I took a call from someone graduating this semester and they had a quick question: I don’t think I’m quite qualified for this job, but should I apply for it anyway? 

I say yes. 

I know when I had an open job come up, the system we used allowed me to save resumes easily. I saved them to pick finalists, but I also did it knowing those I didn’t pick might be perfect for a job I didn’t have open yet. 

Many times, the first people I would reach out to on the next opening were those who had applied for my last one. I offered a message that you applied for this other job that we filled, but I think you might be a good fit for this new one I just posted. Would you be interested? 

That allowed me to quickly graduate that person to a finalist and get an interview done as new applications came in. If nothing came in that blew me away, I had some great options to choose from fast. 

Applying, even for a job that wasn’t a good fit, let me get to know you and like you. 

So yes, apply for that job. It’s a way to skip the line for the next job available.