Coverage: Stylist ‘Coverage: | Stylist ‘Is it a red flag to be offered a job you’re underqualified for? Career experts weigh in?’

“Growth happens just beyond your comfort zone, and candidates must remember that most job descriptions are a wishlist, not a checklist.

If you don’t need to meet all the criteria, how much is enough? McLean puts it around the 70–80% mark but says if you can make “a strong case for the rest, go for it”. She adds: “The trick is to frame your transferable skills convincingly and show your hunger to learn. If you can back this up with an example from a time when you’ve adapted before, perfect.”