What Do Required, Preferred, and Desired Skills Mean

What Do Required, Preferred, and Desired Skills MeanWhat Do Required, Preferred, and Desired Skills Mean?What Do Required, Preferred, and Desired Skills MeanWhen you read fruchtwein job postings, you probably notice that employers place different weights on the skills they want in a candidate, based on how critical those skills are in getting the job done effectively.For instance, you might see these three phrases in a typical postingRequired skills, which means Youd better have this, or dont bother applying.Preferred skills, which means Wed really like it if you know how to do this because its important.Desired skills, which means It would be cool if you knew how to do this.In most cases, especially in todays tight job market, youll probably need all or almost all of the required skills, plus at least half of the preferred skills in order to land an interview. Then, if you have one or more of the desired skills, your chances are even better.So, if you have something from all three g roups on your resume, are you a cinch to get the interview?In a fair world, yes. But life isnt fair, and many times the job search isnt, either. For example, you may be more qualified than another candidate, but if he knows someone inside the company who can vouch for him - and you dont - you may not get the interview. (Never underestimate the power of networking)But lets assume were dealing with a level playing field. Nobody knows anyone inside the company, leaving you to make your best initial pitch with just your resume and deckblatt letter. To grab the hiring managers attention, your resumes Summary of Qualifications and your cover letter must emphasize as many of the required, preferred, and desired skills as possible.So, when you find a job posting that grabs your interest, examine it, highlight the skills in the job posting that match your skill set, then use this table to help you decide if its worth the effort to apply.Ideally, you needIf you dont have them, should you stil l apply?Required SkillsAll, or at least most,of theseNo.Dont apply if you lack the required skills. Focus on jobs youre more qualified for.Preferred SkillsAt least half of theseYes. As long as you have the required skills, its worth a try.Desired SkillsNone of these, but having at least one cant hurt.Yes.These are not a big deal, but its a bonus if you have them.Use this table only as a guideline. You may like a job posting or the employer well enough that youll still want to apply, and in that case, you should. Even if you dont have enough of the skills theyre looking for, enthusiasm and a strong desire to learn can sometimes make up for that. You can also try to find someone in the company who can put in a good word for you.But if you have what theyre looking for and you can get someone to advocate for you, then you can improve your chances at being called for an interview.