If you see an advert that interests you, the first task is to underline or highlight the key words and phrases. You need to analyse the key words and phrases in terms of what the employer is ‘essentially’ looking for and what the ‘desirable’ aspects of the vacancy are.
Clues as to what is ‘essential’ or ‘desirable’ will be given in the advert, e.g. ‘must have experience working in logistics’ (this is essential criteria as this is something they expect the candidate to have).
Alternatively, if the advert were phrased in the following way ‘experience of working in logistics would be an advantage’ (this is desirable criteria not essential as experience in logistics would only be an advantage).
Look at the wording and highlight or underline the key words and phrases accordingly!
Always consider the nature of the job on offer and think what phrases might really mean. For example, the advert could say the following:
‘The ideal person for this position will be able to work under pressure’
So, does this mean tight deadlines? difficult customers? heavy workloads? long hours? demanding standards?
The advert could refer to the following:
‘Communication skills are key to this role’ So, does this mean written communication skills or verbal communication skills?
Write down what the employer is looking for under two headings – Essential and Desirable and compare these to what you can offer.
If you are not sure about certain aspects of the advert, then clarify this with the Company before you apply.
Some people feel quite daunted at the prospect of contacting the Company …. but do not be!
All you have to say when you phone the Company is:
“I have seen the vacancy for (job title) and I am really interested in applying for it. But before applying and wasting your time with an unnecessary application, I wondered if you could provide me with a few more details…….”
Most people don’t think to phone the Company advertising the vacancy at this stage and so you can score brownie points here by demonstrating your enthusiasm for the post (have your CV to hand in case they ask you a few questions when you call)
…and the advantage is they may well remember you at the interview stage as the person who took the trouble to contact them and was enthusiastic about their vacancy!
The more information you can obtain by calling the Company at this stage has two advantages:
1) It enables you to decide whether it is worthwhile you are applying for the job (you therefore do not waste your time applying for a vacancy that is not suited to you).
2) It is an opportunity to establish more information about the vacancy which if you do apply for, puts you ahead of the competition, as you can skill/experience match to more aspects of the job than your competitors can.
