A fifth-year PhD student asks—

I am applying to positions that require a PhD. I am defending my dissertation soon, but not in time to confer before the hiring date. Do you suggest I still apply or am I truly 'unqualified'?

Generally, requirements for a job should be interpreted as needed for when you start doing the job fully, rather than needed at the point of applying or literal first day while you are still being trained. So, the short answer is 'yes, go ahead and apply.' However, there are exceptions to look out for. For some positions (especially those supported by specific kinds of funding), they may require that the position go to someone who already has the degree in-hand by a specific date (like postdoctoral positions, as one example). Ideally, this will be made clear in the application instructions. If you're unsure, however, this is a perfect question to ask the employer directly. Usually, there will be contact information for an administrator responsible for answering these kinds of questions, or a general email you can contact.

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