A few times I’ve applied to roles where I probably matched around 70 percent of the requirements but still hesitated to hit apply. Job descriptions often look like wish lists rather than realistic expectations. From a recruiter’s point of view, how close does a candidate really need to be?

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The game has dramatically changed with modern ATS and AI candidates screening tools and you need to be a match rate of 80% or higher and in the top 1% in order to make it to human review.

Interesting perspective. With ATS becoming more common, it definitely feels like optimizing for the right keywords and core skills is becoming more important.

I've heard a recruiter say people should apply if they're "in the ballpark" when it comes to qualifications. Of course, that's a judgment call, and it's difficult to put a percentage on things. If you've got the major qualifications, and perhaps feel deficient on minor things, then it probably makes sense to give it a shot. You're right that a lot of job descriptions don't look very realistic.

That makes sense. If the core skills are there, it’s usually worth the shot and the rest can often be learned on the job.

I have a close friend in human resources and they say that it usually doesn't matter how close they are to the exact job requirements as long as they know the basic primary function of the job and are willing to learn. A good attitude and a willingness to learn can often outperform the most "matched" applicant.

Completely agree. Attitude and learning mindset often matter more long term than matching every single line in the description.

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