FAQ: How do you know which jobs are worth applying to?
This FAQ came from a Slack convo:
Why are jobs labeled Entry Level, but the title is "Senior xyz" and they say "High proficiency in xyz tools"?
Is it worth applying as a recent grad?
First off, why are roles that are clearly not Entry Level marked that way? I’ve heard a few reasons, such as …
Whoever was posting the job was using a template or copying a previous job listing, and that was marked “Entry level” but not updated.
“Entry level” is the default setting and if the person posting the job doesn’t update it, that’s what is used.
LinkedIn doesn’t always integrate well with ATS (Applicant Tracking System) platforms. Many companies likely have some kind of feed between their ATS and LinkedIn to automatically post open roles, and if the ATS doesn’t pass a value for level, LinkedIn will default to “Entry Level”.
Regarding the question of “should you apply anyway?” I would say it depends on how you stack up against their qualifications.
Ignore the years of experience they have listed and look at the actual skills, technology, tasks, responsibilities, etc - if you feel like you could do the work, then apply.
However, keep in mind that anything with "Senior" in the title or that lists an expectation of at least 3 or more years of experience probably means they don't plan to spend much time training whoever they hire. So if you have a lot of gaps, or don’t think you can use the listed tools or execute the tasks of the role without a lot of handholding, it might not be worth your time to submit an application.
But … also look at the salary range, if it’s listed in the job description. If the range looks more appropriate for entry level, then there is a chance the company won’t find the experienced talent they are looking for. They’ll either need to increase the salary range (who knows how likely that is) or settle for candidates who are willing to accept that range, which might be more junior than what they are hoping for.
What do you think? What experiences have you had applying for roles with a more “senior” title? Let me know in the comments!
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