Should professionals mind the skills gap when applying for a position? In new research from global staffing firm Robert Half, HR managers said 42 percent of resumes they receive, on average, are from candidates who don't meet the job requirements. In a separate survey of workers, 78 percent admitted they would submit for a role when they don't match all the qualifications.

Luckily for applicants, 84 percent of HR managers reported their company is open to hiring an employee whose skills can be developed through training.   

Workers were asked, "Would you still apply to a job if you didn't meet all of the qualifications on the job description?" Over 75 percent said yes.

When HR managers were asked about their openness to hiring and training an employee who doesn't meet the skills requirements for a position, only 14 percent said 'very open' and the percentage of 'somewhat open' is 70 percent.

"When it's challenging to find candidates who check off all the boxes, companies may need to re-evaluate their job requirements to hire the right talent," said Paul McDonald, senior executive director for Robert Half. "Workers can be trained on duties for a role, but individuals with the right soft skills and fit with the corporate culture are often harder to come by."

McDonald added, "Professionals shouldn't rule themselves out for a position if they don't fulfill all the criteria. However, applicants need to make a strong case by highlighting past results, transferable skills and a willingness to learn."