A 5th year student asks—
When I’m looking at job descriptions, the ones that are most interesting to me often have some key responsibilities that are things I haven’t done before. I think I probably could learn, but I don’t have any direct experience to show. How do I know if it is even worth my time to apply? Am I just going to be rejected immediately? 

Unfortunately, you’ll (almost) never know for certain when you apply, because the whole point of the application process is for the hiring organization to figure out who can do the job. So, it’s important not to take yourself out of contention prematurely; that’s the hiring manager’s job. 

I know that can be a frustrating response, because it feels like a huge waste of time to apply for something you’re “not qualified” for! Everyone needs to learn some number of new things for a new position, and the hiring process is where the employer decides how much they are willing to teach, based on the specific candidates presented and other logistical factors. 

However, you have limited time to spend on applications, so I am not saying that you should never decide not to apply to something that isn’t a good fit (if you’re concerned that you might not be using your time on applications efficiently, see I applied to 80 jobs and only got 2 interviews). I’ll bet that if you are questioning whether or not to apply, you are qualified enough that it makes sense to apply and let the employer decide. 

-Ray Care, Program Director, Career Development Team for Researchers