How to Write a CV for a Job You’re Slightly Underqualified For
Missing a few listed requirements doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply — it means your CV needs to work…
Job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn are useful — but relying on them alone can mean missing the roles that never make it there.
Job aggregator sites pull listings from thousands of sources into one searchable place, which makes them a natural starting point for most job seekers. But that convenience comes with real limitations: listings can be outdated, duplicated, or posted by third parties rather than the hiring company itself — and a meaningful share of roles are never posted on aggregators at all. Used well, though, aggregators are still one of the fastest ways to scan the market. Here’s how to use them properly, and what to pair them with so you don’t miss better opportunities elsewhere.
What Job Aggregator Sites Are Good For
- Scanning the market quickly. Aggregators are the fastest way to see a broad snapshot of what’s currently open across many companies and industries at once.
- Filtering by very specific criteria. Salary range, remote status, experience level, and posting date filters let you narrow down quickly.
- Discovering companies you didn’t know were hiring. Aggregators surface smaller or less well-known employers you might not have thought to check directly.
- Setting up automated alerts. Most aggregators let you save a search and get notified of new matching listings, which saves you from manually re-searching every day.
Where Aggregators Fall Short
Stale or Duplicate Listings
A role that’s already been filled can remain visible for weeks, and the same job is often posted multiple times by different recruiters or job boards feeding into the aggregator, making the market look larger — or more current — than it actually is.
Missing Unlisted Roles
Many companies fill roles through referrals, internal promotions, or direct outreach before — or instead of — posting publicly. These roles never appear on an aggregator, no matter how often you search.
Third-Party or Recruiter Reposts
Some listings are posted by staffing agencies or recruiters rather than the hiring company directly, which can mean less accurate details, delayed responses, or an extra layer between you and the actual employer.
Algorithm-Driven Blind Spots
Search algorithms prioritize keyword matches and recency, which can bury genuinely strong-fit roles that use slightly different terminology than what you searched for.
How to Search Aggregators More Effectively
- Use multiple keyword variations. Search the same role using different common titles (“Data Analyst,” “Business Analyst,” “Reporting Analyst”) since companies rarely use identical job titles.
- Sort by date, not relevance, for fresh roles. Relevance-sorted results often surface older listings with strong keyword matches over genuinely new postings.
- Set up saved search alerts rather than manually searching every day, so new matching listings reach you as they’re posted.
- Filter by posting date and prioritize applying to roles posted within the last few days, when your application is more likely to be seen early.
- Cross-check the listing on the company’s own site before applying, to confirm it’s still active and to apply through the most direct channel available.
Tip: If a listing looks old or the aggregator doesn’t show a posting date, search the exact job title plus the company name directly — if it’s not on the company’s own careers page anymore, it’s very likely already filled.
What to Combine Aggregators With
| Source | Why It Fills the Gap |
|---|---|
| Company career pages | Most accurate, up-to-date listings straight from the source, often posted before they reach aggregators |
| LinkedIn networking | Surfaces referral-based and unlisted openings through your connections |
| Industry-specific job boards | Higher-quality, more relevant listings for specialized fields |
| Professional associations and alumni networks | Often share niche openings not advertised publicly at all |
| Direct outreach to companies | Surfaces roles before they’re formally posted anywhere |
A Simple Weekly Routine
- Check saved aggregator alerts for new listings matching your criteria.
- Visit 5–10 target company career pages directly, especially companies you’d genuinely want to work for.
- Spend time on LinkedIn engaging with your network, not just scrolling the job tab — comment, message, and reconnect with former colleagues.
- Check one or two niche or industry-specific boards relevant to your field.
- Follow up on any pending applications that have gone quiet for more than a week or two.
Red Flags to Watch For on Aggregator Listings
- A listing with no posting date, or one clearly older than a month with no update
- Vague company names or descriptions that make it hard to verify who’s actually hiring
- Salary ranges that are unrealistically wide or missing entirely
- Requests to pay for “training” or “application processing” before you’re hired — a common scam pattern on lower-quality boards
Once you land an interview, prepare well. Register a free account on PSCJobs for interview tips, HR advice, and surveys designed to sharpen your job-search readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are job aggregator sites a waste of time?
No — they’re genuinely useful for scanning the market quickly and setting up alerts. The mistake is relying on them as your only source, since a meaningful share of roles are filled through channels that never reach an aggregator.
Why do I keep seeing the same job posted multiple times?
Aggregators pull listings from many sources, including recruiters and staffing agencies reposting the same role, so duplicate listings are common, especially for popular positions.
Should I apply through the aggregator or the company’s own site?
Where possible, apply directly through the company’s career page — it’s usually the most accurate, up-to-date version of the listing and often routes your application more directly to the hiring team.
How do I know if a listing is still active?
Check the posting date if available, and search the exact job title and company name to see if it still appears on the company’s own careers page — if it doesn’t, the role is likely already filled.
Bottom line: Job aggregator sites are a strong starting point for scanning the market quickly, but they shouldn’t be your only strategy. Pair them with direct company career pages, active networking, and niche industry boards, and treat saved alerts as your baseline rather than your entire search — that combination is what catches the opportunities aggregators alone will miss.
PSC Jobs Kenya
Author
Related guides & updates
One-Page vs Two-Page CV: Which Should You Use in Kenya?
Unlike some Western markets that favor a strict one-pager, Kenyan recruiters generally expect more — here’s exactly how…
How to Explain a Career Gap on Your CV (With Examples)
Career gaps are common. What matters is how clearly and confidently you address them — not whether you…