How to read a job advert before you apply

Minimum requirements come first

Most adverts separate minimum qualifications from preferred ones. Minimum requirements, such as a specific degree, a professional registration or years of experience, are usually checked strictly during shortlisting, especially in the public service. If you clearly do not meet them, your time is better spent on another application.

"Added advantage" and "preferred"

Skills listed as an added advantage or preferred are not compulsory. If you meet the minimum requirements and some of the extras, apply and highlight the extras you have.

Contract types

• Permanent and pensionable: a long-term post, common in the public service.
• Fixed-term contract: employment for a set period, often one to three years, sometimes renewable.
• Project-based: tied to a funded project, common with NGOs.
• Internship or graduate trainee: time-limited learning roles with a stipend or allowance.
• Freelance or consultancy: paid per task or deliverable rather than salaried employment.

Deadlines and instructions

Note the closing date and time, the application method and the exact documents requested. Applications sent to the wrong address, after the deadline or without requested documents are often not considered. On Daraja, check the days-left label and confirm the deadline on the official source before applying.

Experience requirements

When an advert asks for three years of experience, recruiters usually count relevant, post-qualification work. Internships, field attachments and volunteering can strengthen an application for entry-level roles, but for senior posts the stated experience is normally applied strictly. Be honest about your dates; inflated experience is easy to discover during reference checks.

Location and terms

Check where the job is based and whether relocation is required, especially for regional or district posts. Note whether salary is stated or described as attractive or negotiable. If an advert has no employer name, no clear duties and no official application channel, treat it with caution and read our guide on avoiding job scams.

Turn the advert into a checklist

Before applying, copy the requirements and duties into a short list and write one line next to each showing where your CV or letter proves it. If you can tick every minimum requirement, apply. If you can tick most of the preferred ones too, make them visible near the top of your CV. This simple habit improves your chances of passing the first screening.

Kwa Kiswahili

Soma sifa za lazima (minimum qualifications) kwanza; hizi hukaguliwa kwa makini wakati wa kuchuja waombaji. Sifa zilizoandikwa kama "added advantage" si za lazima. Elewa aina ya mkataba (wa kudumu, wa muda maalum, wa mradi au mafunzo), kisha zingatia tarehe ya mwisho, njia ya kutuma maombi na nyaraka zinazohitajika.