Read a job description as a guide to the employer’s needs, then ask questions that clarify success and fit.
Read for priorities
Look for repeated or specific skills, responsibilities and priorities. Consider what the order of responsibilities may indicate about the work.
The ‘About you’ language may signal working style or team expectations; connect those signals to concrete examples in your experience.
Ask useful questions
What would success look like in the first 90 days?
What is the biggest challenge the team faces?
How does this role support the company's wider goals?
Use recruiter context carefully
A recruiter may be able to explain why the role is open, the manager’s expectations or the team’s current work. Ask which requirements are essential and which are preferred.
Use confirmed context to tailor your application; do not assume information that has not been shared.
Key takeaways
Read actively, ask about outcomes and challenges, and use relevant recruiter context to make your application specific.