Free Tool
JD Complexity Score
Paste a job description. The analyzer counts requirements, detects experience inflation, spots unicorn postings, and tells you how realistic the listing actually is.
How the complexity score works
The analyzer runs 7 checks against the job description text. Each check adds points to a cumulative score. More points means more complexity signals stacked together.
Requirement count
Counts distinct bullet-point requirements. 1-5 is normal. 16+ adds 6 points.
Tech skill breadth
Counts distinct technologies mentioned from a list of 200+. 16+ unique skills adds 5 points.
Years inflation
Extracts all "X+ years" mentions. If any single area asks for 8+ years, or the total exceeds 20, that's a flag.
Title vs experience mismatch
Junior/entry-level title combined with 5+ years of required experience gets flagged.
Degree stacking
Requiring a Master's or PhD as mandatory (not preferred) adds points.
Certification stacking
3+ different certifications in one posting is unusual and gets flagged.
Domain breadth
Expertise across 3+ unrelated domains (engineering + marketing + finance) signals a unicorn posting.
Realistic
Score 0-2
Ambitious
Score 3-5
Overloaded
Score 6-8
Unrealistic
Score 9+
Frequently asked questions
Should I skip jobs classified as Overloaded or Unrealistic?
Not necessarily. Many overloaded postings are wish lists written by committees. Hiring managers often settle for candidates who hit 60-70% of the requirements. The classification helps you calibrate expectations, not make the final call.
What counts as a distinct technical skill?
The analyzer checks for 200+ specific technologies, frameworks, languages, and tools. "React" and "React Native" count separately. Generic terms like "coding" or "programming" don't count.
How accurate is the years-of-experience detection?
It catches standard patterns like "5+ years of experience" and "minimum 3 years." It won't catch every creative phrasing, but covers the most common formats across job boards.
Does a Realistic score mean I should apply?
It means the requirements are reasonable for the role level. You still need to match on skills, location, salary, and other factors. Use ShouldApply's full scoring engine for a complete fit assessment.
Why does the same JD sometimes score differently if I change the title?
The title feeds into the seniority mismatch check. A Junior title paired with heavy experience requirements triggers an extra flag. Without the title, that specific check is skipped.
Is my data stored anywhere?
No. The analysis runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server. Paste, analyze, and close the tab.
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How Scoring Works
Full breakdown of the 0-100 fit score and what each dimension measures.
Browse Jobs
Search open positions across 4 job boards with real-time scoring.
Want automatic complexity analysis on every job?
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