How to read a job listing: must-haves, nice-to-haves and the rest

Find the real requirements

Most listings have two lists: what you must bring and what would be nice. The first is often headed “Requirements”, “Qualifications” or “What you'll need”; the second “Bonus”, “Nice to have” or “Preferred”.

Hard requirements tend to be specific and checkable: a number of years, a license, a language, a degree, a tool used every day. Vague lines like “strong communicator” are rarely what decides who gets an interview.

Count what you meet

Go through the must-haves and mark each one as met, missing or unclear. If you meet most and miss one or two, apply and address the gap directly. If you miss the core skill the role exists for, it's a stretch worth only a little of your time.

• Met: you've done it, and can point to where.
• Missing: you haven't, and can't credibly claim it.
• Unclear: close enough to argue. Say how in your application.

Read the parts people skip

A few lines tell you more about the job than the requirements do:

• Where it can be done from: remote, hybrid or on-site, and any countries or time zones named.
• The pay range, if posted, and whether it's yearly or hourly.
• Who it reports to and the size of the team.
• What the first months look like, if described.

Check it's still open

Listings live on after the job is filled on many job sites. Apply from the company's own careers page where you can; if the role is gone there, it's gone.