My wife and I are in the same job at the same company and we have been for about 6 years. Recently a different employer in the same industry posted a job that she has mentioned multiple times before would be her dream job. The position is not in demand and is rarely open for applications – it hasn’t happened in the 6 years we’ve been together. She noticed the poster and was super excited until she looked at the education requirement – minimum 4 year bachelors degree. She only has a 2 year college diploma, I have a 4 year bachelors degree. I know this is a sore spot for her. She is understandably bummed out about it.
I have said in the past that the job might be interesting but I have never directly expressed my own interest in the position. Reading through the job description however it seems like I’d really enjoy the work, I have all of the minimum requirements and almost all of the experiences/assets that they’re looking for. The new job also pays $15k more per year than what I/we currently make.
My justifications for applying: its well within my current line of work, it would increase our HHI, we would not be competing for the same position, I am tired of my current position and I have expressed my desire to try something new.
I haven’t brought this up with her yet, obviously I will talk to her about it before I submit my application if I even choose to apply but I wanted to see what other people thought before I decide whether or not to go through with it.
PLEASE encourage her to apply for the position! You should talk with her honestly about being interested too. But she SHOULD apply: https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/breaking-through-the-self-doubt-that-keeps-talented-women-from-leading
I can’t click through the link, does it talk about how men will apply for nearly anything they think they can get and women hold themselves to the requirement list to a much higher degree? Even if not the title makes it sound like a really cool article.
That’s exactly what I was going to post about. She should apply!! At that stage of career education is far less impressive. Sometimes a college degree is more relevant to the work too, especially a technical college over an arts degree.
I think she should still apply. Some employers will look at experience in place of a lesser degree.
My current job needed a degree which I don’t have and they took my experience instead.
Absolutely this. I was going to say it if it hadn’t been. Ive been told by many people in my field (IT) that this isnt a check list of requirements, but rather a wish list of what would be the ideal candidate and to apply anyway. I did that when I started in IT with no degree and no real world experience except for building/repairing PCs in the early 2000s and console repair more recently. Landed a job 3 weeks into casually applying. I’m now earning almost 25k more in less than 2 years than my last job because I have the aptitude to learn. Sometimes thats all it takes for employers to take a chance. I’d tell her to go for it.
Definitely talk to her first. You should also urge her to apply. Many jobs will consider real world experience in place of education requirements and if she’s been in the same field for 6 years, that might be good enough. If she doesn’t want to risk the disappointment of rejection, ask what she would think about you applying instead of her. She’s your wife, communicating and agreeing about these kind of things is important.
She should still apply. Sometimes they bend the requirements for the right person.
I would be pissed and sad if my husband swoped my dream job. Hopefully she won’t resent you for it. It really depends. You should encourage her to apply. If she doesn’t want to apply just ask her if she minds if you do.