Be sure to apply for a job that suits you

Job advertisements are aimed to attract job applicants of quality in quantity. That is why a great deal of time and effort usually goes into writing these ads. This implies that you need to spend time and effort reading them. Sometimes, specialist copywriters are used trying to ensure that the ad is attractive to suitable job applicants, and unattractive to unsuitable job applicants. Reading job ads carefully and critically reduces the likelihood that you will waste time and effort applying for jobs which are unsuitable to you. Take a few minutes to discover the basic aspects of job ads.

 

• Examine the job-title carefully, and if in doubt, research its meaning on the web. A term such as ‘director’ can be quite misleading; it can cover employment ranging from the directorship of a company, to a job requiring a relatively low level of knowledge and skills.

• Be aware that the salary level is often a good indication of the level at which the employer is pitching the job.  If it looks much too high for someone with your experience, knowledge and skills, then consider whether it is worth you investing time and effort applying for it.

 

• The word ‘must’ usually indicates something that is not negotiable. If the advertisement says, ‘must be fluent in German’, then fluency in French or Spanish is very unlikely to be acceptable.

 

• Try to work out what the profile of the ‘ideal’ employee would be when looking at an advertised job. Whoever prepared the job advertisement almost certainly had a profile of their ideal candidate in mind for the vacancy they want to fill. Look for clues as to what that might be. Then check out how clearly you fit that profile, or how you can be made to fit that profile.

 

• Decide what you think are the key requirements for the job. Then you can emphasize how you satisfy them in your application.

 

All in all, reading a job ad carefully ensures that you won’t waste time applying for unsuitable jobs and it can be the first step to getting a job that really fits you.

If you want to learn more about the basics of job applications or interviews read “Graduate employment: 333 tips of graduates seeking employment” written by Sue Greener, Tom Bourner and Asher Rospigliosi.

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