13d • General discussion
Job Descriptions
Something worth saying plainly to every student and early career professional in job search mode right now:
Most job descriptions are not requirements lists.
They're wish lists.
They're written by someone imagining their ideal candidate in a perfect world — not defining the minimum bar required to get an interview or be considered seriously for a role.
The research on this is consistent: candidates who apply despite not meeting every listed requirement get hired regularly. Candidates who self-eliminate based on a wish list never get the chance to make their case.
Here's the practical filter I recommend:
If you meet 60-70% of what's listed you are a viable candidate. Apply.
Identify the 2-3 true non-negotiables the requirements named repeatedly or marked explicitly as required.
Treat everything else as preferred and present the gaps as growth you're actively working toward.
The confidence gap in job applications is especially pronounced among first-gen students and candidates from underrepresented backgrounds — who tend to apply only when they meet nearly every requirement, while other candidates apply at 60%.
That gap isn't about qualifications. It's about permission.
You have it. Apply anyway. Let the hiring manager say no.
Stop saying it for them.
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Job Descriptions
