---
aliases: ["JD Decoder"]
tags: [pm-skills, skill]
skill: jd-decoder
description: "Decode a job description to find what they actually want beneath the buzzwords. Use when asked to analyse a job description, decode a JD, assess fit for a role, or figure out what a posting really means before applying. Produces a decode — the real must-haves vs. nice-to-haves, hidden priorities & culture signals, red flags, an honest fit assessment, and the exact phrases to mirror in your application."
---

# JD Decoder Skill

A job description is a wishlist written by committee — the real signal is buried under boilerplate. This
skill reads between the lines: what they *must* have vs. what's aspirational, the priorities the wording
reveals, the red flags, and an honest read on your fit — plus the specific language to mirror so your
application (and the ATS) sees a match.

## Required Inputs

Ask for these only if they aren't already provided:

- **The job description** (paste it in full — the more complete, the better the decode).
- **Your background** — a short summary or CV, so the fit assessment is real, not generic.
- **The company / role level**, if not obvious from the JD.

## Output Format

### JD Decode: [role] at [company]

**1. What they actually want** — translate the posting into the 3–5 things that will truly decide the hire (often *not* the long requirements list). Quote the lines that reveal each.

**2. Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves** — split the requirements honestly. Most "requirements" are negotiable; name the few that aren't.

| Requirement | Real weight | Your match |
|---|---|---|
| e.g. "5+ yrs B2B PM" | must-have | ✅ strong |
| e.g. "fintech experience" | nice-to-have | ◐ adjacent |

**3. Hidden priorities & culture signals** — what the wording, ordering, and tone reveal (e.g. "wears many hats" = under-resourced; "fast-paced" = expect churn; heavy stakeholder language = political org).

**4. 🚩 Red flags** — vague scope, unrealistic breadth, churn signals, comp omissions — and how serious each is.

**5. Your honest fit** — a candid read (strong / stretch / reach) and the 1–2 gaps to address head-on in the cover letter or interview.

**6. Phrases to mirror** — the exact keywords/terms to weave into your resume and cover letter (for the ATS *and* the human), pulled verbatim from the JD.

## Quality Checks

- [ ] Separates the few true must-haves from the long aspirational list
- [ ] Hidden priorities are inferred from specific wording, quoted — not guessed
- [ ] The fit assessment is honest (names gaps), not flattering
- [ ] Red flags are surfaced with a sense of how serious each is
- [ ] Mirror-phrases are pulled verbatim from the JD for ATS alignment

## Anti-Patterns

- [ ] Do not treat every listed requirement as mandatory — most are wishes; the skill's value is telling which few aren't
- [ ] Do not give a flattering fit read — a candid "stretch, here's the gap" is more useful than false confidence
- [ ] Do not ignore tone and ordering — they often reveal more than the bullet list
- [ ] Do not invent company facts — decode the text given; flag what needs separate research (pair with company-brief)
- [ ] Do not skip the red flags — helping someone *not* apply to a bad role is a real outcome

## Based On

Job-description analysis practice — requirement triage, signal-reading, ATS keyword mirroring.

---
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