has done this to some extent.You will never know if you don't try. I think it is human nature to be a bit apprehensive about making a big career jump. The first time i did it i thought i had bitten off more than i could chew but then you settle in to the role and you wonder why you were worried. I have no qualms about doing it now.
Edited by thainy77 on Thursday 17th January 09:28
coldel said:
That said, getting a degree now is much more important for entry level jobs where they get so many applicants the degree is pretty much part of the box ticking process, many jobs are asking for 2:1 or above so even having a degree isn't enough to get a conversation with the recruiter it has to be a good one.
I'm not so sure, I was offered a graduate training scheme with a big bank in 1999/2000 after binning my degree half-way through. They liked that I could make difficult decisions and not just stick with something for the sake of it. I think if you can stand out from the crowd, degree or not you have a better chance, especially as degrees are much more common these days, and almost just an automatic progression from school for many. The fact that 2:1 or above is required speaks volumes about the sheer quantity of low-quality degrees out there.Spoiler: I turned them down anyway, but that's another story.
LimaDelta said:
coldel said:
That said, getting a degree now is much more important for entry level jobs where they get so many applicants the degree is pretty much part of the box ticking process, many jobs are asking for 2:1 or above so even having a degree isn't enough to get a conversation with the recruiter it has to be a good one.
I'm not so sure, I was offered a graduate training scheme with a big bank in 1999/2000 after binning my degree half-way through. They liked that I could make difficult decisions and not just stick with something for the sake of it. I think if you can stand out from the crowd, degree or not you have a better chance, especially as degrees are much more common these days, and almost just an automatic progression from school for many. The fact that 2:1 or above is required speaks volumes about the sheer quantity of low-quality degrees out there.Spoiler: I turned them down anyway, but that's another story.
coldel said:
Like I said, degrees are much more required *now* than years back. The internet makes applying for jobs so much easier now so employers have to put tick boxes up to be able to sift. Not uncommon for 200+ people to apply for a single role, if you don't tick pre-requisites its going to have a much bigger chance of going straight into the bin.
Yeah, I suppose it was 'years back' now.ToothbrushMan said:
Like the quote (apparently) from Richard Branson that says "if you are offered an opportunity and are not sure you can do it, take it on and learn the skills later" or words to that effect. What a load of rose tinted bull.
It's probably important that it's "if you're offered an opportunity" - so it's about not turning a down a good thing just because you think you're not up to it, rather than bulls
tting your way into getting it."Fake it til you make it" actually does work quite effectively a lot of the time, but I think he's talking about stretching yourself and you'll find you develop what you need for the task because you have to. Sure, you might not, and fail completely, but you won't know unless you have a crack at it.
LimaDelta said:
coldel said:
Like I said, degrees are much more required *now* than years back. The internet makes applying for jobs so much easier now so employers have to put tick boxes up to be able to sift. Not uncommon for 200+ people to apply for a single role, if you don't tick pre-requisites its going to have a much bigger chance of going straight into the bin.
Yeah, I suppose it was 'years back' now.
that was as long ago as the total age of plenty of members on this forum when it gets to the point you have worked longer than other adults you know have actually been alive!coldel said:
Like I said, degrees are much more required *now* than years back. The internet makes applying for jobs so much easier now so employers have to put tick boxes up to be able to sift. Not uncommon for 200+ people to apply for a single role, if you don't tick pre-requisites its going to have a much bigger chance of going straight into the bin.
I'm not so sure - I'd imagine it's very industry/employer dependent, however my last 3 jobs, including my current one, were all requiring a degree, which I don't have. I think over 50 applied and 9 were interviewed for my current role, most of whom had a degree. Obviously lots more factors will go into it, but each job I've ever applied for required a degree yet I've never had any difficulty getting interviewed or offered the roles. I'm 25 for reference so these are all recent. I think it's more common for employers to lazily put the requirement for a degree onto a job spec than it is for the degree to actually be required. I can't blame them as I imagine it'll stop a lot of time wasters applying.
Mind you I'm slowly chipping away at my degree over the next 6 years part-time, but that's mostly because they're paying for it, so I may as well.
Sycamore said:
I'm not so sure - I'd imagine it's very industry/employer dependent, however my last 3 jobs, including my current one, were all requiring a degree, which I don't have. I think over 50 applied and 9 were interviewed for my current role, most of whom had a degree.
