That “should I apply” moment can hit pretty hard — whether you’ve been skimming job boards during lunch breaks or quietly sitting on an updated resume (it’s almost ready, I swear!) for six months. Maybe you’ve bookmarked a few openings or imagined how you’d answer the “Tell me about yourself” question, but…something’s still holding you back. And hey, before jumping into an application, it can help to step back and get brutally honest about your readiness. But, that doesn’t mean being “perfect” or checking every box. It means knowing what matters — to you and the company — before you hit “Apply.”

Whether you’ve been thinking of a career change for a few months or even a few years, you’ve probably wondered how to know when you’re ready to apply for a job. Now you can stop guessing! By asking yourself the following four questions, you’ll be able to decide when it’s time to take the plunge and go after your dream job.

Table of Contents

• Question 1: Do I have the skills?
• Question 2: Can I prove I have the skills?
• Question 3: Is the job right for me?
• Question 4: Is the company right for me?
• Apply for the Job

Is Tech Right For you? Take Our 3-Minute Quiz!

You Will Learn:

☑️ If a career in tech is right for you

☑️ What tech careers fit your strengths

☑️ What skills you need to reach your goals

Question 1: Do I have the skills?

There’s a particular kind of pause that happens when you’re scanning a job listing and your brain starts sorting through it: Do I actually have the skills for this? That pause matters. Before anything else — before customizing your resume or drafting a cover letter — the first thing you need to figure out is whether you have the skills the job needs.

Start with the job description, especially the first few bullet points under “Requirements” or “Qualifications.” In tech roles, companies usually lead with the core hard skills the role depends on — languages like JavaScript or Python, cloud platforms like AWS or Azure, or specific frameworks like React or Django. If you’ve worked with those tools in production or side projects (and feel confident using them independently), that’s a strong sign that you’re in the right zone.

Overall, you’ll want to break your skills into two categories: technical and interpersonal. Technical (or hard) skills are the obvious ones — programming languages, cloud platforms, databases, frameworks, etc. But don’t ignore the soft skills. Technical interviews might focus on coding, but teams are built on communication, problem-solving, and the ability to stay flexible. Can you explain a system design to someone who isn’t technical? Can you troubleshoot with a teammate without it turning into a blame game? Can you adapt if your project requirements change for the third time in a sprint? These things matter just as much in a tech environment.

And here’s the part people often miss: you don’t have to meet every requirement. Most job descriptions are wish lists, not checklists. Companies know that “perfect” candidates are rare. If you cover 60 to 80 percent — especially the top-tier skills — apply! A solid foundation plus a willingness to learn can go a long way.

But oddly enough, hitting 100% of the listed skills might not be a good thing either. That could mean the job won’t challenge you or that it’s too junior for where you are now. Being slightly under qualified usually beats being significantly overqualified.

Question 2: Can I prove I have the skills?

No one hires based on potential alone — not in tech and definitely not in roles where your competence and skills affect production deadlines or system stability. Having the skills is great, but you will need to prove them. Recruiters and hiring managers aren’t mind readers, either, so you’ll need to lay it out in a few places for them.

Resume

Naturally, your resume is where the proof starts. It’s not about listing every single thing you’ve ever done; it’s about matching what you’ve done to what the job asks for. Tailor your resume to the specific role, using the same language you see in the job description. Highlight the tools and technologies you’ve actually used and back that up with any impact you made. For example, “Improved API response time by 15% using asynchronous calls in Node.js” says a lot more than “Built APIs.” Certifications also add weight, especially from companies like Google, IBM, and Amazon. They say, “I know what I’m doing, and I’ve been tested on it.”

LinkedIn

Think of LinkedIn as your interactive resume — with more room to breathe. Expand on projects you only briefly mentioned on your resume and include links, if possible. Again, add certifications, and don’t leave the “Skills” section blank. Endorsements help, too, especially if they come from teammates, leads, or past managers. They’re not essential, but they make a difference.

Online Portfolio

Your portfolio matters, especially for roles in web development, UI/UX design, and data science. Don’t just drop a link to your GitHub. Make sure you optimize your GitHub profile; repositories and all. You want to walk the reader through the project. What problem were you solving? What stack did you use? What did you learn? Include live demos when possible, or — at the very least — screenshots. A standout portfolio isn’t the one that has dozens of projects. Instead, it’s one that prioritizes quality over quantity with a few great projects to show off your skills.

Related: Showcase Your Skills With These 9 Free Portfolio Templates

Testimonials

Testimonials are underrated. Of course you’re going to say great things about yourself, but what about everyone else? Testimonials give your skills a voice that isn’t yours. Maybe a teammate said something insightful in a Slack message, or a client emailed you a note of appreciation — ask if you can quote it. You can place them on your portfolio or include one in your LinkedIn summary (or use LinkedIn’s built-in referral system). The best testimonials are short, specific, and come from people who worked with you closely enough to speak on both your technical ability and your attitude.

