In most cases, employers are inundated with responses to job postings and ads. Although estimates vary, human resource websites indicate that a single job posting can generate an average of 250 responses. Plus, many larger employers use talent management software to screen out applicants-up to 75 percent or more-before they even look at what has been sent in. The result is that it’s likely less than 5 percent of the people who applied will get an interview.

Important Sources of Information

Job postings and ads are important sources of information for job seekers. A good job posting contains information that you can use to:

• Identify what an employer is looking for in an ideal candidate
• Determine if you should apply for the position-you should have at least 50%, if not more, of the skills or work experience they are asking for
• Make your application (including your resume and cover letter) stand out from all the rest

The next learning activity will help you analyze job postings and ads, so you can prepare and submit an application that has a significantly greater probability of making it through the screening process and getting you that call for an interview.

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Dr. John Sullivan, http://www.eremedia.com/ere/why-you-cant-get-a-job-recruiting-explained-by-the-numbers/

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Ideal Candidates

Job postings are designed with the ideal candidate in mind-meaning they tend to list everything an employer could possibly want in a person to fill the position. By analyzing the posting, you will find out the degree to which you meet the employer’s vision of the ideal candidate. Sometimes there may be an exact match, but realistically it doesn’t happen all that often, for anyone. And remember, many employers will be willing to train the person with the right attitude or soft skills, but who might not have all the technical skills yet. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t meet each and every requirement in the posting.

Real life is about making choices and compromises. While certain requirements in the job posting may be necessary (i.e. safety tickets, trades qualifications, degree, or professional accreditation), most others are negotiable. You may be missing a few skills, or areas of experience, but you likely have other skills or abilities that can make up for that. For example, you may be a quick learner. It is important to understand yourself and your set of competencies and experiences. It helps you communicate what you can offer to an employer in words that they understand.

Keep in mind that the end goal at this stage of your job search is just to convince the employer that you are someone they need to ask in for an interview. Analyzing the job posting will give you information so you can accurately fill out the job application; give you words to use in your cover letter and resume; and it will prompt you to identify relevant examples of competencies in your background to tell the prospective employer about.

Learning Activity 3: Analyze a Job Posting for your Employment Plan

In this learning activity, you will analyze a job posting to determine the match between what an employer is looking for and your own skills, experience, and qualifications. This information can then be used to decide whether to apply for the job and to customize your application (cover letter, and resume) if you decide to proceed.

For an example, look at Error! Reference source not found. and Resource 2 showing how our fictious job seeker, Lee Chan analyzed a job posting for a construction labourer. Now he has the information he needs create a customized resume and cover letter and, if he wants, to enhance his skill set and thereby increase the likelihood that his application is successful.

• In Resource 1: Construction Labourer Job Posting, Lee highlighted key words in the job posting.
• Then, in Resource 2, Lee matched his skills, experience, and qualifications to those in the job posting including indicating what he might be able to do to overcome any gaps.

Now you try it.
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Instructions

1. Read through Resource 3: Shipper/Receiver Job, the Shipper/Receiver Job Posting. Alternatively, and if you prefer, find, and read through your own job posting.
2. Now take a highlighter pen and highlight all the key words and phrases in the job posting that are related to the following requirements for the job:
    

   Skills	Licenses
   Knowledge	Trade qualifications
   Expertise	Experience
   Certifications

    

3. Last, use Form 3, Job Posting Analyzer and following the instructions at the top of the form, analyze the match between your skills, experience, and qualifications and those in the job posting.;
4. Once you have completed Form 3, answer the following questions based on the information you entered on the form.
   1. What skills, abilities, or experience does this occupation/job require of an applicant?
   2. What skills, abilities, or experience do I have that would help me to be successful in this job?
   3. What skills, abilities, or experience would I need to acquire to be qualified for this job?