Should you apply if you only meet 70%?
There's real research behind the idea that some people wait until they check every box, and others apply anyway. But "apply anyway" isn't a blanket rule.
Posted Sep 23, 2026
- 1
Ask what kind of gap it is
Missing years of experience in the exact function is a bigger gap than missing one specific tool. A tool can be learned in weeks. A track record can't be faked.
- 2
Hard requirements are different from soft ones
A license, certification, or clearance that's legally required is not negotiable. A "preferred" skill or a round number of years usually is.
- 3
If you apply, address the gap, don't hide it
A short line in a cover letter or your resume summary, naming the closest thing you do have, does more than silently hoping no one notices.
Meeting 70% is worth applying for. Meeting 70% while quietly missing a hard requirement (a license, a clearance) usually isn't, unless you can get that requirement soon.
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