Should I apply if I match only 60% of the skills?

Yes if you match the must-have tools and years of experience. Skip the role if you miss a hard filter like a required degree, visa, or a named platform you have never used.

Is a job with 2 days left worth applying?

Usually no. If the apply-by date is under 10 days away, the pipeline is often already full. Spend the time on listings that will still be open.

How to read a job description before you apply

By CareerCola Editorial Team Published 3 Sep 2026

Start with four facts, not the title

Open the posting and write down location, work mode (onsite / hybrid / remote), experience range, and apply-by or expiry date. If any of these is a deal-breaker, stop. A “Software Engineer II” in Dublin is not the same job as one in Hyderabad, even when the title matches.

If the apply-by date is fewer than 10 days away, skip it. You will spend an evening on forms while the requisition is already winding down.

Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves

Required qualifications are filters. Preferred qualifications are a wishlist. Highlight:

Years of experience (the first number in “2+ years” or “AND 6+ years” is the bar)
Named tools you must have used (Python, Salesforce, PySpark, Azure)
Work authorization or location constraints
Education only when it says required, not preferred

If you have the must-haves and 50–70% of the preferred list, apply. If you are missing the core stack, don’t waste a tailored resume on it.

Read the team paragraph

The first two paragraphs usually tell you the product (Windows, Azure Data, Copilot, MSN, a client project at TCS). That decides whether your past work is relevant. A Windows servicing team wants OS and C# stories. An AI platform team wants models, evals, and pipelines. Use that language in your resume bullets, not a generic “worked on applications.”

Salary and “not disclosed”

US and Ireland Microsoft postings often publish a base range. India IT postings often don’t. “Not disclosed” is normal, not a scam by itself. A scam looks like: personal Gmail for HR, a joining fee, or a WhatsApp offer with no career-site link.

Apply on the official URL

Prefer the company’s own careers page (Microsoft Careers, TCS iBegin). Job boards are for discovery. The apply button should land on a domain you recognise. Keep a copy of the job ID (for example 200048579 or 430864J) so you can search it again if the listing moves.

FAQ

Should I apply if I match only 60% of the skills?: Yes if you match the must-have tools and years of experience. Skip the role if you miss a hard filter like a required degree, visa, or a named platform you have never used.
Is a job with 2 days left worth applying?: Usually no. If the apply-by date is under 10 days away, the pipeline is often already full. Spend the time on listings that will still be open.