Deciphering That Job Description

The ideal job description tells you exactly what you should expect from your first day on the job until your last. Unfortunately, many job listings simply don't describe precisely what skills or qualifications you need to effectively fulfill the requirements of the position. Learn how to interpret a description so you can determine whether a position is worth your time and effort.

Too Vague Versus Too Specific

You have opposite dilemmas when you see descriptions that are too vague or too specific. A vague job description, or one that contains few qualifications and just a couple of bullet points, may mean the company wants to hire someone quickly and get the hiring process over within a few weeks. Vague listings might flood the company with hires who aren't qualified, which could make it harder for you to get the hiring manager's attention.

An extremely specific list of qualifications with 20-plus points and a wide range of requirements might show that the company wants to make a careful hire and can afford to spend several months to find the ideal candidate. These purple squirrels, as recruiters call them, are candidates that are nearly impossible to find regardless of how you interpret the verbiage in this part of the listing. No matter what job description you run across in your search, breaking it down into three basic components can help you get a better sense of whether you fit the position.

1. Need To Have

The top part of the job description is the most important. It describes the core competencies and qualifications you must have to win the day. This area usually contains the years of experience you need in the respective field, the type of education required and any certifications. If you fulfill most of these requirements, feel free to continue with an application and resume.

A good rule of thumb is meeting 70 percent of what's required. If there are 10 qualifications listed and you fit seven of them, chances are, the employer might overlook the last three, as most candidates probably do not have every qualification, either.

2. Preferred

When a company says something is "preferred," that's part of a wish list. You might see qualifications that give you options, such as "master's degree or a postgraduate degree." Another preferred qualification might include "experience in retail a plus." If you knock out the qualifications you must have, any of these preferred parts of a job description are gravy that enhance your position. However, the key to getting the hiring manager's attention rests with the core qualifications a company needs above all else.

3. Good to Have

Proficiencies that a company wishes a job candidate to have go towards the bottom, though you might be able to pick up these skills once you're on the job. If you know a particular computer program but it's not an essential, everyday part of your job, that's a bonus that might set you apart from other candidates.

When you focus on the quality of your experiences and qualifications versus matching every bullet point in a job description, you have a good way to narrow the types of jobs for which you apply. Have a strong sense of what an employer needs from a candidate, and see where the results take you.

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