How to read a job description: the 3 lines that decide if you get shortlisted

Most job descriptions run long. A lot of it is filler: the company pitch, the benefits, the "we are a family" paragraph. The shortlist is decided by a few lines.

Learn to find them. You will apply to fewer jobs and hear back from more.

Line 1: the first three duties

Descriptions list duties in order of importance, even when they do not say so. The first three show the real job.

Read them as verbs. "Manage", "build", "support", "report". A manager role starts with "own" and "lead". A support role starts with "assist" and "coordinate".

Test: can you say, in one sentence, what you would do on a normal Tuesday? If you can, the description is honest. If the duties are vague, ask what the team actually does before you apply.

Copy the first three duties into a note. You will use them in your CV.

Line 2: the tools and terms that repeat

Find any tool, system or phrase that appears twice or more. Those are the search terms a recruiter will use.

Examples: "SAP", "vendor management", "go-to-market", "month-end close", "SQL", "channel partners".

Check each against your CV. If you have used it, make sure your CV says so in the same words. If you have not, decide if you can learn it in a few weeks. If the answer is no, that job is a stretch.

A recruiter's search matches words. "Worked with suppliers" will not match "vendor management". Say it the way the job says it, but only if it is true.

Line 3: the experience line

Find "years of experience". Read it with the title.

A common pattern: "3 to 5 years". It is a range of people the team expects. If you have two years and strong proof, apply. If you have eight, expect a mismatch of level and pay.

Also look at the qualification line. "MBA preferred" is not "MBA required". Read the exact word. Our post on moving into a new function without an MBA covers how to handle the gap.

The five-minute fit test

Take the three lines. Score yourself.

• Duties: can I do at least two of the first three today?
• Tools: do I have most of the repeated terms, with proof?
• Level: does my experience sit inside the range, or close?

Two out of three: apply. One: only if you have a referral. See how to ask a stranger for a referral. Zero: skip.

Phrases that mean something other than they say

• "Fast-paced environment": the team is short-staffed.
• "Wear many hats": two or three jobs for one salary.
• "Immediate joiner": they have a gap now. Check your notice period before you reply. Read how to negotiate your notice period.
• "Competitive salary": not disclosed. Ask for the range before you spend time.
• Hype job titles: a person wrote this in a rush. Ignore the label. Read the duties.

These are not insults to the company. They are signals about how clear the role is.

What to do with the result

Keep a list. For each job you read, write the role, three duties, the repeated terms and your score. After ten jobs you will see which type of job you match.

Then tailor one CV per job. Use the duties and terms you found. Never add a skill you do not have. The rules are in how to tailor your CV without making anything up.

A worked example

Here is a short description we wrote as an example. It is not a real posting.

Senior Brand Manager, Mumbai. You will own the brand plan for two snack categories. Responsibilities: lead the annual brand plan; brief agencies and review creative; plan trade promotions with sales; track brand health and share monthly reports. Requirements: 5 to 8 years in brand management in consumer goods; experience with agencies; Excel and a reporting tool; MBA preferred.

Now read it in three lines.

Duties. Own a brand plan. Brief agencies. Plan trade promotions. These are the first three. They are the job.

Repeated terms. "Brand", "agencies", "trade", "reports". A search will use them.

Level. Five to eight years. "MBA preferred".

Score a candidate with six years in brand management, no MBA, and agency work. Duties: yes. Terms: yes. Level: yes. The missing MBA is a preference, not a rule. Apply.

Score someone with six years in finance. Duties: no. Apply only with a referral and a clear story.

Questions to ask when the description is vague

If the duties are thin, ask the recruiter before you spend an evening on a CV.

• What will the person do in the first three months?
• Who does the role report to?
• Is this a new role or a replacement?
• What is the pay range?

A recruiter who answers plainly is a good sign. One who dodges is also a signal.

Where Jobsift fits

Jobsift reads the full description, not just the title. You say the job you want. It reads the listings from the last seven days in your city and keeps the ten that match what the job asks for. Looking is free.

If a job is worth a CV, Jobsift rewrites your CV for it, using only what is already in your CV. The company name and apply link come with it. It cannot promise a shortlist.