You have a good resume, and you have been applying for job after job, but still haven't heard from anybody. Why? One of the reasons could be that you haven't been reading Job Ads correctly.
This is a common problem that many people, especially new job seekers, face. Since they are entirely new to the game, they have no idea how to read and analyze a job posting, and they end up wasting lots of time applying for the wrong jobs, or applying to the right job in the wrong way.
It is very important to read a job ad correctly. Apart from all the time you save by it, you can also tailor your resume and cover letter around it. This will make your application stand out, and you will get better results in your job search. Also, if you do land an interview, you have the requisite information to approach the interview with confidence, using the information you gleaned from the job ad.
Here are a few things to look out for when reading a job ad.
- The Company with the job opening– Make sure it is a valid company, and that they can afford to pay you!
- The Job Title – Different companies have different names for the same job. You had been a Software Programmer in your previous company, and are applying for the post of Programmer Analyst in the next company, because it sounds fancy, and looks like you might be making the next grade. But then it might turn out that this is just the name the company gives its entry-level software programmers. Then you are just wasting time. This is where the job description comes in handy.
- Job Description – You need to see if the Job Title tallies with the Job Description. The Job Description is what you need to concentrate on, if you want to ascertain that you are applying for the right kind of job for you. Make sure that the responsibilities this job entails are in accordance with the skills and experience they have asked for. Keep your eyes open for any inconsistencies.
- The Essential/Necessary Requirements – All job ads specify the qualifications/number of years of experience/skills needed. Words like "must have" "you need" "essential" "necessary" "mandatory" "required" are the words that indicate this. If you don't fulfill these criteria, you can very well stop wasting your time with this job. But be aware that as always, there are exceptions. For example, if the job requires you to have a PhD in a certain field, but you have no PhD but 20 years of experience in the field, then it does make sense for you to apply, with an explanation in the cover letter.
- The Preferred Qualifications. After stating the necessary skills, there is usually another phrase or statement that tells you what skills they would prefer. Here is where you can take a chance even if you don't have the prefered skills. But you must prove in your resume or cover letter that you have the motivation and the ability to pick up these skills on the job. "Prefered" "Desired" "Ideally" "Preferably" are the words that indicate that these qualifications are not absolutely necessary for the candidate to have.
- Key statements and phrases in the job ad. Read the job ad well. Really well. Note down the key statements in the ad. If the ad specifies "Negotiation skills" and "highly motivated" then you must include specific statements in your resume (preferably quantified, or using PAR statements) that shows how your skills in negotiation landed a plum order for your previous company. And how you and your team kept up a constantly high sales quarter after quarter. Tailor your resume with these phrases in mind and you are well on your way to being noticed.
- Keywords – Take a note of all the keywords used in the job ad, and use the same words, exactly in the same way in your cover letter and resume. When the company does a search on their database with these keywords, your resume will come up straightaway. For example, if the company asks you to be proficient with "MS Office" in the ad, then use "MS Office" rather than "Microsoft Office" in your resume.
- Take note of the tone and language of the job ad. Read this ad, and read other ads by the same company. You will get an idea of the kind of work culture and the kind of communication used here. Let your cover letter and resume reflect that. If the job ad uses a lot of jargon, you could use jargon too. If the company sounds like a young, informal start up, then you can afford to be relaxed and familiar in your correspondence, without going over the top, of course. If the company seems straitlaced and formal, keep your tone that way. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. Keep your language formal.
- Look out for special instructions. If the ad says, "Apply by email within three days," then you must apply only by email and within three days. Many candidates miss out because they miss these statements, that are not immediately apparent, but are very important.
- If they mention the salary, make sure that it is in accordance with your worth.
Keep these pointers in mind while reading a job ad, and you are already on your way to certain success!
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