How to Read Job DescriptionsAnd What to Look Out For

How to Read Job DescriptionsAnd What to Look Out ForHow to Read Job Descriptions- And What to Look Out For8Its imperative that you read every job ad carefully in order to better understand the role and the company to be able to decide if youre qualified, and whether its a good fit and to take note of keywords and phrases that youll want to use in your resume and/or cover letter.Here are some tips for how to readjob descriptions, and what to look out forRead the entire ad carefully.While it may sound like a no-brainer to actually read the whole post, busy job hunters sometimes jump into applying rather than thoughtfully considering all the information presented. Youll save time in the long run by evaluating an opening and your suitability for it rather than whipping off uninspired material.Look at the qualifications and responsibilities.Required or minimum qualifications are skills, educational attainment, and experience that the employer has deemed essential for this position. If you dont fulfill the majority of them, it usually doesnt make sense to apply.Similarly, scrutinize the list of tasks for this role. How many of them could you perform well? Would you be excited about doing these things on a daily basis? If you lack either ability or enthusiasm, move on.The biggest mistake people make is to apply to any job that looks like they could do as opposed to one that really fits their background, says executive career coach Duncan Mathison, co-author of Unlock the Hidden Job Market 6 Steps to a Successful Search When Times Are Tough. Just because you like to talk does not mean you should apply for a communications director position.Evaluate the tone.Job ads often give clues about what is fruchtwein important to the employer and even about company culture. Use such information to guide what you write and how you say it. Formal language may fall on deaf ears when trying to show how youd be a great match for a casual environment. Or perhaps youd be smart to stress your ability to work with others when applying to a place that touts its team spirit.I recommend either using a word cloud builder like Wordle or printing the ad out and highlighting the key terms that jump at out you, says Marcelle Yeager, president of Career Valet. This will give you a good idea of what to be sure and present about your background.Watch for red flags.Diligent reading oftentimes can tip you off to job scams and to positions that may turn out to be unsatisfactory. Proceed carefully when anything sounds too good to be true or if something just doesnt feel right.Ads that promise great pay for performance, getting in on the ground floor, or breaking into an exciting new industry are often commission-only, low-end sales jobs, Mathison cautions. Repetitive ads that run frequently are also signs of low-end, high-turnover positions that require a constant stream of new hires.Yeager adds to be leery of ads with typos and ones that ask you to pay money to apply. Very short descriptions can also be a sign the opportunity is atypical and something to watch out for.End the way you started.When youve finished creating your application, reread the job description one last time before sending to check that youve addressed all the pertinent criteria. And watch out for details Employers sometimes provide a specific phrase for the subject line or ask for the answer to an unconventional question as a way to binnensee which candidates took the time to read thoroughly and follow directions.