Obviously lots more factors will go into it, but each job I've ever applied for required a degree yet I've never had any difficulty getting interviewed or offered the roles. I'm 25 for reference so these are all recent. I think it's more common for employers to lazily put the requirement for a degree onto a job spec than it is for the degree to actually be required. I can't blame them as I imagine it'll stop a lot of time wasters applying.
Mind you I'm slowly chipping away at my degree over the next 6 years part-time, but that's mostly because they're paying for it, so I may as well.
Yes I agree that you can make it into a role without a degree, but my quote above doesn't have the context (I said 'entry level' job) if it says degree, you don't have one, its unlikely in the sift they will make an exception unless of course you are older and have relevant work experience, but then you might wonder why you are going for entry level jobs on lower salaries if you are already in the industry working. Obviously lots more factors will go into it, but each job I've ever applied for required a degree yet I've never had any difficulty getting interviewed or offered the roles. I'm 25 for reference so these are all recent. I think it's more common for employers to lazily put the requirement for a degree onto a job spec than it is for the degree to actually be required. I can't blame them as I imagine it'll stop a lot of time wasters applying.
Mind you I'm slowly chipping away at my degree over the next 6 years part-time, but that's mostly because they're paying for it, so I may as well.
As I said, my wife made it without one, I got one and never use or remember any of its content 20 years later but the market nowadays is so competitive and just practically sifting CVs myself when I receive 100 for every job is a nightmare (caveat industries do differ).
1996, England Womens football team coach, obviously greatly gratuitous and just written to see if they'd write back to say, "but Stan you are a man, pee off", but instead got a lovely letter stating that "in principle you appear to have some good qualities but also other attributes, that unfortunately, upon the face of it may lead to some difficulties in team building. Noting you are in Manchester, we have a number of dates which you are welcome to come down to London, Friday xx, yy and zz if you wished to pursue your application further". Regrettably, due to the high number of applicants involved and great interest in this role, we will not be paying expenses.
So that was a PFO then!
So that was a PFO then!
ToothbrushMan said:
Like the quote (apparently) from Richard Branson that says "if you are offered an opportunity and are not sure you can do it, take it on and learn the skills later" or words to that effect. What a load of rose tinted bull.
Seemed to work for this guy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46916809In the 90’s I applied for a job at a wealthy, independent, Central London based dance record label (successful chart acts) as head of sales with some A and R aswell as overseeing recording sessions and taking artist on tours of radio/TV stations etc etc.....my experience?
Wedding DJ and working in a record shop......got the job!
Wedding DJ and working in a record shop......got the job!
I am not looking for a job, and if i were i would be going freelance anyway, but it is starting to occur to me that for the very first time in my history there is a justification of lying on CVs.
Not carrying on the lie, please do not misunderstand me, but owning up to it the second your foot is in the door with an interview, possibly even calling and explaining before the interview.
Why?
So many cretins these days putting "must have 2:1 or above degree" in their ads when it is plainly there just to be used as a weed out, and about as insightful a way of dealing with such things as splitting the applications in half and putting one half in the bin as they must be unlucky people...
To do my job I HAVE to have a degree and at least one PGDip, you can't if you don't. On the other hand there are many jobs where there is no professional requirement to have a degree and at least one PGDip. yet people ask for them day one.
Of the people that we have recently employed only one has a degree, again because of their role they have to have one, but none of the others do and one didn't even finish school.
Whatever happened to the simple point of "Can they do the job?"
Not carrying on the lie, please do not misunderstand me, but owning up to it the second your foot is in the door with an interview, possibly even calling and explaining before the interview.
Why?
So many cretins these days putting "must have 2:1 or above degree" in their ads when it is plainly there just to be used as a weed out, and about as insightful a way of dealing with such things as splitting the applications in half and putting one half in the bin as they must be unlucky people...
To do my job I HAVE to have a degree and at least one PGDip, you can't if you don't. On the other hand there are many jobs where there is no professional requirement to have a degree and at least one PGDip. yet people ask for them day one.
Of the people that we have recently employed only one has a degree, again because of their role they have to have one, but none of the others do and one didn't even finish school.
Whatever happened to the simple point of "Can they do the job?"
Lordbenny said:
In the 90’s I applied for a job at a wealthy, independent, Central London based dance record label (successful chart acts) as head of sales with some A and R aswell as overseeing recording sessions and taking artist on tours of radio/TV stations etc etc.....my experience?
Wedding DJ and working in a record shop......got the job!
Wedding DJ and working in a record shop......got the job!
How long did you last?
RC1807 said:
How long did you last?
They went bust and after I totalled my company car I left and set up my own record distribution business!
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