Be aware that job requirements and willingness to hire someone who does not have all of them are treated differently between the Public and Private Sector.
In the Public Sector (government), the listed requirements are usually treated as the absolute minimum. Governments tend to require much more in the way of documented experience and education that the Private Sector for an equivalent job, to the point some would say of over-requiring abilities for a job.
In the Private Sector (business), the requirements are more of a "wish-list". Unless they state that the applicant absolutely must have a skill, they are usually open to hiring someone who has only some of them.
Specifically, be aware that in the Private Sector they will take candidates who have only some of the skills they list in GIS,if the candidate also has education and/or skills specific to the business they are in. For example, if you studied Economics and know GIS, that can be a way to get in to do GIS with firms that do Economic analysis. So for Private firms, in your cover letter, application, and interview, be sure to bring up the relevant non-GIS areas where you can be of help to the business.
Chris Donohue, GISP
