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3 min read · updated 16 October 2026

How to read a job description (and decide whether to apply)

Most students read a job description once, feel unqualified, and close the tab. Others skim it and apply to everything. A better way is to read it the way a recruiter wrote it.

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The five parts of a job description

  1. Title and team: the level (intern, analyst, associate) and the function.
  2. About the company: mostly marketing; scan it for what they actually sell.
  3. Responsibilities: what you will do on a normal day.
  4. Requirements: the skills and background they ask for.
  5. Perks and process: pay, location, duration, how to apply, last date.

Spend most of your time on parts 3 and 4.

Must-have versus wish-list

Requirements are often a wish-list. Words like “required”, “must have” and “minimum” are the real filters. Words like “preferred”, “a plus” and “good to have” are optional.

A widely used rule of thumb: if you meet about 60% of the must-haves and can show you learn fast, apply. For internships and fresher roles, “1+ years of experience” often means “some real project work”, which your college projects can count as.

Pull out the keywords for your résumé

Underline the tools (Excel, SQL, Python, Figma), the actions (analyse, build, present, coordinate) and the domain words (equity research, supply chain, growth marketing). Where they are true for you, use the same words in your résumé. Recruiters and screening software search for them. See résumé tips for freshers.

A worked example

Here is a made-up internship ad, read the way a recruiter wrote it:

Marketing Intern, 3 months, hybrid. We’re a fast-paced D2C brand looking for a self-starter to run our Instagram, write blogs with basic SEO, and track numbers in Excel. Required: excellent communication, 1+ years of experience preferred. Freshers can apply. Stipend: competitive plus performance-based incentives.

  1. What the job really is: social media, short writing and simple reporting. That is three skills you can show with a sample.
  2. Must-haves: “excellent communication” (prove it with a clear application) and basic Excel. “1+ years preferred” is soft, and “freshers can apply” overrides it.
  3. Keywords for your résumé: Instagram, content writing, SEO, Excel, reporting.
  4. Questions it should raise: “competitive” stipend is not a number. “Performance-based incentives” could mean most of the pay is conditional. Ask for the fixed amount and what past interns earned.
  5. Decision: apply, with a link to two writing samples and an Instagram page you managed. Ask about the fixed stipend before you accept.

Phrases and what they often mean

These are not always bad. They are prompts for questions. Paste any ad into our job description decoder to see them highlighted.

Red flags

Questions to ask before or after you apply

  1. What does a typical week look like in this role?
  2. Who would I report to, and how big is the team?
  3. What would success look like in the first month?
  4. What is the stipend or salary, and when is it paid?
  5. Is there a chance of a full-time offer?

Common questions

Should I apply if I meet only some requirements?

Often yes, if you meet most of the must-haves and can show relevant work. Say honestly what you have not done and how you would learn it.

What does “0 to 1 years of experience” mean?

Freshers and people with up to a year of experience can apply. Internships, projects and part-time work can count.

How do I know if a job ad is genuine?

Check the company’s own website and LinkedIn page, the email domain, and whether anyone asks you for money. Read our guide on fake internships.

Written by the Shortlists team for students in India. General information, not professional advice. Last updated 16 October 2026.