In today’s job market, the right education, experience and motivation are key – but too often, applicants who misread an employment listing undermine their chances of being considered before they even submit a resume.

Reading and understanding the content of employment ads is an important but often overlooked aspect of the job-seeking process. If you want to stand out among the competition and know which jobs you may be qualified for, it’s essential to understand the subtleties of the employer’s ‘expectations.’ In decoding the nuances of hire-speak, you may find you’re eligible for more jobs than you think. So, how can you interpret job ads to determine what an employer is really looking for in a candidate?

Career counseling experts at DeVry University routinely advise students on how to read job ads in order to have the best chance of securing a position. Here are some of their recommendations to decipher the terminology and leverage your specific education and experience in your cover letter, customized resume and, ultimately, an in-person interview.

Ideal vs What’s Real

"Too many times, graduates read the job posting and take it literally, when in fact the ad represents the ‘ideal’ or ‘perfect’ candidate, the Walden’s Pond of jobseekers, if you will," says Dave Fogg, associate director of career services at DeVry University in Columbus, Ohio. "All of the experience levels in the ad are not necessarily what the employer must have, but instead are a wish list if they could build their own model."

"When looking at some ads, you might be intimidated by the number of qualifications listed for various positions," says Florence Herman, director of career services at DeVry University in New Jersey. In reality, most employers hope to find candidates who meet most of the qualifications – and if you are one of those individuals, you may be brought in for an interview. "Since many companies use software screening tools when reviewing resumes, make sure that you are including the required qualifications on your resume so you don’t get screened out of consideration," Herman advises.

What They Say, What They Mean

Entry-level . . . experienced . . . working knowledge . . . proficient – these terms show up in many employment ads, but what do employers really mean when they use them?

Entry-level means that the company is looking for someone with minimal experience, and will be paying based on that level of experience. It is not necessarily an indicator of minimal education requirements, however, so recent college graduates with no experience would fall into this category, according to Herman.

Experienced could mean that the company is looking for candidates who have at least two or three years of experience in the field, or relevant skills that can be utilized in the position. "Undergraduate and graduate degrees can often be substituted for some of the expected experience," Herman says.

Some ads will ask for candidates with a "working knowledge of," "command of" or who are "proficient in" a certain task, software program or skill.

Working knowledge or ‘familiarity with’ usually means that you should be familiar with the qualifications and understand what they are, but don’t necessarily need directly related experience, Herman explains.

Proficient means you can handle a specified task or work with a type of software, but may need to learn a few specialized features or have some finer points clarified.

Command of means you are fully experienced with a task, skill or software type, have used it yourself in past jobs, and are able to instruct others in how it works. Some ads will also stipulate that a certain skill or experience is preferred. "Students tend to interpret that as ‘required,’ which isn’t the case at all," says Rhonda Gaines, dean of career and student services at DeVry University in Dallas. Again, the employer is describing their ideal candidate, but will likely be open to applicants with strong skills and experience. Even if they lack the ‘preferred’ criterion, jobseekers can still make a strong case for their value to the organization.

Acceptable Just Might Be Enough

"When it comes to job ads and career fairs, believe half of what you see and nothing that you hear," Fogg advises. "If an ad says ‘three to five years experience,’ that doesn’t mean the employer won’t take someone with only a college degree and hands-on experience from their education.

"Finally, listening and speaking well are the two most important skills in understanding a job posting and conversing about one in person," Fogg adds. "All the skill sets available won’t get you past poor listening and communication skills. If you can’t interpret what is being said, then you can’t respond properly."

Courtesy of ARAcontent