Should You Apply For That Job?

Here’s how to decide if you should submit your resume

For more tips like the ones below, read ZipRecruiter CEO Ian Siegel’s new book, Get Hired Now! You can buy it here.

We’ve all been there: You find an exciting job description at an incredible company. It seems like an amazing opportunity to apply to your skills, learn new ones, and advance your career. Then you see the list of “requirements” and you meet some of them. But not all of them. So you let out a deep sigh and move on. Well, that ends today!

Requirements Are Just a Wishlist

There is no such thing as a perfect fit when it comes to job applicants

An important rule of the job search is to never self-disqualify. In most cases, requirements are a list of nice-to-haves. Sure, it would be a hiring manager’s dream to find an exact match who can check off every box, but that is highly unlikely. As a general rule, you should apply if you meet at least 40% of that wishlist.

What Jobs Should You Apply For?

Submitting for these types of roles will increase your chances

The list of requirements in a job description are only one part of the factors hiring managers take into account when looking for in a candidate. There are many other considerations, most of which you’ll never find in the actual description. If you find a job that falls into one of the categories below and you meet at least 40% of requirements, you already have a big advantage.

Jobs That Exactly Match Your Most Recent Job Title

Sites are scanning resumes for exact matches

75% of resumes submitted online are never read by a human. These sites are programmed to find matches. The easiest way to make sure that happens is to have the exact title they are looking for. If you’re currently doing the same job you are applying to but your company has a different title for it, update your resume to reflect the more standard title to make things easier for the site to recognize. Read these tips to find more ways to get your resume past the websites into the hands of an actual recruiter.

Jobs Where You Know Someone at the Company 

Companies want to hire a known entity

60% of jobs are found via networking. It’s a lot easier to get a foot in the door and secure the job when you know people on the inside. Many companies actively prioritize resumes that come in from internal employees and pay out bonuses if their referrals get hired. The logic makes sense. If companies trust their employees, then they trust their recommendations.

Jobs Where You Love the Company, Product, or Service

Your passion and expertise are an asset to a company

Companies succeed because they have passionate employees who are excited about the work they do. Chances are the person who would be hiring you has enthusiasm for the work they do and will recognize that trait in you. Also, if you are a fan of the organization or what it does, then you’re already an expert with skills that will be of benefit to the company. 

Jobs That Are Closer to Where You Live

Commuting can be bad for your job prospects and your marriage

Not having to commute is the top reason many employees love remote work. People hate commuting so much that the happiness associated with  cutting an hour off the trip to and from work is equivalent to a $40,000 raise. On the opposite side of the spectrum, people with long-distance commutes are more likely to get divorced. Living closer to the office is also a benefit to the company. In fact, companies have been found to have biases towards people who live closer to the office.

Jobs That Pay More Than You Currently Make 

You can likely earn more by switching jobs than staying where you are

It’s a fact that employees can make more money by switching jobs than staying where they are. When a company is willing to pay you more, it could be a sign that they are stable and a good place to commit to spending a few years of your career. Comparing salaries is a good way to see what you are worth in the market. Finding out what you are worth is easy. Have a look at ZipRecruiter’s salary page to get a sense of what jobs pay.

Jobs at Direct Competitors of Your Current Employer

It’s a risky move but could make you very attractive to the company

We’ve already established that you can make more money by switching jobs. This is very likely the case when moving to a competitor of your current employer, since they know that you’re already up to speed on their industry and know how to do the job. But think hard before you make this move because it could be risky. In addition to potentially burning bridges with your previous employer, you may have signed a non-compete clause, which could get you in legal trouble. Make sure to check your contract before accepting the new job and never bring your earlier employer’s intellectual property with you.

Jobs With Good Anonymous Employee Reviews

Find out what it’s really like inside the company

There are many sites where you can read what it is like inside a company before you even interview. ZipRecruiter is one of them. (Check out what it’s like to work at ZipRecruiter.) These reviews give you an unfiltered perspective that you may not get from an interview. If a company has good reviews, or the employees talk about an aspect of their work life that excites you, it could be the right place for you. Some watch-outs when reading reviews are that sometimes they are outdated, written by people who haven’t worked at those companies for years, and a company with many offices may only have one page, so the experience at one of their locations may not reflect what you will find locally