How to Analyze a Job Description to Boost Your Job Search

How to Analyze a Job Description to Boost Your Job SearchHow to Analyze a Job Description to Boost Your Job SearchHow to Analyze a Job Description to Boost Your Job SearchA job description is the preview of the job opportunity.A professional in active job search mode might scan anywhere from a handful to a dozen job position descriptions every day, which can get time-consuming. The goal is to use time efficiently to plek out the opportunities that are worth pursuing, and avoid investing energy into ones that arent likely to turn into attractive offers and satisfying careers.This efficiency is particularly important if you are job searching while employed. Chasing dead-end job openings can do terrible things to your motivation and resilience even if you have the luxury of time and a dedicated job-search focus.So, what is a job candidate to do in order to scan opportunities effectively, maximize the use of time, and improve the odds of finding a perfect-fit job? Here are three steps to use.Step 1 Look beyond the job title.You must play detective and exercise discipline to landsee past a catchy job title. The goal is elend to fall for the HR equivalent of Internet click-bait. A position that promises a manager-level title but does not come with the appropriate range of responsibilities is misleading. Same goes for an entry-level position in title that has an excessive accountability range. Be sure that the actual duties are interesting and consistent with the position level and title.The flip side of this advice is to not automatically reject job openings that dont come with a shiny name tag. This is where personal clarity on your career goals is critical. With a little experience and careful reading, you will learn to pick out the positions that are likely to be a good fit regardless of the attached titles.Step 2 Determine how close of a match you are.Optimal alignment between position requirements and your qualifications is a recipe for being selected for interv iews and considered as a serious candidate. The easiest and most visual way to accomplish this is by taking a highlighter to the job description or placing checkmarks next to each requirement point that you meet or exceed.Be sure that you have concrete examples, illustrations and numbers to support your proficiency when it comes to critical skills and qualifications required. Those stories will set you apart from other candidates by allowing you to weave your unique professional and personal strengths into the interview.If your initial check identifies some gaps, it is not necessarily a reason to abandon the opportunity. Be sure that the gap is not critical (for example, you might have four years of manager-level experience instead of the required five), and brainstorm ways you could bridge it in an interview. If you dont have one of the certifications that are listed as requirements, perhaps a combination of independent study and experience will buffer the apparent shortfall.Keep i n mind that writing a job description is often approached in a manner similar to a Christmas list. Often, HR and the hiring manager create a wishlist of every possible qualification that would define a perfect candidate. Not every point weighs the same, so approach the list with a critical eye and dont give up too soon.Step 3 Look out for hidden questions and red flags.As you review dozens of job descriptions, the ones with red flags will likely begin to reveal themselves automatically. Until you get to the point where this level of analysis is second-nature, use our checklist to stress-test the job position descriptions and save yourself time and effort.Insufficient detail level and lack of clarity in the position description are worth noting first. A well-thought-out job description does not leave you wondering what your day to day responsibilities will be, how your performance will be judged, and what skills and qualifications it will take to succeed. If you find that the descrip tion is lacking detail and yet the opening is intriguing, consider reaching out to the HR specialist or the hiring manager with some clarifying questions.Unreasonable or unclear expectations are the second possible hurdle. If the position calls for an entry-level expert forensic specialist, the contradiction is obvious someone cannot be entry-level and expert at the same time. The company is either hoping to get a less experienced professional to perform at an expert level (for an entry-level salary), or they dont have an understanding of what they need. Either way, approach with caution.A long list of required credentials that dont make sense given the job is a red flag that I see often. It could be an indication that the company created a wishlist that is not grounded in reality, or that the hiring manager does not know what qualifications actually matter and define success in the role. Beware of upfront commitments, especially financial ones. Same goes for extended unpaid traini ng periods. While a probationary period of a few months is standard practice, long periods of unpaid training spell unpaid work with little security.If the job posting touts high earning potential above and beyond base salary and benefits, tread cautiously.If the job keeps popping up in your search every few months, it could be an indication of high turnover in the position which could indicate poor management.Your guide to playing detective and uncovering the secrets hidden inside a positions job description involves careful reading, critical thinking and lots of practice. After reviewing dozens of sample job descriptions, you will begin to pick up on words and concepts that are important to the hiring manager. You will also notice hints and insights into the working environment and company culture, and find some material for questions to ask during the interview. Add in your increased awareness about red flags and points of concern, and you will soon find yourself scanning the op portunities more efficiently and picking out the ones that are likely to offer the best fit.Need help with your resume? Take advantage of our free critique today

