Job postings are a great way to get a feel for the industry that you’re in. Are there a lot of job listings available? Is there one particular position that appears over and over? You can use job postings as a gauge for your own career development and as an assessment of your unique skillset when compared to a particular set of requirements. Let’s explore when, why and how to review qualifications.
When
There are several times when you might want to review job qualifications from jobs outside of your institution - particularly in any of the following instances
To counteract dissatisfaction in your job. Whether your current job is a slog, you’re just flat out bored or are itching for a new opportunity, you may be ready for a change in scenery.
To plan your Career Development. You want to keep up with positions in your industry in prep for career development - what are people looking for?
To brace yourself for your Annual Review. It’s your annual review and you would like a promotion within your department or institution - it’s always good to know who is hiring and what positions are available, especially if you’re looking to renegotiate your salary!
To get ready for an interview. You’re actively looking for a new job and want to make an assessment of your current skills and experience relative to the skills that companies are looking for.
Why
There are a few compelling reasons why you should review job qualifications:
To determine if you are a good fit for the job. The job qualifications will list the skills, experience, and education that the employer is looking for in a candidate. By reviewing the qualifications, you can see if you have the necessary skills and experience to be successful in the role. You don’t need to meet those requirements 100%. Remember that the job description is written with their IDEAL candidate in mind and that person may not exist. Companies are willing to invest in the right candidate if they have the right combinations of skills and can be trained to do the rest. The Chimera Job Assessment toolkit for Job Seekers will walk you through an example and provide you with a template to make your own assessments.
To identify any gaps in your skills or experience. If you find that you do not meet all of the qualifications for a job, you can take steps to improve your skills or experience before applying. This could involve taking courses, gaining new certifications, or volunteering in your field. This shows initiative to the interviewer and will be well received. Use the Chimera Job Assessment toolkit for Job Seekers as a Gap Analysis to figure out where your skills can be improved.
In preparation to tailor your resume and cover letter to the job. Once you have reviewed the job qualifications, you can tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight the skills and experience that the company is looking for. Keywords! Skills!
To prep for the interview. By reviewing the job qualifications, you can develop questions to ask the interviewer. You know what they’re looking for, so you can create some questions tailored to their requirements and requests.
How
Here are some tips on how to actively review job qualifications:
Read the job description carefully. Make sure you understand all of the requirements, including the expertise, experience, and education that the employer is looking for. Don’t skim - the more work you put in upfront, the more successful you will be in the long run. Remember, they have to fit your requirements as much as you need to fit theirs. You don’t want there to be any surprises after you've invested your emotional energy and your time (which is irreplaceable!)
Compare your skills and experience to the job qualifications. Be honest with yourself about your skills and experience. Use the Chimera Job Assessment toolkit for Job Seekers to document your capabilities relative to their requirements. If you do not meet all of the qualifications, don't be discouraged. You may still be a good fit for the job, especially if you have other transferable skills. No one person is perfect for the role - and if they are, they may have written the JD for a specific individual.
Tailor your resume and cover letter to the job. Highlight the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position. Use the same words as the job posting - those are the keywords that will make it through a screening. I can’t stress this enough - you should be matching what the job description is looking for. With online applications, there are thousands of applicants for some positions and it is impossible to have a real person sort through those applications to determine who are the best candidates. There will often be a first pass through a machine algorithm to weed out applicants. Taking the time to use the same language as in the job posting will get you past the algorithm and will show the employer two things: that you are a good fit for the job and that you have taken the time to research the position.
Prepare questions to ask the interviewer. Use the job qualifications to come up with questions about the position and the company. Questions should be focused on the position and the company, not the latest gossip in the news. You should definitely research the institution to see if they are a start-up or an established entity as well as the scope of their activities, to make sure that they are a good fit for you.
Practice your answers to common interview questions. You can also use the qualification tool to prepare your answers to common interview questions because you know what they are looking for. Indeed, Glassdoor and LinkedIn all have tips and tricks for preparing for interviews and lists of questions to ask.
Overall, reviewing job qualifications plays many important roles in the career development process. By taking the time to review the qualifications, you can take the first steps to increase your chances of getting the job. If you’d like to chat with me about the suitability of a position, drop me a line at Deborah@ChimeraTQM.com!
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