Have you noticed how companies can merge job roles with the speed it takes to collapse ten servers into one virtual machine? Nowadays, companies want database administrators who can code, software architects who can sell, or security specialists who can program. All this makes it tough for them to find someone to hire - and hard for candidates to get in the door. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTr7OsrYh_U?rel=0&hd=1&w=425&h=349] There's no question that today technology is the business. As a result, companies are demanding IT workers who have more business skills. They want their IT strategies to be closely aligned with corporate goals. That's fine. But IT workers and recruiters think a lot of reqs look more like a committee's wish list than an actionable job description. Some tech workers say companies want people to do more multi-tasking, even when it doesn't make sense. But sometimes an organization really is looking for someone who can perform a variety of duties. So, how do you decide which jobs to apply for? Here's a good rule of thumb. Start by applying only for positions where you can demonstrate meeting eighty percent of the requirements. If you look at a description and it seems like pie-in-the-sky, craft your cover letter and resume so they're as close a fit as they can be. Then hope the hiring manager will read between the lines to see the possibilities offered by your experience. If a major requirement falls within the twenty percent you don't have, it's probably best not to apply for the job.