The research shows that women are more hesitant about applying for a new job but we shouldn’t be, says Hannah Martin. Sometimes all you need is confidence

According to a study by Hewlett Packard, women won’t apply for jobs unless we meet 100% of the qualifications required. Are we really holding ourselves back in the workplace because we don’t have the confidence to go for opportunities that may be considered out of our reach right now?

That hasn’t been my experience. In fact, my entire career happened because I went for a job for which I wasn’t in any way qualified.

Even as a young woman starting out, I’ve always had the determination to push for things I want, despite how ambitious they may seem. And it’s an attitude that has always paid off.

In the mid-90s, I was an art school dropout longing for an exciting creative career. But after being told by a careers officer that all I was qualified for was administration work, I packed my bags and moved to Hong Kong. And it was there I stumbled across my dream job.

My then-boyfriend worked for an international advertising agency and needed to pick up something from the office. We wandered into his creative department and I instantly felt at home – it was love at first sight.

I looked at the work he was doing and thought, ‘I could do that... I’d love to do that!’ As anyone who has ever tried to break into the advertising industry will tell you, it’s not easy to become a copywriter. The usual route is to study for an advertising degree and then gain work experience on hard-to-find placements, hoping that someone recognises your talent.

All I had was an English Literature A’ Level (an unimpressive grade C). I didn’t even have a portfolio but I didn’t let it put me off.

I called every international ad agency in Hong Kong and eventually got lucky. Ogilvy & Mather were looking for a copywriter and their Executive Creative Director agreed to see me.

On the advice of my boyfriend, I cobbled together a few (awful) homemade ads to ‘show off’ my writing ability and headed to the interview. But just a few minutes into it, I realised that I stood no hope. It was clear the Executive Creative Director was looking for an experienced copywriter, and my lack of qualifications and demonstrable talent just didn’t cut it.

But again, this didn’t put me off. Instead I launched into an impassioned speech, saying that I knew I could do the job and was a fast learner – if only he’d give me a chance. I suspect as much to get rid of me as anything else, he offered to set me a basic copywriting test. I passed it and was hired.

Over the next three years in Hong Kong I learned my trade and had the opportunity to work on some amazing accounts. When I came back to London I had no problem finding work at big London agencies, thanks to the name O&M and the quality of my portfolio. I continued to work on fantastic accounts and won a clutch of awards for my writing – all because I took a risk and went for a job I wasn’t qualified for.

And I don’t think it’s just me. Despite Hewlett Packard’s findings, most of my female friends can tell a similar story of reaching for an opportunity beyond their experience or qualifications.

In fact, I don’t know many successful people (men and women) who haven’t done it. After all, fortune favours the brave – whatever sex you are.

Hannah Martin is the co-founder of The Talented Ladies Club

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