What I learned from eavesdropping on an informal job interview

Earlier today I overheard a conversation at a local coffee shop between a representative of a local employer and a job candidate. The former said to the latter: "You'll see in the job description that the number of years of experience we're seeking is quite high. Don't worry about that, as we put the figure down to scare people."

I take this point as an impetus to 1) reach out to someone you know at an organization of interest to learn such details, and 2) apply if you believe you meet the general functional requirements of the position, regardless of how much experience you claim.