Employers do not want to waste time. When they have a job vacancy they will try to word the advertisement carefully, to give readers as much information as they need. In this way, it will be easy for anyone thinking of applying to select themselves out – if the job is not right for them – or in, if they think they can do it.
Analyse The Advert
When you see an advertisement in the newspaper, or receive job details by post, it is a good idea to underline every mention of skills, experience, interests or working conditions so that you are very clear what is on offer.
Example
Requirements
Most jobs can be divided into four main areas, although these can overlap:
- skills, abilities or experience
- interests
- personal qualities
- working conditions.
There is also the ‘hidden agenda’ to consider, where you must guess what might have been left out of the advert.
In the example:
Skills, Abilities Or Experience
They will expect you to offer some of these:
- Worked with children or parents
- Have experience of children’s activities
- Have experience of children’s camps
- Know about a Customer Services department
- Can work in a team
- Have been someone’s assistant
- Can deal with administrative tasks
- Have taken bookings
- Good verbal skills
- Good written skills
- Can deal with enquiries, e.g. phone, email, fax, letter.
Interests
To look forward to this job day after day, you need to:
- Enjoy the idea of providing services for children
- Want to be involved with a company running activity camps
- Enjoy taking bookings
- Would like an administrative job
- Want to use verbal skills
- Want to use writing skills
- Want to work in a team
- Want to work for a dynamic business
- Would be happy working with younger members of staff.
Personal Qualities
You need to feel that you are:
- Enthusiastic
- Able to fit into a young, dynamic business
- Flexible, e.g. about tasks or hours
- A team player
- Energetic
- Conscientious, i.e. an accurate, careful worker.
Working Conditions
Do the following suit you?
- An office-based job
- Much use of phone or computer
- Salary £16,000
- May be very busy at some times of year
- 25 days’ holiday
- Mainly young people in the office/company.
You also need to check out:
- Journey to work each day
- The hours.
Hidden Agenda
- Could you deal with angry parents who might phone to complain?
- Would they expect you to work overtime when they are very busy?
- Is training offered, or will you have to learn on your own?
- Is training compulsory, in case you do not want to study any more?
- Will you have to travel around the camps as part of the job?
Finding Out More
The job in the example above provides some helpful information in the advertisement, but it would be useful to know even more before you made your decision.
You should always try to find out background on the organisation and possible competitors, the type of work and any extra information that is relevant.
Can The Employer Help?
Some employers suggest you write in for further information or a job description, or phone for a chat.
Always follow this up.
Job descriptions usually show details of hours, salary, who you report to, the main duties of the job, its purpose
and the ‘person specification’. This lists the personal qualities they hope you will have, and the qualifications, relevant experience, skills and specialist knowledge required. It may even be graded and say whether the qualities are essential or just desirable.
If the job advertisement is short, a job description is the only way you can be sure you will address
all the key points when you provide evidence to show you are right for the job.
Further Sources
If no further details are provided, you will need to look elsewhere. Here are some possible sources of information:
- Most medium to large-sized organisations will now have their own website. Visit this to find out more about them, such as their products, services, structure and general feel. (There may even be information on the actual job you are hoping to do.) Send off for brochures or the annual report if these are offered.
- Companies are legally obliged to publish information about themselves. If you go to www.carol.co.uk, for example, you will be able to carry out a search for a particular company report.
- Colleges, schools and universities all have careers libraries that hold information on employers and types of work, and there is usually a careers or Connexions office in every town.
- If you have a friend or family member who is in similar work, ask them to tell you more about it.
- For jobs that are around everywhere, e.g. sales assistant, travel agent, bus driver, classroom assistant, local government officer, dental nurse, etc. – call in to a local shop, depot, school, office or dental practice. Pick up any leaflets about products or services and ask if a member of staff has time to talk to you about their work.
- Your local library will have a reference section holding some careers leaflets or books.
- Websites: as well as the company’s own website, search for information on the work in general. View job profiles (as described earlier).
- If you know of a similar company or employer, phone for their brochure or information as it may be helpful.
- Read job adverts carefully. Even if the actual jobs are not right for you, the descriptions will provide lots of information on different types of work.
Tricky Facts
There are things it can be very hard to find out, yet they can make a difference to how you feel about the job and whether you want it or not.
These may include:
- where you will buy lunch or spend your lunch-hour
- if car parking is provided
- if there are any perks
- any overtime requirements.
Use your ‘private research’ if you can to find the answers.
Note: If you have not found answers before an interview, do not dwell on these aspects of the job here or you will look as if you are not interested in the work, only the extras. Ask about them just before you finally accept a job offer.
Decision Time
Having analysed any job you are thinking of applying for in as much detail as you can, you will be able to:
- check out each point carefully
- decide if there are more positive than negative aspects
- know if the job feels right.
No person can have every skill or experience that is asked for. If you have the key ones and would be interested in doing the work, then it is time to apply.