A postdoc asks—

When there are multiple required qualifications in a job posting, do you have to be a 100% fit for those qualifications? Can you still apply even if there are a few points that you do not meet?

In general, I recommend still applying even if you match as little as about 80% of the requirements (with an exception for government jobs, where they’ll generally list requirements where 100% of them are required). However, you need to be sure to address those gaps (and why the employer doesn’t need to be worried about them) in your cover letter and interview. This can be by providing evidence of how you quickly learned similar skills or content areas, or by demonstrating a clear awareness and plan for how you would get up to speed. Additionally, if you are not a 100% fit for a position, you’ll want to make sure you have a compelling argument for why you would excel in the position, based on skills and experience that go beyond the minimum they are asking for, for at least some of the qualifications. You should include that argument in your cover letter and be prepared to present it at the interview stage.

-David Blancha, Assistant Director, Career Development Team for Researchers