How to read an Australian job ad and work out if you are a strong, good or stretch fit
5 min read
How to read a job ad and work out your real fit
Why this is worth learning
Most people read a job ad and get one of two feelings. Either "I could never" or "I could do that in my sleep". Both are usually wrong, and both cost you.
The first stops you applying for work you could get. The second sends you into an interview underprepared.
There is a better way to read an ad. It takes about 15 minutes and it gives you a plan instead of a feeling.
Start by taking the free three-minute Career Change Check at changingcareers.com.au/assessment, so you know which roles you are already close to.
Step one: split the ad into three lists
Print the ad or paste it into a document. Go through it line by line and sort every requirement into one of three lists.
Already do it. Not "could probably do it". Actually do it now, in your current job, and could give an example from last month.
Could do it soon. You have done something close, or a short course or a few months of practice would get you there.
Not yet. A qualification you do not hold, a system you have never opened, or experience in a setting you have never worked in.
Be strict. The value of this comes from being honest in list one.
Step two: name your fit
Now look at the shape of the three lists.
Strong fit. Most requirements are in list one. You should apply this week. If you are hesitating, that is the thing to fix, not your resume.
Good fit. A decent number in list one, and most of the rest in list two. Apply anyway. Employers hire good fits all the time, especially when the gap is a system rather than a qualification.
Stretch fit. Several items sit in list three. Still apply if the role matters to you, but treat it as the start of a longer plan. Use the ad to build your training list.
Notice that none of the three means do not apply. They tell you how much work sits alongside the application, not whether you are allowed to want the job.
Step three: separate the real requirements from the wish list
Australian job ads are often written by combining an old ad with a manager's wish list. Not every line carries the same weight.
A few signals help.
Requirements listed first usually matter more than requirements listed last. Anything described as essential or mandatory is real. Anything under "desirable", "nice to have" or "advantageous" is genuinely optional, and people get hired without it constantly.
Watch for legal requirements, because those are not negotiable. A current driver licence, a working with children check, an NDIS worker screening check, or the right to work in Australia are real gates. If an ad names one, you either hold it or you get it before you apply.
Step four: use list two as your actual plan
This is the part people skip.
Your list two, gathered across four or five ads for the same role, is the most useful career document you will make this year. It is not a general idea of what employers want. It is the specific gap between you and the jobs you are looking at right now.
Look for the items that appear in every ad. Those are worth closing. Items that appear once are noise.
Then check the free options before you pay for anything. Fee-free training in your state may cover part of it, and the list is at dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe. You can also read the official description of most roles at yourcareer.gov.au.
A note on the feeling
Reading job ads when you are worried about your current job is not a neutral activity. It is easy to read three ads, decide you are behind, and close the laptop.
The three list method exists to stop that. It replaces a judgement about you with a list of tasks. A list of tasks can be worked through. A judgement cannot.
If you want to see how this looks across a whole set of roles rather than one ad at a time, our pathways pages group the destination roles we point people towards, and the transferable skills piece covers why "transferable skills" alone is rarely enough to get you interviewed.
Frequently asked questions
Should I apply if I do not meet every requirement?
Usually yes. Australian job ads are often an old ad plus a manager's wish list. Anything under desirable or nice to have is genuinely optional. Legal requirements such as a licence or a screening check are the real exceptions.
What is the difference between a strong, good and stretch fit?
Strong means most requirements are things you already do. Good means the remaining gap is a system or a short course. Stretch means several requirements need a qualification or experience you do not yet have. None of the three means do not apply.
How many job ads should I read before deciding on training?
Four or five for the same role. Look for the requirements that appear in every ad, because those are worth closing. Anything that appears once is noise, and not worth paying for.
How do I stop job ads making me feel unqualified?
Replace the judgement with a list. Sorting each requirement into already do it, could do it soon, or not yet turns a feeling about yourself into a set of tasks. Tasks can be worked through.
This is general information, not professional career, financial, or legal advice. For tailored advice, consult a qualified career counsellor, financial adviser, or relevant Australian professional service.
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