Our previous post went into detail on why it is important to stay focused, invest your time effectively, and use the right tools in your job search. Here’s the information to look for in the posting so that you can see how it matches up with your career experience and goals.
Job posting usually include these basics:
- Job title: This is important for several reasons. It can easily summarize the likely responsibilities of the field, like waitress or CEO. It can also describe the pay rate depending on your industry. For example, an advertisement for an adjunct professor at a college is very different from a full professor. There is usually a difference of 10 years of experience and tens of thousands of dollars in salary between those two titles depending on the school.
- Company: The reputation of the company can give you an idea of whether you want to apply to the position. Check out your LinkedIn profile and see if you have any connections to someone at the company for an informational interview or a potential reference. Research is key to gain a perspective on how you may fit into the company culture and if it fits you.
- Qualifications: This component is where the magic happens. Potential employers may list what they want from an employee in this section. What they want can be a list of things that someone in the position must do regularly or a list of minimum qualifications to the job. Statements about the education level needed or previous experience suggested can be found here. This is where you will begin to see how your experience compares to what is requested. Also, pay attention if travel is required and to what extent.
- Hours: Here is where you look for the shift of the position. Maybe you need an evening shift and not a typical 9 to 5 so you pay attention to this detail. Modern conveniences have also caused many employers to include words like ‘flexible’ or ‘telecommute’ in this section to suggest that traditional hours or office presence are not mandatory.
- Salary: If this is present, it does not mean that there is no room for negotiation but you are probably dealing with an employer that does not want to haggle when hiring. Be sure to research salaries for specifics roles in your target geographic location and company size. Make a note of any benefits listed.
Get your resume and the job posting in hand as well as your own list of requirements. You need to decide if you should invest time in applying. How do you decide?
In our next post, there’s an effective visual to help you do just that in minutes.
