How to Read a Job Description (and What to Match on Your Resume)

A job description is not a checklist you either pass or fail. It's a mix of things the team needs, things they'd like, and text that appears in every posting the company writes. Reading it well tells you what to move up on your resume, and what to leave alone.

Separate the must-haves from the nice-to-haves

Look at the wording around each item. Phrases like "required," "must have," and "minimum qualifications" signal core needs. "Preferred," "a plus," and "bonus" signal a wish list. Many descriptions are written as wish lists, so a missing nice-to-have rarely settles the matter. A missing must-have deserves a harder look.

Notice what repeats

If a skill shows up in the job title, in the responsibilities, and again in the requirements, it probably matters. If a tool is mentioned once in a long list, it's probably minor. Highlight anything that appears more than once.

Match each requirement to real evidence

Make a two-column list. On the left, write each requirement. On the right, write where you actually did it: a job, a class project, a volunteer role. Be specific, since "built a weekly sales report in Excel" is more useful than "Excel."

If the right column is empty, that's a real gap. Don't fill it with an invented claim. A resume that overstates is easy to catch in an interview, and it can cost you the offer.

Use their words only where they're true

If the posting says "stakeholder communication" and you did exactly that, say it that way. If you did something different, keep your own wording. Copying their phrases onto work you didn't do is the opposite of tailoring.

Ignore the boilerplate

Equal-opportunity statements, benefits lists, and the company overview rarely tell you what to put on your resume. Spend your attention on the responsibilities and requirements sections.

Turn it into changes on your resume

Once you know what matters, you can usually adjust a few things without rewriting anything:

• Move your most relevant bullet to the top of each role.
• Reorder your skills so the ones they asked for come first.
• Re-aim your summary at this role, using only claims that are already true.

What to do about gaps

Leave them off the resume, and don't hide them behind vague wording. If the gap matters, a cover letter or the interview is the place to talk about how you'd close it.