How to Check Your Eligibility for Any Job?

No one is perfectly qualified for any job, aana, reaching a certain threshold of qualifications is crucial for every position you apply for.

I’ve added a step-by-step process to evaluate your eligibility for any job. I hope this will be of some help to you if you’re looking for a new job as a fresher or your next job as an experienced professional.

By following these steps, neengale paakkalaam… whether you meet the essential requirements nu, and also determine how to strengthen your application.

🔍 Identify Job Titles That Match Your Aspirations

Ungalukku Software Engineer nu thonura role, sila companies Software Developer nu solluvaanga, silar chumma SDE nu solluvaanga. So, indha maadhiri different names to that one single job role enna nu neenga therinjukkanum!

First uh, list down all the possible job titles that align with your career aspirations. Idhu than pa first uh mukkiyam.

This requires a good understanding of your career goals, interests, and the industry you want to work in. Here’s how to get started:

• Google this: “different job titles for ____________“ [sample]

You’ll get something like this in google. These are nothing but the list of possible roles you can take up on your interest.

This can have a mix of roles from Fresher to Experienced. Reach out to your mentor in person, for guidance.

Idha pannitaale, you’re almost set and ready for the next steps in evaluating your eligibility.

👀 Shortlist Job Descriptions (JDs) for Different Titles

Once you have a list of job titles, the next step is to find and analyze job descriptions (JDs) for these roles. Here’s how you can effectively shortlist JDs:

• Use job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn to find job postings for each title on your list.

• Choose job descriptions from various companies to get a broad perspective on the role.

• Shortlist at least 10 job descriptions for each job title. This will give you a good sample size to identify common requirements.

Puriyudhu, konjam time consuming thaan. But, worth uh!!

To make your life easy, I’ve created a Google Sheet for you to start this up!

You can make a copy of this, and use it for you.

Step 3: Analyze the Responsibilities Section

The responsibilities section of a job description is crucial for understanding what the role entails. Here’s how to analyze this section using the shortlister sheet above:

• For each JD, note down all the listed responsibilities.

• Repeat this process for all 10 JDs and look for recurring themes and tasks.

This step is essential for identifying the core requirements and expectations for the job title you’re interested in.

Step 4: Categorize the Job Requirements

Now comes the magical part. After analyzing multiple job descriptions, you’ll notice certain patterns. You can categorize the job requirements into three main groups: Mandatory, Important, and Additional.

Mandatory Requirements

These are the skills and qualifications that appear in almost every job description you reviewed. They are non-negotiable and essential for the role. Here’s how to identify them:

• If a responsibility or skill is mentioned in nearly all the JDs (at least 8-10 out of 10), it’s a mandatory requirement.

• These often include technical skills, educational qualifications, and significant work experiences.

Important Requirements

These requirements appear frequently but not in every job description. They are highly valued and can significantly enhance your application. Here’s how to identify them:

• If a responsibility or skill is mentioned in at least half of the JDs (5-7 out of 10), it’s considered important.

• These might include additional technical skills, soft skills, or specific industry knowledge.

Additional Requirements

These are the nice-to-have skills and qualifications that appear occasionally in job descriptions. They can give you an edge over other candidates but are not essential. Here’s how to identify them:

• If a responsibility or skill is mentioned in less than half of the JDs (1-4 out of 10), it’s considered additional.

• These might include specialized certifications, unique experiences, or advanced skills.

Step 5: Assess Your Eligibility

Now that you’ve categorized the job requirements, it’s time to assess your own qualifications. Here’s how to do it:

• Check Mandatory Requirements: If you do not already possess the mandatory skills and qualifications, you’re not yet eligible for the job. These are critical and cannot be overlooked.

• Evaluate Important Requirements: If you have the important requirements, you’re in a strong position to apply. These qualifications will make you a competitive candidate.

• Consider Additional Requirements: If you also have the additional requirements, you’re in an excellent position. This might be the time to not just apply for the job but target the company itself.

That’s how you assess your eligibility! But, you know what? This is not the end, but the beginning of your career!! Stay tuned for the next week’s Newsletter on the below.

Step 6: Create a Personal Action Plan

Step 7: Tailor Your Application

Step 8: Reaching Beyond Job Applications

Before that, do watch this demo video of how we followed the above steps, to get you started.