Evaluate a Job Description
Job hunting requires you to weed through a large number of job listings. You must sort through job descriptions written in different formats and decide if you are good candidate before applying. A job description is an outline of a job, and it can be anywhere from a few sentences to a few pages long. Being able to quickly and correctly analyze job descriptions can help you search for employment more effectively. In order to analyze job descriptions you must recognize the education, skills and experience required. Read more to find out how to evaluate a job description.
Steps
- Evaluate your own job experience and skills before evaluating job descriptions. It is essential that you know your applicable skills, experience and education level. Write a general resume before beginning your job search.
- Print out the job description. Get a highlighter pen so that you can underline or highlight important qualifications. You can also copy and paste the description into a word processor document and highlight lines if you don't have a printer.
- Identify the job location. This should be listed at the top. Do not apply for the job if you are not available to work in that area.
- Some positions may specify if they will take out of town applicants or pay for relocation expenses. In this case, you may be able to apply for the job without living in the direct vicinity.
- Identify and highlight the education required for the job. This is often listed as high school diploma, bachelor's degree, master's degree, certification or another form of qualification. Decide if you qualify based on the education level.
- If you have the equivalent of an education level, such as a GED, instead of a high school diploma, you should qualify for the job based on education. If you are studying for a degree in the field, you may also qualify. For example, libraries often hire people who are studying for a master's degree in library science.
- Identify and highlight the experience required for a job. Pay attention to language when looking at experience qualification. If 4 years is listed as a requirement, the employer is likely to be strict; however, if 4 years is listed as a "desired qualification" then it may not be strictly necessary.
- Highlight the skills necessary for the job. This could be written in a list or in prose format. If it is listed in sentences of paragraph form, list the skills on another piece of paper, so you can underline each skill you possess.
- Look for typing skills, interpersonal skills, Internet skills, specific programs or applications, familiarity with technical terms, managerial skills, training skills, experience with equipment or tools, problem solving skills, physical demands and more.
- Identify the daily activities that are involved in the job. Highlight hours, specific duties and daily tasks. Make sure you can complete these tasks before applying.
- Comb the description for physical or travel requirements. Jobs may require that you are able to lift 15 to 50 lbs. (6.8 to 22.7 kg) in order to fulfill the job requirements. Other jobs may require that you are available to travel between 10 to 90 percent of the time.
- If you cannot fulfill these requirements, do not apply for the job. They are non-negotiable.
- Highlight the compensation. Near the end of the job description, there is usually a salary or hourly wage. Occasionally the description will say Depends On Experience (DOE), which means that the salary is negotiable based on how well you fulfill the qualifications.
- If the compensation is listed as DOE, then you may be required to submit a salary history along with your resume.
- Decide if you fulfill the education, experience, skill and miscellaneous requirements listed in this job posting. If you do, move forward in the application process. Write a cover letter and adjust your resume to address your applicable qualifications.
- It is very important to write a cover letter and a resume that addresses each job specifically. This illustrates that you have researched the company. It should be considered as a response to the job description.
- Identify the steps that are necessary to apply for the job. Many job descriptions state clearly where a resume, cover letter or inquiries can be sent. Highlight the deadline to apply and adhere strictly to that deadline.
Tips
- If you are applying for a new job and you don't know what a typical salary is, you should research the salary range for similar jobs in your area. Go to Salary.com or another site and use the search tool to find what employers are paying in that area.
- Follow any application restrictions. For example, if the job description clearly states that no phone calls will be taken regarding the job, calling will hurt your candidacy.
- You can sign up for job alerts through many large employment listings, like Career Builder or Monster. You can ask the site to filter your results by locations, title, qualifications and more and deliver them by email each day or week.
- If you find a job description with a very long, detailed list of qualifications, it is not likely that the employer expects to find someone with those qualifications. They are looking for a "best case scenario." If you have a majority of the required skills, it is a good idea to apply.
Warnings
- An employer can not discriminate based on race, gender, age, military service, religion, pregnancy, citizenship status or nation of birth. If you feel the job description includes discrimination, contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to file a complaint of discrimination.
Things You'll Need
- Printer
- Highlighter pen
- Word processor (optional)
- Paper
- Resume
