Breaking Into Repro: Reading Job Descriptions
The process of finding a job is a long and challenging one—especially in a pandemic, and if you don’t know where to begin. For a lot of people—particularly marginalized folks, first-generation folks, and people of color—this process is a mystery shared by mentors and in secret. We hope to demystify this process for everyone and help you feel more prepared as you search for a new position. In this series, we’ll share tips to help you throughout the process.
While searching for your next position, you’ll read through a LOT of job descriptions, some that seem very detailed and others that might seem like a jumble of social justice buzzwords. How you read a job description to get the most information out of it, and to get hints at what the organization's culture is like, is a honed skill. Here's how to put together the clues:
The Basics
Take inventory of everything listed—and not—in the job description. Make a list to check the basics for every position; this will make it easier for you to compare roles and tally answers to your standard questions and give you an idea of what information is missing. This might include information such as:
What is the job title and level?
Where is it located? Is it remote permanently or temporarily? What are the conditions of returning to an office? Who determines them?
What is the salary? How does it compare to other salaries for similar titles at other organizations?
What are the benefits? When are you eligible for them? Do you pay for them out of your salary, or does the organization cover the cost?
Is a degree required? What kind of degree? Is it required or suggested?
How many years of experience are needed?
How often would you work outside of the stated work hours?
Would you need to travel? If so, how often?
Would you be managing anyone or a team?
Who does the position report to?
Who will you be interacting with? (ex. patients, the public, the board, legislators, etc.)
Is there a professional development budget?
Hiring Values
Most job descriptions have a section at the bottom that states that the organization is an equal opportunity employer and their hiring priorities. This is a great section to see what the organization’s hiring values are. Do they specifically call out an interest in hiring people with identities that you have? What kind of accommodations do they make for disabled and neurodiverse workers? Do they hire undocumented workers? This little paragraph can give you a peek inside their values.
How to apply
The job description will have an explainer on how to apply for the position. Read it and follow it carefully. Sometimes the instructions are very specific for a reason, including sorting through candidates who pay close attention to details for a detail-oriented job. This section may also have information on accommodations the organization can make for those who have disabilities or need other support when applying and interviewing for the position. Important: if it says no calls, they really mean no calls. If they say include references, make sure you do that too.
Organizations really should not ask for salary requirements -- it's a trick designed to see how little they can pay you and to disqualify candidates who can't magically conjure up the number they allotted for this position in a grant. You might reply to this request by saying: "In looking at other similar positions at related organizations, it seems like a competitive range for this position is between X and Y. I look forward to talking to the hiring team about salaries and benefits."
Can you afford this job?
One really important step is to know your salary requirements and if this position’s salary and benefits meet your needs. You should calculate how much you need to earn so you know from the beginning if this is a position that would pay you a living wage. This is also why salaries should be listed on every job description so the organization doesn’t waste your time with low wages. Check our salary database to see if the salary is on par with similar positions in our movements.
What exactly is the job?
Job descriptions are often a bit of a laundry list of tasks you’d be doing in the role they’re hiring for. It’s easy to look at the organization’s focus and position title and make assumptions from there, but what’s really important is that you read to see what exactly they want the person in this position to do. Are the duties doable in a regular work week? Are the tasks things you would want to do? This is also a moment for you to double-check to make sure the title and tasks match the pay and workload. How wide-ranging are the responsibilities? Does the one position cover the labor for an entire team? Does the job description include a list of daily duties that would take over 40 hours a week to do, in addition to managing a team? If so, the position may not have the work/life balance you’re looking for.
Requirements versus Nice-To-Haves
Job descriptions usually have several sections, including the job requirements and the skills they would like a candidate to possess. Note the differences between what is a requirement and what is just icing on the cake. If it says the position is bilingual, then it’s safe to assume that being fluent in the specified language is a requirement. However, if it’s a skill you have but it’s not listed as a requirement, then count that on your tally of added skills to highlight when applying for the position.
Similarly, check to see if an advanced education degree is required to do the job duties or just listed as a nice to have. Many organizations put degree requirements on positions that do not actually require degrees or that could achieve the same skillset through a certain number of years of work experience. If a degree is unnecessary for the position, don’t let the lack of a degree stop you from applying.
What skills do you offer?
As you’re reading the job description, you should be reading it to make sure it’s the right fit for you. Of the responsibilities you’d take on in the role, are any duties you have experience in? Do your skills from other fields transfer? If you do have the experience, how much experience do you have—this will help you think about if this position will be a lateral move, a step-down, or a role you can grow into. Think about your future. Is this position as described a step in the right direction for your career path? It’s true that sometimes finding a job is just about finding work to pay the bills, but if you have the luxury to be choosy, try to take positions that interest you and further your own career goals. You deserve to be happy in your job and reach your dreams.
Where would you need to grow?
In every job there are going to be responsibilities that you haven’t done before or might be a stretch for your skillset. Take time to think about what those are. A good interviewer will ask you about that during the interview, and it’s important to show that you’ve thought about it and are aware of the areas of this position where you’d need to stretch and learn. This is also an opportunity for you to note your growth areas and ask how the organization would invest in your professional development and continuing education.
Using the roadmap
The best advice we ever received about job applications is this: the organization you're applying for has a problem: their position is open and they need it filled. The job description is a road map explaining everything they’re looking for in a candidate. Use the road map/job description in combination with your notes to help you draft your cover letter and prepare for the interview. Everything you need is right there. And if it’s not, that’s a clue that either the organization isn’t clear about the role boundaries and an opportunity for you to ask for clarification during the interview process.
Prepare your questions
What’s missing in the job description? What’s unclear? What do you want to learn a bit more about? When preparing for your interviews, it’s helpful to review the job description to draft questions you have for the organization’s staff so you can have all of your queries answered. This will make the interview process more helpful for you and show that you are prepared and interested in learning more about this role.