Conquering your Motorcycle Job Application: Reading Between the Lines
Finding employment within the motorcycle industry is a worthy dream for bike enthusiasts around the world. Knowing how to conquer the motorcycle job application is a great first step in finding a motorcycle job. As a professional within the industry, I have seen many longtime riders dreaming of a job in the industry simply because they ride. While that enthusiasm is great, qualifications are what ultimately garner the attention of potential employers.
From a motorcycle industry job website like MIJ to more general job board sites, there are hundreds of promising motorcycle job applications. These sites are searching for everything from your common motorcycle mechanic resume to motorcycle dealer resumes with experience. While it is indeed exciting, riding a motorcycle since a young age does not necessarily qualify you to work in the industry; just as changing your oil does not make you a mechanic. However, there is no question about whether or not the motorcycle industry is made up
Whether you are aspiring to get your foot in the door, or you are a skilled industry professional looking to step up your game, you need to be able to accurately decipher some of these job postings and the motorcycle job application itself. Unless the person in charge of hiring was previously employed in the role they are looking to fill, a decent amount of the job description is speculation.
How to Apply for a Job When You Do Not Meet the Requirements
In the end, hiring managers are writing job descriptions that will attract people to apply while warding off those who would not qualify for an initial interview. It is a balancing act, and just like the motorcycle job application of those with aspiration—some hiring managers are going to create a list of skills they envision the dream employee to possess. The reality is that qualifications count, but they are not the solitary defining factor.
You have likely heard stories of people who “met all of the qualifications” being passed up for someone who simply “felt like a better fit.” This happens because a company would much rather hire a candidate with two years of experience who can begin immediately. So, even with a top-notch motorcycle mechanic resume, if you are not able to communicate or stay organized, you will likely be passed over. Taking a chance on someone with the required five years who failed to demonstrate strong communication skills is an uncommon occurrence.
So, what is a job seeker who does not meet all the requirements listed in a job description to do? How can you separate the requirements from the ones you could compensate for with your other qualifying skills? How do you present the subject in your cover letter and motorcycle job application? One helpful hint: Do NOT start with “I have been riding motorcycles since I was just a kid!”
Assess the Position and Decide If You are Qualified
No matter how badly you want a motorcycle engineering job or even a motorcycle finance job in the industry, aspiration alone is not enough to be successful. If you find that you meet most skills found on a motorcycle job application, however, go ahead and apply. As we mentioned prior, much of the job description is based on guesswork and you might know more about the position than the manager in charge of hiring.
Some requirements are listed on the motorcycle job application because they sound good. For example, I once edited a job description to remove the words “sales management experience required” and changed it to “sales experience preferred.” While it sounds like simple semantics, the actual difference between preferred and required job skills is night and day.
Companies often embellish the job description by listing requirements for what they see as a “dream” applicant. Truthfully, however, companies are not going to hold up the hiring process, seeking out that dream applicant. Common sense must be applied to both the employer and job seeker. Keep in mind, qualified applicants get interviews. So, if there is a dumping ground of desired skills at the end of the description, see them as “preferred” skills rather than requirements. Next, make sure to focus your motorcycle job application on all the core skills you possess.
Pay Attention to the Keywords on Your Motorcycle Job Application
Sometimes the required skills you are missing do not fit into either category. While this is not a deal-breaker, these skills will factor heavily into the actual position. Firstly, do not write the “I know I don’t have the right experience, but I have been riding since I was three years old…” cover letter or submit an unqualified motorcycle mechanic resume. An important piece of the application process is connecting the dots between the experiences you already possess and those for which the position demands.
Make sure you do not over-reach for relevant experience. For example, do not try to explain how selling your bike on Craigslist prepared you to be a sales manager for a multi-line dealership. Instead, focus on how lessons learned from prior experience would apply to a future role. For example, describe how your parts department experience would prepare you for service writing because in each role you are ordering the parts necessary to repair customers’ bikes. One might also explain how an obsessive desire to organize and schedule everything would be relevant to the job.
Finding Success with Your Motorcycle Job Application
When it comes to seeking employment in the motorcycle industry, semantics are not something on which to focus heavily, and should not stop you from applying to the position for which you are qualified. While you might not be selected for an interview each time, you might still be the best candidate for the position in question. In the end, applying for your dream job is the only way to discover if you have what it takes.