Job requirements are the skills, experience, and qualities a company seeks in an applicant. The employer considers such credentials necessary for work performance.
Learn about job criteria and obtain examples.
What exactly are Job Requirements?
Most job postings mention the qualifications required to perform the job. Skills, job experience, personal characteristics, educational credentials, professional certifications, knowledge areas, and other qualifications may be included. All of these criteria help establish expectations for both employers and job applicants.
How exactly do Job Requirements work?
To narrow the candidate pool, employers should be as precise as possible when stating job criteria. This may simplify the application process and help attract applicants who are a good fit for the position.
Candidates must demonstrate to the hiring manager that their credentials meet the job criteria. Before applying for a job, applicants should thoroughly study the job description and include as many relevant credentials as possible in their cover letter and CV.
Job postings sometimes contain a lengthy list of criteria, some more essential than others. To be considered for a position, candidates need not fulfil all requirements.
For example, if someone’s educational background closely matches the job requirements and they have relevant work, volunteer, internship, or learning experiences, they should apply. It would be a waste of time if the position required a PhD and the candidate just had an undergraduate degree.
Types of Job Requirements
Skills, experience, and education are common employment criteria.
Skills
Hard and soft skills may be required. Hard skills include quantifiable talents like using particular software programs, analysing data, coding, implementing social media campaigns, and drawing blood. Soft skills are non-quantifiable characteristics including critical thinking, active listening, creative problem-solving, and effective communication.
Experience
Experience requirements usually refer to time in a relevant area or job. They may also involve working with a particular demographic or industry. For example, a company seeking to employ a junior accountant may need three years of financial institution accounting expertise.
Educational Requirements
Some jobs need a particular degree of education. Such as a high school diploma, college diploma, or master’s degree. In certain instances, comparable job experience may replace part or all of the educational requirements.