References

Good references should tell a story about how you work. Pick people who’ve seen you work under pressure or handle tricky requests. And it’s a good idea to have a collection of colleagues you’ve worked with and clients you’ve worked for. Give them a heads-up before applying and make it easy — send over your resume and the job description. Let your references know the requirements of the position you’re applying for and ask if they feel like you meet them. That way, they’ll be ready to vouch for you if needed and, if nothing else, their evaluation will be another way for you to confirm you should apply for the job.

Is Tech Right For you? Take Our 3-Minute Quiz!

You Will Learn:

☑️ If a career in tech is right for you

☑️ What tech careers fit your strengths

☑️ What skills you need to reach your goals

Question 3: Is the job right for me?

A job can look great on paper, skill requirements and all, and still be misaligned with how you like to work, or what career path you want to grow into. You need to figure out whether the responsibilities, tools, and team setup align with how you like to work — you know, the things that keep you motivated and engaged. A job that’s technically “right” might still be wrong if it leaves you bored, boxed in, and burnt out.

We’re going back to the job description. Read it like a blueprint, scanning past the buzzwords and focusing on the tasks — daily responsibilities, tech stack, and types of projects. A front-end heavy job won’t be a win if you thrive on backend systems and API architecture. Look at the technologies, too. If the stack leans hard on tools you’ve stopped using or don’t enjoy working with, think twice before applying.

Also look at the structure of the team and organization. Will you be part of a tight development team or distributed across time zones? That matters more than people realize. If you’re based on the East Coast, you may have to schedule a meeting during your 7PM dinner if your California teammates can only do 4PM local time.

Next, do some recon. Check LinkedIn to see how others in similar roles (in and outside the company) describe their work. Are they solving problems that excite you? Do their projects sound like something you want to work on? You’ve already figured out whether you could do the job. Use this step to figure out whether you should.

Question 4: Is the company right for me?

One (more) question for you: Is the company somewhere you want to spend 40 hours a week? A well-written job description can mask a toxic culture or a dead-end environment. It’s definitely worth taking some time to figure out what you’re getting into.

Company Culture

Company websites often have a “Values” or “About Us” section. Read it, but don’t just take their word for it. Cross-check what they say with what they do. Check their social media and blog — what do they post about? Do they spotlight employees, celebrate team wins, or share tech talks from their engineers? That kind of transparency gives you insight into what they care about.

On LinkedIn or Glassdoor, look for recurring themes in employee reviews. One-off rants happen, but consistent feedback — good or bad — tells a story. If half the team has left in the past year and every post mentions “fast-paced” in a way that sounds like a warning, pay attention. Company culture isn’t just a ping-pong table in the breakroom. It’s how people treat each other, how decisions are made, and whether you’ll feel supported day-to-day.

Work-life Balance

Companies rarely straight-up say “We expect late nights,” but the clues are out there. Check employee reviews for mentions of flexible hours, PTO policies, or burnout. If the company offers flexible work schedules, hybrid options, or generous PTO, that’s a good sign that they care about your life outside the office.

Benefits

The salary is the first thing we usually notice, but the benefits can make or break your quality of life. Check for comprehensive health coverage, retirement plans with employer matching, and how they handle PTO. Tech companies love to advertise perks — gym reimbursements, professional development budgets, commuter benefits, and even free snacks — but check the basics and what matters (for you) first. Practical insurance coverage, strong parental leave, and accessible mental health support say more about how they value employees than free LaCroix ever will.

Note: Your benefits will likely be different depending on whether you’re a full-time, part-time, or contract worker.

Growth Opportunities

Career progression isn’t automatic — it’s either built into the company’s DNA or it isn’t. Some companies lay out clear development paths and mentorship programs. Others keep things vague. Look at employee trajectories on LinkedIn. Are they being promoted internally, or are leadership roles mostly filled from the outside? A company that invests in internal talent tends to advertise it.

Is Tech Right For you? Take Our 3-Minute Quiz!

You Will Learn:

☑️ If a career in tech is right for you

☑️ What tech careers fit your strengths

☑️ What skills you need to reach your goals

Apply for the Job

When in doubt, apply for the job! Don’t get stuck treating every job listing like it’s some once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That mindset will burn hours you don’t need to spend — tweaking your resume for the tenth time, rewriting your cover letter into oblivion, or second-guessing yourself out of hitting submit. It’s easy to slip into this over-editing loop that feels productive but isn’t. Getting hired in 2025 means being strategic, not obsessive. Remember, most hiring managers aren’t looking for perfection. They’re skimming for solid, relevant skills and information that shows you can do the work. Yes, get your materials together, but most importantly, get them out! Send the application.