The Job Application Questions You've Been Too Afraid to Google

You've spent hours on applications that disappeared into the void. You've second guessed every decision, from whether to include a cover letter to whether you should even apply in the first place. 

And at some point the question stopped being "am I doing this right" and became "is any of this even worth it." It is, beautiful. You're just missing some important information that would change the game for you. 

Do I Really Need a Cover Letter?

We hate cover letters over here (and have absolutely closed applications entirely if one was required). They’re often used to disqualify candidates before anyone on the hiring team ever looks at their resume. But if your dream job, at that perfect organization, requires one then don’t let a cover letter stand between you and your bag. 

When written well, cover letters are the first place you get to speak directly to a hiring manager  but the key phrase there is "done well." Unfortunately, most people use cover letters to restate everything on their resume (which is a waste of everyone's time, including yours). Or they start the letter with “I’ve never worked in this field but” … instead of specifically speaking to why they would be a perfect fit for the role. 

If you do write a cover letter, make sure to connect your experience directly to what they're asking for in their job posting. And check out this post all about cover letters for more in depth support.

Should I Apply to Jobs Where I Only Meet 60 - 70% of the Requirements?

Yes. In this day and age, I need you to have the audacity of a middle-age white man. If you've been waiting to apply until you hit 100% of the requirements in a job listing then you've absolutely been leaving opportunities on the table. 

Think of job descriptions like a wishlist, not a checklist. Companies write them for the perfect candidate. But they know (and now you know too) that they probably won't find one. So they’re fully prepared to hire someone who comes close.

Research consistently shows that women are far less likely than men to apply to roles where they don't meet every listed requirement. But, I promise, a strong application that speaks directly to the requirements you do meet will always outperform a hesitant one from someone who technically checks more boxes. So, go ahead and apply. Let them tell you no. Because closed mouths don’t get fed and your self-doubt is costing you interviews. 

Is Using ChatGPT for My Job Applications Cheating? Can Employers Actually Tell?

Using AI to help structure your thoughts, clean up your writing, or identify keywords isn't cheating. It's resourceful. The problem isn't using AI. It's letting AI replace your voice entirely.

Hiring managers can tell when an application sounds like it was written by a robot because it reads like it was written by a robot. Generic phrasing, unnaturally formal sentences, accomplishments that sound vague and inflated. That's what gets flagged, not the fact that you used a tool.

Use AI the way you used spell check or a thesaurus back in high school. It’s there to help you say what you mean in a way that’s clear and concise. Just make sure what's on the page still sounds like you because that's what will actually get you hired.And stop reading directly from some script that ChatGPT or Claude (our favorite) spits out. Ask it to give you bullet points to reference instead so that you’re not tempted to read responses word for word when you inevitably get a little nervous. 

How Do I Follow Up After Applying Without Being Annoying?

You follow up once, professionally, about a week after submitting your application. That's it. Don’t harass the people 😂

If you can find the hiring manager or recruiter on LinkedIn, a short message works well. Something like this:

"Hi (name), I recently applied for (role) and wanted to express my continued interest. I'd love the opportunity to connect if you have any questions about my background." 

That's the whole message. Confident and brief. Because what you don't want to do is follow up multiple times, ask why you haven't heard back, or send a message that reads like you're auditioning for a role in their inbox. One thoughtful touchpoint is memorable. Anything more than that becomes a reason to screen you out.

And if you get an interview, you follow up again shortly after the interview with a quick thank you note and a review of all the points of connection you made and the qualifications that make you an ideal candidate. Anything more than that feels desperate and a little uncomfy.

How Do I Handle the Salary Requirements Question on Applications?

Honestly? Don’t. Defer it for as long as you can. Most applications that ask for a salary requirement upfront are fishing for information that benefits them, not you. If you haven’t had a single convo with the company, or interviewed with a real person, then you have no leverage. So, whatever number you give them will be used to set a ceiling, not a floor.

If an application forces you to include a number, enter a range based on market research rather than a single figure. Use tools like LinkedIn Salary Insights, Glassdoor, and Levels.fyi to get a realistic picture of what the role pays in your target market. Then give a range where even the bottom number is something you'd genuinely accept. If there's an open text field instead of a required number, "open to discussing based on the full compensation package" is a complete and professional answer.

How Do I Apply for a Leadership Role When My Title Says Nothing About Managing People?

Your title is one data point, babes. Your bullet points need to actually make the argument for you. Like an Annalise Keating level argument. If you've been doing the work of a manager, a director, or a team lead without the title to match, your resume needs to explicitly make that case. 

"Led a cross-functional team of eight through a system-wide process overhaul" tells a hiring manager everything they need to know about your leadership experience regardless of what your title says. "Responsible for team coordination" tells them nothing. The difference between those two bullets is the difference between getting the interview and getting passed over.

You can also list a functional title alongside your official one. Operations Coordinator (Acting Team Lead) is honest, accurate, and positions you correctly without misrepresenting anything.

Let's Wrap This Up

The job application process is designed to be confusing but a lot of the "rules" you've been following were never actually rules to begin with. They’re just the default way people have always done things. Thankfully, now you know better.

You don't need to apply to every job. You don't need to meet every requirement. You don't need to write a novel in a cover letter or give away your salary expectations before anyone's even looked at your resume.

You need a strategy that actually works. And if you're ready to stop guessing and start getting results, come work with us. Over 5,000+ Black and brown women have used our framework to land the roles and the salaries they were always qualified for. Are you next?