Should you apply if you meet 6 of 10 requirements?

7 min read · Updated 14 October 2026

Postings are written as wish lists. Meeting most of the must-haves matters far more than meeting every line.

Sort the list first

Mark each requirement as a must-have or a wish (see "Read a posting for what it really asks"). Then count only the must-haves.

Gaps worth explaining

• Adjacent experience. You haven't used their tool but you've used one like it.
• Years. You're a year short but your results match the level.
• Domain. You're new to the industry but the problem is familiar.

Gaps not worth explaining

A missing licence, a language the role is conducted in, or a legal requirement. If it's truly required, the application will stop there.

Say it once

If you explain a gap, do it in one sentence in your cover letter, then move on to what you do bring.