Fresh job seekers? Here is how a job description could get you an interview?

One of the most important job search tip that you as a fresh job seeker you might have heard would be to tailor your application according to the given job description. In agreement, you nod along every time you hear that you must do this with the best of your ability.

How do you go about it?

You receive job alerts regarding an opening. You checkout the description, highlight a few words and decide to put them in your resume and cover letter. And then you presume that the resume is tailored according to job and send it across. That is not an incorrect approach. In fact, that is what most of the job seekers would do. But if you really want to stand out, there is much more you can do using a job description.

Before You Start

Before you start tailoring your resume, you need to understand the job description. Read the job description really slowly and make a note of points that are either present repeatedly and anything that is slightly out of the box.

Highlight points that could speak with your experience (internship or volunteer) and your skills that you might have developed with different activities.

As a fresh MBA graduate, you need to work on your resume and cover letter to stand out of the huge lot that is out there looking for a job.

Start with taking the first step. Get detailed information on the job. After all, you cannot tailor your resume or cover letter without really knowing what the gig entails.

Some ideas to start with:

Focus on the Bullets

A proper resume format should definitely have some bullet points present. This one area where you should focus on tailoring. Try and make an impact with each bullet point that you include. Use bullet points to highlight small bits of your extra-curricular activities and parts of your job descriptions.

An easy way to get started is by taking a look at your bullets and reposition them. The rearrangement should best take place that best aligns with the job description you are applying to.

A simple and effective solution that brings you close to an interview.

The Cover Letter

A common mistake that most job seekers make is that they spend too much time on their cover letter talking about themselves with no or too little time on the job or position you are applying to. Talk about your skills and how it relates to the position that you are applying to. 

To make a cover letter that stands different, add two or three points based on the job description and embed it into the cover letter. Make sure you have stories to tell that relates to particular skill that the company is seeking.

A simple tip; you can start or end your cover letter by using sentences like “I understand you are looking for someone who is…”

Use a Big Picture to Conclude

Both of the above ideas require you to understand the job description on a surface level. But you should tell the employer that you have thoroughly understood the job description by concluding with a bigger picture. Read between the lines to get the definite picture of what the job description has to say. Understand the responsibilities and use the insight in your cover letter. Take the substantial step to stand out of the lot.

Other Ways to Use Job Description for Job Search

Tailored your resume and cover letter?

Thinking what else a job description can help you with?

If you get invited for an interview, there are some ways you can use the job description to prepare for the interview.

Here is how:

Create a Mock Interview

Use job description to create practice questions. Understanding this through an example:

Say for example the position requires you to work with a team and independently. The questions that you can practice could be:

• Tell me about a time you worked in a team
• Have you ever worked on a project independently?
• Are you comfortable working with a team?

Again, read the job description and turn everything into a question.

Prepare Your Examples and Stories

Behavioural questions are best answered using stories and examples. Most of the interviews get into behavioural questions and the best place to figure out what kind of stories would work for a particular interview. Try and come up with stories that help you check a number of boxes in a single go.

Get Ready with Questions to Ask in the End

The job description might not cover everything. If there is anything that is unclear, ambiguous or missing, that is a great provender for interview to ask at the end of an interview. The questions show that you have given a thought about the position and displays your interest.

Job description is a powerful tool that helps you prepare for an interview. So the next time you are applying for a job or preparing for an interview, do not forget this powerful tool.

All the best for your job search!

Also read: 5 critical documents and reports you need to work on for a successful job search

 

About The Author:

Akansha Arora is a professional writer and blogger who loves to pen down her views on a number of topics that interest a reader. She writes keeping in mind the current scenarios and wishes to keep her readers well informed.