can you apply even if you don't meet the "requirement"

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 13, 2013

Sure, you can apply if you don't meet the requirements. After all, you'll never know unless you try.

However, you also need to be realistic about your chances...any way you cut it, you have only 5 months of experience. So you'd have to find a strong way to sell yourself to them in your cover letter and resume.

tarotale · Sep 13, 2013

H thank you much for the input. Guess I will have to give it a shot first.

amoLucia · Sep 13, 2013

You can try. It helps your cause if you have some credentials that would bolster your suitablillity for the position in lieu of the experience.

However, don't keep on applying for everything and anything up & down advertised by the same employer. They recognize/remember 'frequent flyer' applicants and you don't want to become an annoyance.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2013

Sure, you can apply; you can do anything. It's just that your application will certainly go plonk into the circular file with an eyeroll and an exasperated, "There's another one that can't read the requirements and follow directions." HInt: they want: at least one year in critical care. You offer: five months in med/surg. See the disconnect there?

Do you want them to remember your name like that when you DO meet their requirements, as someone who can't follow directions?

Your call. You have a lot of competition out there.

:twocents:

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2013

You can apply to any job you want... you can apply to be an electrician if you want but, as you don't meet the qualifications for the job, your application won't be given a second glance. Kinda the same thing here. If it's listed as a requirement, they're probably not considering candidates who don't meet those requirements. And in this economy, they don't have to. It's an employer's market, for sure.

tarotale · Sep 14, 2013

o man, as i read the comments, i felt little discouraged because i thought those requirements were posted on as some kind of typical "thing to do" but not really followed through, i mean they accepted GNs to ICU and ERs, and now experienced RNs need spanking 1-2 yrs to get in? didn't make much sense to me but oh well... I reckon there won't be many jobs that don't put on these year or two experience requirements; I wished that I could make it to the big city hopefully

mama.RN · Sep 14, 2013

I would say yes, because you never know. The job I have now required at least 3 years relevant experience---I had less than 2 months and got the job. But, I'm not in a hospital setting, and I also had some transferable skills from a prior career. So, depends.

Misskala · Sep 19, 2013

Pay attention to the job description wording. "What's required" vs "What's preferred." For example this IMC job I apply to states: 1 year nursing experience required. BLS, PALS, ACLS, TNS certification preferred.

See the diff? You have to have nursing floor experience to get in. Guaranteed you'll have BLS as that is base requirement for any nursing job. And then the other certifications are awesome if you have them going in but not required....you'd earn them anyway while on the job but if you have them going in then its a bonus.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Sep 21, 2013

I'd apply anyway as you never know.

Misskala · Sep 21, 2013

^adding to my above post---I wrote that to encourage you to apply anyway as well :) The job description may list things that are preferred, but it's not required so go for it!

chrisrn24 · Sep 21, 2013

Yes!

Read "Lean In" by Sheryl Sandberg. In the book she mentions most men have no problem with applying for jobs they don't qualify for, whereas women typically only apply for jobs they fit all the qualifications.