If you’re looking for a new job, chances are that you’ve come across a few job adverts. Once you’ve sifted through a few and applied to a couple, they can all begin to look a bit samey. At this point, you can start to miss important details. This reduces the quality of your job search, leaving you vulnerable to wasting time applying to irrelevant positions – or worse. You could apply to your perfect job, but miss a vital piece of information that you’ll need to know if you interview.
Don’t worry, we’ve put together a few tips to make sure you’re paying attention to the most important parts of job adverts.
Job Title
It may seem really obvious, but not all candidates give enough thought to the job title of what they’re applying for. Consider what level you’re at now, and what level you want to be. Make sure you’re being realistic as well.
For example, if you’re new to an industry and have very little experience, it’s a waste of everyone’s time for you to apply to management roles. On the other hand, if you’ve got years of experience and won’t settle for anything less than a senior position, double-check that you’re not going for entry level or trainee roles.
Job Description
The job description is usually where a candidate can see how suited they are to the role. The description should explain in detail what will be expected of them. It may also state what training and skills the applicant should have, and whether they can be flexible about those things.
As a candidate, it’s important to be practical when comparing yourself to the job description. Make a note of what you can fulfil, and be honest if there’s some parts that are unfamiliar to you. Not all hiring managers will be looking for candidates who can already do everything they need them to. As long as you can show understanding of what’s required of you and which skills you need to learn, you should still be able to impress them.
Understand Who You’re Applying To
Some job ads will have a bit of information about the company you’re applying to. However, the majority of employers will expect you do have done your own research as well. Compare the job advert to the company website. Are there any values that seem to stand out? If you notice some traits that the company has which align well with your own, make sure that they form a central part of your application.
It doesn’t matter if you can’t make connections between yourself and the company. After all, you may not have had any interaction with them yet. Just make sure you’re able to answer typical interview questions such as ‘what do you know about our company?’ and ‘why do you want to work for us?’.
Speak To The Recruiter Or Hiring Manager
Some job adverts will be posted by recruitment agencies, whereas others will be managed directly by the company that’s hiring. It should be fairly clear which is the case, usually indicated by the contact email provided. If the point of contact is an agency, you can contact them before making your application to discuss the job further. They might be able to give you some extra advice or tips to ensure you paint yourself in the best possible light.
If it’s a case of speaking directly to the hiring manager, make sure you prepare yourself first. Be clear which questions you need to ask and make sure you’re not going to be wasting their time. If you choose to contact them ahead of your application, this will be the first impression they get of you. Therefore, you should be absolutely certain that you’re making a positive impact.