How to Decode a Job Description

In 2013, a survey by Ladders found that 44% of jobseekers spent only 1-5 minutes reviewing a job description before deciding whether to apply or not. And another 19% reported spending about 10 minutes reading through a job posting. That’s pretty fast to know what you want to do for one-third of your life!

The same study went on to explain that job seekers often looked first at the title of the role, then checked out the company information (who they are + what they do), and finally scanned through the compensation and recruiter information.

Not much has changed since then, and it means a job description had better be pretty compelling to catch someone’s eye in today’s market.

But perhaps knowing that the average hiring manager spends about 6 or 7 seconds reviewing a resume (that’s just an average according to Indeed—in some industries like semiconductors and healthcare, it’s much longer due to the specialized skill sets) may give you some comfort.

Given that the average job search took something like three to six months in 2022 according to LinkedIn, making the most of every resume submission is key.

Are You Setting Yourself Up for Success in Your Job Search?

Ask yourself, for the last job you applied for, did you sit down and thoroughly read the posting? Or did you scan it for the highlights, upload standard resume, and hit “Apply”? Reviewing a job description thoroughly is essential—but it can be a process to ensure it’s the right fit for your skills and abilities, salary expectations, and lifestyle needs.

So, we’ve compiled a list of tips designed to help you decode the next job description you read.

Why Is it So Important to Carefully Read Job Descriptions?

A job posting contains crucial information about the company, the position, and the ideal candidate the hiring manager is seeking.

Reviewing every job description carefully can help you discover more about the position and the company, allowing you to decide if they’re the right fit for you, and then tweak your resume and cover letter to appeal to the recruiter and hiring manager. Plus, it can help you start to prepare for the interview.

Since, on average, it can take submitting 21 to 80 job applications to get one job offer, let’s dive in!

Understand the Core Components of a Job Description

Although every job posting is unique, most include the same core components for potential applicants to review. And there are a lot of potential applicants these days! The average corporate job opening receives roughly 250 applications, according to data from Zippia. And, on average, about 118 people apply for any given job, according to a Forbes report.

That means it’s essential to put your best foot forward when putting together your application package. Here are some of the things to consider in any job description so you know if you want to apply:

Job Title

Does the title match your current resume or the next step you want to take in your career? Be sure to note whether there’s any seniority or specificity attached to the title (e.g., senior director, junior copywriter, sales manager, account specialist). The position’s title can give you clues to how much experience you may need or the compensation.

Employment Type

Is this a full- or part-time position, seasonal or temporary role, contract, freelance, or exempt status? Each one is different, so you need to understand which fits your needs best for your next role.

Job Location, Hybrid vs. In-Office

If you have a preference between working from home or being an on-site employee, you’ll want to pay close attention to the job’s location and in-office requirements.

Company Name and Description

The job posting will likely include basic information about the business including its name and a brief explanation of what it does—maybe even its mission and core values. You can use this information to learn more about them (and if they fit in with your values and professional mission) to know whether the company sounds like a good fit.

It’s important to be able to talk about the company to demonstrate your interest. It’s also an essential part of knowing if they’re a good fit for you (and a plus when it comes to asking in-depth questions in your interviews with recruiters and hiring managers).

Job Overview

This section will dig into more details about the position and its basic responsibilities. It is often laid out in a bulleted list to make it easy to review, but each one may be different based on things like the title, seniority level, or the industry standard.

Required Qualifications

If the position requires candidates to hold minimum levels of education, certain certificates, specific skills , years of experience, or other requirements, it will likely be listed in this portion of the job description. This is a great place to take a little extra time to carefully review to make sure you meet the requirements before applying.

Benefits and Compensation

Depending on where you live or where the company operates, they may be required by law to disclose compensation (salary or wage) information and break down their benefits package. Review this carefully to ensure that it aligns with your expectations.

Application Instructions

Some employers include specific application instructions in the job description posting. That can be things like “Attach resumes as a PDF” or “Submit three recent writing samples.” Failing to thoroughly review the job description means you might miss this and send over an incomplete application. And that might mean they may not advance you to the next step of the process.

Important Things to Look for on Job Descriptions

In addition to thoroughly reading the job description to see whether you’re a good fit, sometimes taking a moment to review it a second time for clues about the company and the position can be beneficial.

If you notice that a certain term, qualification, or buzzword is repeated throughout the job description, take note of it. This may signal that the employer highly values whatever that item is and will be looking for it in their preferred candidates. Think of them as potential keywords to add to your resume or cover letter.

Get Help Finding the Perfect Position Today

Navigating the labor market is never easy. Insight Global is here to help job seekers like you find a role that’s the right fit for you. Check out our job board and this blog for more tips on searching for and applying to jobs, interviewing, and landing the perfect gig.

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