Finding a new job when my skillset isn't matching the job ads

Question

I am a C++ programmer and have worked on various web apps using Perl, Ruby, etc.. I have decent a knowledge of Java as well. The problem I face while applying for jobs is companies have specific requirements like, "Experience with C# 3.5/4. Should have experience experience building web apps with ASP.NET". What should you do in these situations?

1. Not consider these companies and look for companies with your expertise?

2. Just put that in your resume, and learn the technology before interviews? After all, how hard is it for a developer to wrap their brains around new languages?

3. Try to convince the employer in the cover letter that you are good at one thing but can a learn a new language a tool pretty easily?

4. Something else?

Answer 1

Avoid companies that require a specific, temporarily hyped, set of skills. Instead apply for companies that look for developers which bring a certain set of traits that are timeless, like the ability to learn new stuff.

In the long term, that will make you happier.

Answer 2

Smart employer will hire you regardless any particular hands on experience. Dull employer will ask for very specific skill and it isn't worth to convince them, because even if you got hire, they will easily lay you off. If you are looking for cutting edge job just contact me, my company is always open for smart people regardless previous experience or knowing particular technology.

Answer 3

Submit your resume. Go in for the interview. You'll find a large percentage of the time you'll find questions are general design questions, or programming language questions.

Not ASP.NET version 2.001112, arcane feature X

Answer 4

I find the question is more whether you are interested in X or Y? E.g. If I one day grow an interest for JavaScript I would apply to such jobs even without being an expert because other factors may be more important to the employer like domain specific knowledge than whether I am a wizard in the language. In my experience one should not take specific requirements in a job ad too seriously, sometimes they don't know what they want. Tell them what they want.

That said, of course it doesn't hurt to prepare yourself and learn the language that you want to work in so that you can answer specific questions at the interview (if you get called)

Another example is from my own work, we wanted to hire a mobile phone developer preferably with objective-c experience, unfortunately there are not that many people that have that skill set so if you get 50 CVs and only one or two have the necessary knowledge you may be forced as an employer to broaden your search hoping to find somebody with the right attitude who can learn fast instead.

Answer 5

1. Probably a good choice. The best is of course find one where you can also pick up new technologies.
2. Companies expect you to have work-place experience in those technologies so this probably won't work
3. It's very hard to find a company that looks for bright people and knows that some knowledge in a technology in negligible compared to the qualities of the applicant on the long term. This is especially true for agencies who don't give a sh.t how bright you are. I saw a couple of mad things in my life.. I worked with three different RDBMSes and they declined my application because I don't have experience in a 4th one. Come'on, how different that one can be? :/
4. Wait till you get a good offer, if you have the skills you will eventually find the right place. If you are really interested in C# or ASP then learn it, but it doesn't make sense to do so just because it's popular.

Answer 6

Something else?

Yes, two things - either separately or in combination.

Move to an area where your skills are in demand.

Your particular skill set (C++/Java/Perl/Ruby) is in great demand around San Francisco/Silicon Valley, and in NYC/Wall Street.

I just did a quick search on Craigslist for the Bay Area, and found 237 open C++ positions, and 628 for Java. DICE lists 777 open C++ positions in Silicon Valley, and 1350 Java. It's also my experience that for every advertised position, there are three that are undergoing an unadvertised search through headhunters.

So even allowing for duplication in the listings, there are a lot of gigs here for you, bro.

Put your resume on DICE, and a profile on LinkedIn.

That's how you find those unadvertised open positions. Headhunters looking for software developers comb those sites every day looking for people who match particular keywords.

And of course it's really great when, instead of blindly applying for jobs and hoping to hear back, recruiters are calling and emailing you asking if you're willing to apply.

Even if you don't move to begin with, if you have a great skills match and an employer really wants you, they'll foot the bill to bring you in for an interview, and if you take the job, they'll cover your relocation costs. That's how I wound up in the Bay Area from Texas, and a few years ago a company flew me in for an interview and overnight stay in Manhattan.

Answer 7

I think one of two things would happen in these situations;

A) The company has the specifics listed because they need someone to work a specific project that is using these specific technologies, and they need someone who can come in and start producing results immediately. In these cases, you are not likely to get the position. Especially one that requires more years of experience. For example I have held Senior Software Engineer positions in both Java and .NET. If I applied for a Sr. level Ruby position, while I have no doubt that I could pick up the language quickly, I'd really be doing entry level work, not Sr. level and instructing others as to what is good and bad.

B) If the company is hiring for a an entry level or up to maybe 3 yrs of experience in a technology, then they are not looking for a super experienced programmer to in mentor others on the team, so you are more able to get away with learning on the job. In these cases, a good cover letter that includes some discussion of another situation where you have had to quickly learn a new language or technology, and demonstrates your willingness to do so, may get you in the door.

So, I'd say either #1 or #3 from your original question, but it depends on the company and their staffing needs, and the experience level of the position. As you get into more experienced positions, I think you will find companies less willing to compromise on skill sets. After all, they are investing a lot of money in you at that point, and they don't always want to train you.

Answer 8

Not consider these companies and look for companies with your expertise?

That seems like a waste. If you have no skills that the company is looking for, then perhaps you should look elsewhere. Is there some way that you can relate your current skills to what the employer is looking for? It might be a little harder to get past HR, but still possible.

Just put that in your resume, and learn the technology before interviews? After all, how hard is it for a developer to wrap their brains around new languages?

Absolutely not. If I was a hiring manager and found out that you lied on your resume or interview, you would be done. You wouldn't just go to the bottom of the pile, you wouldn't be considered. Never lie on your resume or during the interview. In an interview or on a cover letter, you can spin your experiences to show how they are relevant to the organization or position, but don't flat out lie.

Try to convince the employer in the cover letter that you are good at one thing but can a learn a new language a tool pretty easily?

Absolutely this. You can take a lot of approached in a cover letter, from trying to explain how your skills are applicable to the position or how you see yourself as a good fit for the team and/or organization, even if you don't have a lot of the required skills. Showing things like adaptability, quick learning, problem solving, and leadership in a cover letter and talking about them in an interview would go a long way.

Something else?

Learn the technologies that are used by the companies that you want to work for. Take part in open source projects. Ask and answer questions here, on Stack Overflow, and other Stack Exchange sites. Kick off your own projects - even if you never release them, you can submit code samples or the entire project to your potential employer to demonstrate your knowledge.

Answer 9

A modified Option 3.

Send your resume in, and if you get an interview, use it to convince them you can do the job. Worse case, you spend $.44 on a stamp and dont get an inteview, right? (and emailed resumes are free). When companies list requirements, they usually list what skills their ideal candidate will have, not what they will accept. Heck, half of the time the job description is written by a recruiter or HR drone who has no clue what the technologies are in the first place. So if you hit a couple of their bullet points, dont be bashful.

I say 'modified', in that you should not highlight that you dont have a particular skill set in a cover letter. Just promote yourself as a successful developer who completes projects using whatever technology is needed. Or dont use a cover letter.

Answer 10

4. Work with a recruiter.

Many companies go through recruiters to find applicants for jobs. Recruiters try to keep a stable of programmers around so they can hook employers up with people who are a good fit. If the recruiters know you well, and know what you're good at, you'll be rewarded:

• They will let you know first when a job that fits your skills comes up.
• They will advocate for you when a job that you would be good at, but you don't have the history for comes up.
• They will not submit you for jobs where the need someone writing ASP.net in C# yesterday, because that will be a waste of everyone's time

A good relationship with a few recruiters will do wonders to get you jobs that fit you well, even if the posting is asking for the wrong thing.