How to Read a Job Advertisement

1. How to Read a Job Advertisement

2. When reading a job ad, look for the main things the employer really wants and include these in your resume and cover letter. These are your key words. Use this technique for every job you apply for, for example...

4. The employer is The Australian Traveller, they publish travel articles in print and on the web. They want a junior travel writer to work from their offices in Surry Hills Sydney. They are looking for a young person and this is an entry level for someone aspiring to be a professional travel writer.

5. In order to get this job you must show • You are a talented young writer looking to break into magazine journalism • You are enthusiastic and passionate about travel • You can research a story • You love to write and have written for a newspaper, magazine or blog • You can do administrative jobs when things are quiet • You are energetic and a self starter • You have a media, communications, and journalism degree or already work in the industry as a PA or junior sub-editor. • You love travel, and can go on assignment when required

6. To apply you must • Email your resume before February 17 • Include a cover letter explaining why you are perfect for the job • Include a 600-word story about your favourite place in Australia attached as a Word document

7. Resume Checklist After you have written your resume and cover letter using the information contained in this Resume Guide, be sure you can answer ‘yes’ to the following questions:

8. Layout and Appearance  Is your resume visually appealing and easy to read?  Have you included a cover letter with your resume?  Have you checked for spelling mistakes, typos or grammatical errors?  Does your resume look original and not based on a template?  Are your address, phone number and email easy to read?  Is your name at the top of each page and in bold? Preferably 2-3 pages in length.

9. Layout and Appearance  Is formatting (e.g. bold, font, bullet size, heading styles) consistent throughout the resume?  Is there a good balance between text and white space?  Is your resume written in an implied first-person voice with personal pronouns, such as I, me and my, avoided?  Is the content flow logical and easy to understand?

10. Resume Sections  Are all sections clearly labelled?  Are sections placed in the best order to highlight your strongest credentials?  Have you used powerful headlines to highlight your career achievements and competencies?  Is your work history listed in reverse chronological order (most recent job first)?  Have you included phone referees?

11. Target Job Title, Brand Statement & Profile Summary  Have you headed up your resume with a Target Job Title?  Have you added a Brand Statement of the value proposition you bring to the job?  Have you written a compelling Profile that clearly ‘showcases’ your key competencies, skills, experience and ability to do the job?

12. Skills, Competencies and Accomplishments  Does your resume clearly highlight your key competencies and technical skills?  Does it contain selected career achievements most relevant to the job you’re applying for?  Are accomplishments quantified by using details - percentages, dollar amounts or other concrete measures of success?  Do your accomplishment statements begin with strong action words?  Are accomplishments separated from responsibilities?

13. Relevance  Is the information relevant to the hiring manager’s needs?  Does your resume contain essential industry specific key words to ensure recruiters can find you with their applicant tracking software?  Have you included additional information, such as awards and affiliations?  Is your resume job specific? Make sure everything you mention shows how well-suited you are for the job you’re applying for.  Does your resume and cover letter ‘sell’ your skills, achievements and personal attributes?