Land a Job

Have you found job advertisements that interest you?

Let’s look at how to understand them. Knowing how to read an advertisement effectively (and sometimes even reading between the lines) will allow you to prepare the best possible application.

You can find a great deal of information about a company and a job on the web and, by using your LinkedIn profile, you may be able to find people you already know working in the field or even in the company. 😎

A Three-Step Method

The task of understanding a job opening involves much more than casually browsing job advertisements.

1. Read each job advertisement carefully and identify the keywords.

2. Identify information about the company and the profile desired.

3. Deepen your knowledge of the company.

Identify Keywords

When preparing your application, it's important to have a solid understanding of the job posting if you want a chance at success.

Start by reading the whole job posting, several times over. Then highlight all keywords that describe the company, job, missions, and the desired profile. 

Job advertisements are full of information to help you understand what the recruiter is looking for! You can choose the skills that best match the required profile, highlight these in your résumé and incorporate them into your cover letter.

Analyze the Company's Profile

The more you want to join a company, the easier it is to write your cover letter and make your interview a success!

Several types of information about a company may be found in a job posting, including:

• their business sector: this information will let you know whether you’ll like the company or not

• where it’s based/its address

• its name (usually shown with the company’s website)

• how many people the company employs 

• annual turnover

• progress/growth over the last few years 

• market position

• development projects and the risks at stake

• information about its social commitments 

Sometimes, the company name is hidden. In this case, concentrate on the information given in the job posting and look for information about the business sector as well as the various companies represented. Immerse yourself in their culture and their problems.

The company is likely to be one that you already know something about without realizing it! Don’t be afraid to “benchmark” the main companies within the sector.

Another trick is to copy and paste part of the job posting into Google. As Google knows everything about everybody, it’s likely you’ll come across the job posting on the company’s site. 😉

Analyse the Job Description

Imagine you are a future staff member and you have to start work tomorrow.

This section of the job posting is very important. You must identify the responsibilities and understand what the company would expect from you.

• What is the position they’re looking to fill? 

• What will you specifically have to do on a day-to-day basis?

• Which team would you be working in?

• What tools are being used?

• Who are the clients or people you will come into contact with on a day-to-day basis?

Job Title

The job title could be general, such as “junior web developer,” or more specific, such as “front-end JavaScript integrator and developer.” This identifies a specific need (in the second case) or shows that they are flexible in terms of who they are looking for.

What Are the Responsibilities for This Position?

Job postings include the main responsibilities of the position and answer the questions of:

• What would you be doing? When? How? And for whom?

Which Team Would You Be Working In?

It’s always worth understanding which team you’re going to work in.

• What do they do? Is it a sales or a technical team?

• Is it specialized in that sector, or is it multi-functional?

• Is it a project-based team? Several business sectors, such as technical, marketing and sales, may operate side-by-side.

Who are the People You Will Come Into Contact With on a Day-To-Day Basis?

By reading through the job posting, you’ll discover who the partners are or the people you will come in contact with on a day-to-day basis.

These may be direct clients, outside service providers working on the project, directors—or they want you to be aware that the job is done in-house with your colleagues.

Depending on the size of the company and according to its core business, many different scenarios are possible.

Begin to Identify the Desired Profile

The job posting will describe the ideal candidate’s profile!

You’ll often find indicators about the qualifications and experience required as well as the desired qualities to succeed in the job.

Qualifications and/or Experience

These two details often compensate for each other. Either you have the qualification, or you compensate for the lack of it by offering more relevant work experience.

Qualifications Required!

Depending on the job posting, a required qualification may be verified. Foreign language levels will also be checked.

This information is something you must pay attention to in a job posting, especially if it’s marked as “required.”

Level of Experience

The details will often describe the level of experience required. Let’s look at how much experience these common levels usually refer to.

• Beginner: less than two years of experience 

• Junior: two to five years of experience 

• Experienced: over five years of experience 

• Senior or expert: more than 10 years of experience, usually with several companies 

Pay attention to this indicator! Don't apply for a job marked “experienced” if you’re just starting out. It's a waste of your time and the recruiter's.

Sometimes, you’ll be asked to include your achievements or a link to your e-portfolio. Be meticulous in respecting these instructions and the quality of your work!

Qualities Required

Very often, the same qualities are often required, including organized, team player, self-starter, thorough, dynamic, etc.

But don’t be intimidated!

You’ve made your skills list, identified your qualities and are happy with your choices, and you’ve got enough proof (if needed) to show the recruiter what you can do.

Let's Recap!

• In order to understand a job posting effectively, you need to analyze the following:

  • The company's profile: its business sector, location, organization, etc.

  • The job description: the title, responsibilites, type of team and projects, etc.

  • The desired applicant profile: in terms of qualifications, experience, skills and qualities required.

• Highlight all useful keywords found in the job posting when completing your application.

• Devote time and attention to reading the job posting. Behind every word, the recruiter is conveying a message to the candidates. Their objective is to specify what they are looking for and their expectations. This helps companies avoid wasting time with applicants who don’t have the relevant profile and encourages the right candidates to apply!

Let's take a closer look at pinpointing the profile the recruiter is looking for!