How to Maintain Job Search Momentum Through the Holidays

How to Maintain Job Search Momentum Through the HolidaysHow to Maintain Job Search Momentum Through the HolidaysWith the holiday season upon us, its the perfect time to relax and put hard work- like searching for a new job- on hold.Or is it?Youll notice that geschftlicher umganges are still open during these festive times. Companies are pushing to meet annual goals, and theyre planning for the coming year. Look past the parties and decorations and dinners, and youll binnensee that work is getting done.That means this is a great time to maintain your job search momentum, although you might want to change it up a bit to overcome distractions and take the peculiarities of the season into account. Here are some suggestions to help you keep your job search momentum going as you search during the holidaysFocus on accountability.This may seem obvious, but youll be more likely to beat back those holiday distractions if youre accountable to someone- even if that someone is you. As noted in a previous post on this blog, You can use a daily or weekly checklist to see if youre perusing enough positions, applying for a good amount of jobs, and even if youve taken the steps to have a clean online presence. Having a guideline can help you see clearly if youre meeting your own job search goals or not.Be prepared for new networking opportunities.As you attend holiday parties with family members, friends, and acquaintances, look for opportunities to build your network. This can be a bit more complicated than usual at this time of year, as you dont want to be too blunt about business when people are trying to focus on the fun of the holidays. But if youre prepared and tread lightly, you might be able to make some contacts who will help your search in the new year.Volunteer for a worthy cause.This can help with networking in your local market, but the value of volunteering goes beyond that. As noted in a blog post from JohnGSelf Partners, Offering a helping hand to those who need support is a powerful fuel to enrich your soul, your energy and your outlook on life. This will carry over to 2018 and your job search.Develop new skills.If youve always wanted to learn how to use a certain app or earn a certification in an area thats outside your comfort zone, this might be the perfect time to take a course or investigate educational possibilities. By building your skills, you make yourself more marketable. And gaining knowledge is sure to keep you motivated as you search for something new.Catch up on your reading.Many people complain that its hard for them to find time to read all of the business books theyd like to explore. If youre not getting as many calls from potential employers during the holiday season, choose the top three books on your nightstand and make a goal to read them all before the start of the new year. Again, you will likely find that learning new things helps you stay focused on your larger goal.Find different targets.Sometimes all you need in order to keep moving forward during the holidays is a little freshening up of your search. A blog post from GetFive offers good advice in this regard, saying you should use any slow times to hunker down at the computer to do more research and expand your job targets. Keep in mind the importance of pursing a varietyof job options.Develop positive habits.If youre struggling with distractions, try picking up a new habit that will feed your momentum. Keeping a journal is a money-in-the-bank move to strengthen you personally, says the JohnGSelf blog post. You should also begin journaling those things in life for which you are grateful. Dr. Johnny Parker turned me on to this practice, and I immediately sensed an uptick in my attitude and level of confidence. Others that have started journaling gratitude have reported similar positive effects.These are just a few ideas to help you maintain a focused and active search while holiday festivities are swirling around you. If you manage to avoi d distractions and stay on course, youll be that much better off when job hunting normalcy returns in the new year.Search for Jobs

Easy Steps to Create a Project Budget

Easy Steps to Create a Project BudgetEasy Steps to Create a Project BudgetExperienced project managers and those who work in big companies will have software and accountants to help them put together project budgets. But what if you dont? If you are staring at a blank spreadsheet or an email from your project sponsor asking you to put together the finances for the project, then this article is for you. Well look at the five things you need to do to create a basic project budget. Use Your Task List First, take your project task list. You might also have a work breakdown structure, and if you have one, its best to use that. But a task list will do as long as it comprehensively covers everything that you need to do on the project. If you dont have a task list, its time to create one. Write down everything that you have to do, and the things you have to build, make or complete before the project can be completed. It doesnt have to be in any particular order, but it does need to inclu de everything. Finally in this step, brainstorm ideas with your project team, as there is bound to be something you have forgotten. Many heads are better than one Estimate Each Component Now go through your list and work out the price of each item. For example, a task that says set up meetings to discuss requirements might involve sourcing and hiring, the meeting rooms or buyingof any resources you need like a projector or flip chart pens. There is a cost involved with that, so get quotes for your room hire and the other equipment and note it down. Do this for everything on the task list, so you end up with a price against every item. Some project tasks may not have a price attached, and thats OK. Add Estimates Together Next add together all your estimates. Its easiest to do this if you make a list of items in a spreadsheet, add the costs in the next column and then total the column at the bottom. Let the spreadsheet do the math for you It becomes your budget spreadsheet. It is a good idea to group your costs into categories as well, so you can easily see where the bulk of the money is going. Use categories like Project Start Up, Infrastructure or Training choose groupings that mean something in the context of the project. Add Contingency and Taxes It would be great if you had a crystal ball and could predict these costs with 100% accuracy but you probably dont feel confident in your ability to do that It is where contingency comes in. It is a fund of money based on how confident you feel that you got the estimates right. It doesnt relate to any particular task. Its an overall emergency pot in case you got something wrong or left something out by mistake. If you dont know how much contingency to add, go for 10% of the total you created in Step 3. It is a non-scientific guesstimate that many project managers use and gives you a little bit of cushioning in your budget in case you need it. Add a line on your budget spreadsheet at the bottom that says Contingency and specifies the percentage you used. Dont forget to add in any sales tax or other taxes that are not explicitly already included in your individual line item estimates. Add it all up, and thats your final budget amount. Get Approval The final thing to do is to get your manager or project sponsor to approve your budget. Talk to them about how you put it together and what elements make up your overall budget. Thats it Project budgeting is an essential project management skill, and this guide will get you started creating a project budget.