For your consideration: How to get the most from a job ad

Job advertisements are your first step in what can become an intense journey towards landing a great job. What so many people forget is that there is a company on the other side of that advert who are also entering the weary process of finding an ideal employee. So, how can you get the most from a job ad?

You shouldn’t approach reading any advert with apprehension. Instead, go forth with great curiosity and eagerness to filter through what isn’t right so you are left with the best opportunities FOR YOU! 

The employer will want to grab you in the opening lines…

That’s right! They know they have you for a few minutes, maybe less, so try to concentrate on what they are saying. This opening sentence or two will have the most succinct yet important summary of what they are looking for. Read deep and decide if that is what you can offer. If you go on to apply, you’ll want to frame your cover letter with this quick description in mind so that you really target the audience correctly.

Responsibilities and experience

There are aspects of every role where people excel, while they might feel there is something they want to do less of. Look at the top 4-5 responsibilities listed as these are what will shape your work and take priority.

If you are confident with these and love doing them, this could be a great role for you. Try not to look at other responsibilities that you might not be as sold on negatively. What can you learn from them if you’re not as confident? Furthermore, you have to realise there might be a very different approach with this new employer which will shake up the more routine aspects of the potential role.

You will also have to think about the level of experience they need, as it saves so much time for more relevant searches. What is a desired skill and what is essential to the role? Think about the industry too and if it’s something you have experience in. Imagine being thrown into the role you’re looking at for the day out of nowhere, and wonder to yourself if you’d be comfortable with your level of experience if that were to happen. Feel comfortable with yourself and your great achievements…you’ll find the job advertisement that leads to the right job in no time.

Do you like the voice?

No, not the TV show but the voice that is coming through as you read the job description.  A company name might not always be listed as you know, but can you decipher their culturefrom what you are reading. You can take a lot from how the company describes itself! 

What do you usually look for in a job ad?

For some, it might be the required experience while others want to know what day to day responsibilities they will be doing should they go forward with a serious application. Try not to do this for just one advert you read and you’ll be amazed by the different outlook.

Approach the job description with your whole career plan in mind; how will this take me to my end goal, how will this make me happy and what new things will I learn? A job is not about day to day, but what it can offer you in the long term. Keep this in mind for your next job search! 

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