Even while most job adverts use relatively plain English rather than excessive jargon and waffle, it can be difficult to work out exactly what message is being conveyed. Here are a few tips to tell what’s really being said.
Preferred vs Required
If you meet “preferred” criteria you may stand a better chance of getting the job, but if you don’t there’s no need to worry — it just means you might have to do a better job of selling yourself.
“Required” or “essential” is a trickier area. In some forms it may be a genuine legal requirement, such as passing an enhanced criminal records check for jobs working with children; another example is that for Westminster based taxi driving jobs, London knowledge really is a must. In other cases it may be something you can overcome, so don’t automatically dismiss the job. Remember that some qualities aren’t clearcut: “experience essential” doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve worked for a particular length of time.
Knowledge/proficiency/command
These terms usually refer to a combination of skills and experience in a particular task such as using a named computer program. What each means and the difference between them is a very grey area, so don’t worry too much. What really matters is that you can back up any specific claims you make, particularly over skills that will be a key part of the job.
Unlimited income potential
This usually means that your earnings will be largely or entirely driven by commission and that any base salary will be quite low. Whether that’s good or bad news depends on your financial situation and your sales ability.
Responsibilities
This is arguably the most important part of a job ad. What’s listed here is what the successful applicant will actually be doing. If you know and can prove you can do these tasks well, you stand a good chance regardless of any other criteria.