How to Deal With Employers Who Don’t Understand Your Qualification
Having multiple certifications is never a bad thing but the question is “will your employer understand how they are relevant to the job requirements?”. Employers find it hard to interpret a qualification most times when your degree has an unfamiliar title, your qualification was earned in another country, your field is interdisciplinary, or the employer is unfamiliar with the institution that awarded it.
Rewriting the title of the certificate over and over again will not solve the problem. Translate them into information that your employer can actually understand.
1. Explain what your qualification actually prepared you to do
Different employers will translate your qualifications in different ways. Stating the name and essence of your certificate, majorly the kind of knowledge you acquired and the practical skills you developed.
This mostly happens with particular qualifications that have unfamiliar titles. Ensure your employer understands:
- What you studied
- The kind of skills you developed
- How those skills are relevant to this position
2. Connect your qualification to the job description
The reason for your qualifications are more valuable to your employers than the name.
The job description helps you know the exact kind of skills they are looking for. Use the job description to explain how your certification aligns with the requirements of the job.
Highlight the areas which give more insight on skills that are most relevant to the employer. This give your employer more than the idea of a qualification, it provides first hand evidence of relevant skills.
3. Don’t assume that a higher qualification automatically makes you suitable
Most individuals view having a bachelor’s, masters degree or professional certification as an easy gateway for employment. This is a common misconception that most people still have till today.
As a job seeker you should be informed that employers consider so many things like:
- Qualifications,
- Experience
- Skills
- Evidence of performance
- How suitable you are for that particular position
This basically means that your application should explain how your education, skills and experience have prepared you for the job.
4. Address unfamiliar qualification names directly
Target the qualification that has an unusual title, give a short explanation on the certification and how it’s relevant to the job.
This provides information on skills your employer can use to asses you for the job. Explaining every course is not necessary. Give insight majorly on areas relevant to the job
5. Explain transferable skills
In some cases your employer might understand the qualification but not how it can be applied to the job.
In such a situation your transferable skills become necessary.
Your education might have helped you develop:
- Research
- Written communication
- Data analysis
- Critical thinking
- Presentation
- Problem-solving
- Project management
- Organization
- Cross-cultural communication
What matters is how you can connect these skills to actual professional responsibilities. State relevant skills and how you have been able to apply them.
6. Use your interview to clarify misunderstandings
Its advisable not to get defensive if an interviewer doesn’t understand your qualifications. This is a great route to provide context.
Explain what the certification entails, the kind of skills it developed and how those skills are relevant to the job.
Make your explanation brief. Your are not meant to give your interviewer a lecture about your academic history. At the end of your explanation revert the conversation back to the job requirements.
7. Provide evidence rather than arguing about the qualification
An employer may question whether the job actually requires your qualification, trying to argue about how it should be acceptable is not advisable.
Providing evidence is a better way of proving the worth of your qualification.
Make use of:
- Relevant coursework
- Projects
- Research
- Internships
- Professional experience
- Certifications
- Work samples
- Measurable achievements
These shows how your qualification has equipped you with skills that are capable of producing tangible results.
8. Be prepared when your qualification is from another country
Never assume an employer from another country understands your local educational certificate.
When applying for an international job, the qualification create additional questions most likely about equivalency, accreditation or the education system in which they were obtained.
Such a situation requires relevant documents where needed, an official credential evaluation or equivalency statement.
Majorly a clear insight on your qualification prevent confusion and allow employers to understand the usefulness of your qualification.
9. Distinguish between misunderstanding and a genuine requirement
Sometimes it’s not always because your employer doesn’t understand your qualification that makes you get rejected.
You may get rejected if the employer requires specific qualification, professional license or accreditation majorly because due to the fact that the job is regulated or because it is an organizational requirement.
This situation doesn’t require explaining an unrelated qualification, because that won’t change the fact that you don’t have the requirements.
An important question you should ask yourself is:
Is the employer confused about my qualification, or does the position genuinely require something different?
10. Make your qualification understandable before the interview
It’s more convenient for you to state what your qualifications is meant for before your employer ever thinks of asking you what they mean.
Your CV, LinkedIn profile and cover letter, are meant to provide enough relevant information for your employers.
You will find this most helpful when you’re applying for an international job, changing careers or moving from one academic field into a whole new different professional role.
Focus majorly on explaining to your employer how your qualification connects with the job description. Make your employer see the connection clearly, it reduces the risk of your employer only judging your certification by its title.
