Reading what is actually required.
WHAT ADVERTISEMENTS TYPICALLY CONTAIN
A list of requirements, frequently long Responsibilities Company description
WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ACTUALLY ARE
A description of an ideal candidate who rarely exists.
WHAT THAT MEANS
Meeting most of them is usually sufficient.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Requirements stated as essential against desirable.
WHAT TO ASSESS HONESTLY
Whether you could do the work described.
WHY THAT IS THE ACTUAL TEST
Employers hire people who can do the job, not people who tick every box.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU MEET MOST
Apply.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU MEET FEW
Consider whether the gap is learnable quickly.
WHAT WARNING SIGNS APPEAR IN ADVERTISEMENTS
Requirements totalling more years than a technology has existed Several roles combined into one Emphasis on working under pressure Vague descriptions of the actual work No indication of compensation
WHAT COMBINED ROLES SIGNAL
An employer trying to hire three people for one salary.
WHAT TO ASK ABOUT
Anything unclear, before investing in an application.
WHAT TO NOTICE
Whether the advertisement is written carefully.
WHY
It reflects how the organisation communicates.
WHAT TO RESEARCH BEFORE APPLYING
The company, briefly.
WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT YOU FIND
Use it in the application.
