> Everyone should know that the requirements in job listings are almost always guidelines, not a strict checklist.
I don't think the onus should be on the people who are applying.
There are a lot of people who are rule-followers, literal-minded, etc., and a lot of people with mental disabilities that might not be able to see through this checklist - of these candidates, a lot of them are likely fantastic SWEs. Why penalize people who are thoughtful about your posting? This just incentivizes lying both ways - it tells me that the company doesn't even believe their own requirements, so I may as well just apply anyway, even if it ends up completely wasting their time.
I don't think the onus should be on the people who are applying.
There are a lot of people who are rule-followers, literal-minded, etc., and a lot of people with mental disabilities that might not be able to see through this checklist - of these candidates, a lot of them are likely fantastic SWEs. Why penalize people who are thoughtful about your posting? This just incentivizes lying both ways - it tells me that the company doesn't even believe their own requirements, so I may as well just apply anyway, even if it ends up completely wasting their time.