You've scanned the job ads and now you're depressed.

Just who exactly is this paragon of virtue that every employer is seeking? The one with exactly the right qualifications and experience and more personal accomplishments than Mozart, Einstein and Leonardo Da Vinci put together? Not you, that's for sure. You don't stand a chance, so better resign yourself to that career rut you've managed to get stuck in.

Not so my friend. There is something strange that happens when an employer writes a job ad, so allow me to let you into a little secret... it's really a wish list!

You know those lists of desired Christmas presents you draw up when you are a kid? Yes, of course you want the Xbox and the new bike and the iPod and the rest. But actually you'd settle for just one of those things and get a lot more pleasure and use out of it.

I'm not saying that you should ignore what the ad says and apply for wildly improbable jobs. I am saying that the "ideal"

candidate quite often turns out to be the one with just the right attitude that makes up for a few shortfalls in the "must have" spec. And sometimes the right attitude means taking a bit of a risk in yourself, trusting in your own self belief, knowing that really - you can be, do and have anything you want, if you are prepared to do what it takes.

So go on. Dig deep and find your courage. Have a little faith in yourself. You are worth it. What's to lose?

Nothing but your career rut and trust me - you really don't need that anymore!