Why You Need to Read Job Descriptions Differently
Have you ever read the perfect job description and fallen in love at first sight with a company and job?
It's like the JD was written exactly for you. Swoon. 😍
OK hold up. Have you talked to anyone at the company yet? Done any interviews? Do you have any other information about the role?
Umm if not, do you really know if this is your dream job?
If you haven't done any interviews, I hate to break it to you, but you don't actually know if this is your dream job.
A lot of job seekers put waaay too much weight into the JD during their job search, IMO.
This is the truth folks: The job description won't tell you if it's your dream job or if you are not qualified for the role.
It's time to get real about what JDs really are and how they should be read.
Let's start with what a job description really IS.
JD = someone's pretty good guess at an outline of the main job duties and responsibilities for the role.
Basically, the JD is just a WISH LIST the employer has for the role.
Often JDs change over time depending on what kind of candidates are applying. So throw your hat in the game.
Many times I see people fall into one of two major traps when reading job descriptions.
1. Thinking you have found your dream job after reading the JD, and then focusing all your energy on trying to get this one opportunity.
Not to say it can't work out, but it makes me nervous if you put all my eggs in one basket. Also, you don't know it's your dream job until you've confirmed it during the interview process.
2. Thinking you are not qualified at all because you don't fit 100% of the role requirements. This happens more often and women tend to do it at a higher rate.
My advice is to pretty much ignore the qualifications and ignore the years of experience on JDs. 👀
Bold I know. But if it gets you to apply to more jobs, great!
If you don't apply for the job, you guaranteed won't get the job. Basic logic.
And if you do apply to the job, at least your hat is in the game and you have a chance.
Scan the job description (just like recruiters scan your resume), make sure the title fits your professional brand, then apply and keep it moving keep it grooving.
Stop disqualifying yourself before others do.
Finding the perfect fit job and company is not that easy, so don't be fooled, there are many more steps before figuring out if it's your dream job or if it's not a fit.
Here is what I suggest you do when a JD grabs your attention:
Apply to the job! Don't get too twisted up about if it's a fit or not or whatever. Take the first step and do the damn thing and apply.
Find the Hiring Manager for the role on LinkedIn and send them a message letting them know you applied and that you'd love to set up a call.
In the interviews ask important questions to qualify the opportunity. You're interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you.
Keep applying to hella more jobs. You can't get stuck on one role, keep filling your pipeline. Set yourself up for success and apply to other jobs until you have an offer in hand.
That's the ☕️
