Job postings can contain hidden requirements. These unspoken expectations help identify the skills and experiences employers truly value.
Learning to decode job descriptions helps you understand the company and role and determine whether they are a good fit. Then, you can use the information to customize your cover letter and resume and potentially secure an interview.
Importance of Decoding Job Descriptions
The following are reasons why decoding job descriptions is essential for your job search:
- Match the job responsibilities with qualifications: Focus on the job duties and responsibilities to determine alignment with your goals, skills, and experiences.
- Include keywords in your resume: Use the recurring keywords in the job description throughout your cover letter and resume to demonstrate your qualifications and understanding of the company’s core values and operational focus.
- Uncover any red flags: For instance, repeatedly seeing the same job posting suggests high turnover or a hard-to-fill role.
- Determine the right match: Evaluate the job posting’s language and tone, such as “high energy,” to determine the company’s culture.
Methods to Decode Job Descriptions
These tips can help you uncover hidden requirements in job descriptions and apply for relevant roles:
Analyze the job title and qualifications
Determine how well the job title, responsibilities, and qualifications align. For instance, a communications specialist job that requires 1 year of experience indicates an entry-level job. In contrast, a communications specialist job that requires leading a team and creating a content strategy suggests a senior-level job.
A mismatch among the job title, responsibilities, and qualifications could indicate either a mistake or a deeper issue. For instance, the company might seek senior-level expertise for entry-level income.
Review the job requirements
Determine whether you have more than half the job requirements before you apply. Be mindful that you might use transferrable skills and experience to be successful in the role. You also can train to develop the hard skills the company desires.
For instance, you should apply if you have 4 years of experience rather than the required 5 years. Your enthusiasm for learning and completing the tasks can help you grow into the role.
Identify the required outcomes
Evaluate how the role serves the team and fits the company’s strategic plans. Then, determine which knowledge, strengths, skills, experience, and accomplishments the top candidate would have. Include the relevant details in your resume to increase the likelihood of an interview.
Research the salary and benefits
Use tools such as Salary.com or the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) and your skills, experience, and location to benchmark the salary range against industry standards. Remember that health insurance, a retirement plan, paid time off (PTO), and other benefits add value. Therefore, combining the salary range and benefits package could elevate the total compensation to reach industry standards.
Explore the company culture
Review the company’s website and social media pages to determine the organization’s mission, vision, and values. Also, visit employer review sites and conduct informational interviews to see what working for the company is like. Use your findings to determine whether you would thrive and should apply for a job.
Partner with a Staffing Agency
HireCall can provide insight into companies and jobs and advocate on your behalf to help you find the right opportunity. Visit our job board to apply for a role today.
