Responding to a job advertisement

The main goal in responding to an advertisement is to show the employer that you have the skills, qualifications, experience and qualities they are looking for.

Analyse the advertisement

When you’re looking through job ads:

  • Don’t just read the title of the position—job titles mean different things to different companies. A suitable job for you may be called by an unfamiliar title.
  • If the advertisement isn’t clear about what the employer or recruiter is looking for, contact them to find out more.
  • Some companies and organisations use job specifications, role descriptions or selection criteria. Sometimes they mention these in advertisements, sometimes they don’t. It’s worth checking whether there is any such documentation about your prospective job, so that you can find out more about the responsibilities and requirements.

Follow the instructions

If an advertisement says:

  • Apply in writing or Send applications to…, write a covering letter and resume using a computer. Never handwrite applications unless the advertisement specifically asks you to.
  • Handwritten applications or Applications in your own handwriting, write your covering letter in your neatest and most legible handwriting on a clean sheet of lined white bond (opaque) A4 paper.
  • Quote the reference number, type the number below the salutation of your covering letter (e.g. Dear Ms Jones, [leave one blank line, then type:] Re: Job Ref 1234).
  • Phone for a job description/selection criteria, call and ask for the document to be mailed, e-mailed or faxed to you. Sometimes you can download it from the company’s website.
  • Apply in person, dress appropriately and visit the employer with your resume or portfolio.

Address the requirements

Job advertisements ask for ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ requirements.

‘Hard’ requirements are specific, verifiable aspects of your work background, such as qualifications obtained, years of experience in a field, or skill level in specific programs or systems.

‘Soft’ requirements are more subjective qualities like being ‘energetic’, ‘organised’, ‘flexible’ ‘results oriented’ or ‘a good communicator’.

Highlight or underline all the requirements in the advertisement, and consider how well you meet them. If an advertisement asks for all sorts of ‘hard’ qualifications that you don't have, there’s no point applying for the position. But in many cases you don’t have to fulfil the job requirements exactly.

For example, you may not have the requested experience using MYOB accounting software, but you know a different package, SYBIZ, well, and you have a record of picking up new software skills quickly. You might still have a chance at this job.

The question to ask yourself is not, ‘Do I have everything they want?’ but ‘Could I handle this job with a few weeks’ experience?’