We counted how often OpenAI's own 36 ads (those with a full description) state each requirement. This shows the filters the ads apply before anyone reads a resume. We have no data on why candidates are rejected after applying, and we do not guess.
Years of experience. 19 of 36 ads (53%) state a number of years. The median is 7 years; 84% ask for 5 or more and 37% for 10 or more.
Education
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
'or equivalent experience' accepted
7
19%
Bachelor's degree
3
8%
Master's degree
3
8%
PhD or doctorate
3
8%
Legal and eligibility: what can rule you out
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
Background check or drug test
36
100%
U.S. person / export-control (ITAR, EAR) rules
2
6%
Working conditions
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
On-site or in-person work
19
53%
Relocation mentioned
19
53%
Travel mentioned
11
31%
Nights, weekends, holidays or on-call
2
6%
Skills and tools named most often
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
python
10
28%
javascript
5
14%
c++
3
8%
machine learning
3
8%
cad
2
6%
linux
2
6%
typescript
1
3%
How to stand out
First, cover the basics the ads ask for most (see the requirements above: python (28%), javascript (14%), c++ (8%), machine learning (8%)). Then look at what separates higher-paid ads:
Among the 36 ads that publish a pay range, we compared the median pay of ads that name each item with ads that do not. This is a correlation in the ads, not a promise: an item can pay more because it comes with senior roles.
Sort:
Item named in the ad ⇅
Ads naming it ⇅
Ads not naming it ⇅
Median pay midpoint with it ⇅
Difference vs ads without it ⇅
python
10
26
$325,500
-$13,500
javascript
5
31
$242,500
-$96,500
'or equivalent experience' accepted
7
29
$242,500
-$101,000
We describe only what the ads state. We do not know how recruiters rank candidates.
Same role elsewhere
Where else the same role family is open, with the pay each posts: