Applied to a role I met maybe half the requirements for and got the interview anyway

Job post wanted 5 years, Kubernetes, and three things I've never touched. I have two years and I've read about Kubernetes. I applied at 1am mostly out of spite.

Recruiter called two days later.

I asked her about it on the screen — genuinely, why me. She said they'd had four candidates who checked every box and none of them could explain anything they'd actually built. The list is what the hiring manager wishes for, not what they'll settle for.

Still didn't get it, final round. But I've stopped filtering myself out at the application stage and my interview count roughly doubled.

What's the biggest gap you've applied across?