How to Mine Gold from the Job Listings

I was at a network meeting recently and was asked if I'd seen a listing for a position in Ithaca.  When I replied that I wasn't able to relocate, this sage network contact reminded me that job descriptions, even those for positions that you won't be applying for, provide a lot of good information and some valuable language to use on resumes and in cover letters.  It was a V8 moment!  You know, when you hit yourself on the forehead after you realize you could have had that healthy drink.  I forgot to follow advice I've given to others ever since the days when people fought over getting the Sunday New York Times Classified on Saturday night!

Ads, whether they are in print or on-line, are filled with valuable information for your search.

For instance, reading through job descriptions can give you a good sense of the skills and experiences required for different positions.  They can also provide language for your cover letter.

Read through job listings on sites like indeed.com or dice.com to get a better idea of which companies are expanding.  Armed with this information, you can add these company websites to your regular checklist to more closely monitor job opportunities.

If you're not 100% sure of what you want to do, combing through the classifieds can work as a mini assessment.  Simply circle or bookmark any job that tickles your fancy, regardless of whether you have the background and skills.  After you've gone through this a few times, patterns will likely arise, some that may even surprise you.  If everything you mark has to do with outside work and you've only been targeting a desk job, you might want to consider jobs that free you from that desk.  It may be in the office of a nursery or landscape business or working a territory that allows you to scoot around in your car.  You might see patterns that speak to creativity or problem solving.  It's another way to broaden your search and consider new targets.

The job opportunity listings can also give you a good idea about skills or education you need in order to fulfill your career goals.  If your ideal job requires an MBA and you don't have one, this may be the time to check out part-time or full-time programs.  If you can't go that far, take one or two courses, some of which may be available on-line, and lay the groundwork to make your dream job become a reality.

Remember that insight into the market and jobs can be found everywhere, at job fairs, while networking and sprinkled throughout the want ads!

The New Resume: A Work in Continuous Progress

There was a time, prior to laptops and lightening fast communication, when you created one resume used for every job applied you to.  The cover letter was critical because it was here that you highlighted experiences and skills most closely related to the job in question.  In fact, we often discouraged job seekers from having multiple resumes because it got hard to track which one went where.

Today, a one-size fits all resume just won't make it.  Whether you reorder your accomplishments, change the wording in your profile, have one resume for marketing positions and another for public relations or have both a chronological and functional resume, you must tailor the resume to the job in order to be competitive.

For most job seekers, including myself, one of the most dreaded parts of job search is the resume.  Once it's done, the last thing you want to do is change it, yet that is exactly what today's technology enables and the job market demands.  Use the job description for each job as your guide.  Lift  language from the job description and use it in your resume and cover letter.  If the job calls for strong communication and analytical skills, make sure you mention those in your profile.  If it calls for someone who has 'managed large scale development projects', highlight your experience 'managing large scale development projects' in your cover letter and make sure the accomplishments that relate to your work in this area come first in any list of bullets on your resume.

I am not suggesting you totally rewrite your resume for each job posting.  Assuming your resume paints a broad enough picture of your skills and experiences, this is simply about tweaking it.  As much as I hate reinventing myself for each posting, in today's competitive market, the one who most closely matches the requirements for the job is the one who has the best chance of standing out.