How To Analyze A Job Posting

We’ve all been there. Scanning a job description on a job board to see if we actually fit the role. More often times than not, we won’t apply because we are too intimidated by the fact that we think we may not be ready.

But if you have this attitude you will never be ready. You have to take that leap and put yourself out there. The worst they can say is no and if you do take that leap, you might get that interview.

So I’m encouraging you to take that leap. This is how you tailor your resume to fit the job description and get that interview.

For this job description, I picked at random and I want you to know that for any job you are browsing you can break it down with these actionable tips.

The Job Title

This is for a junior engineering position and the title of the job is Junior Front End Engineer.

What is the first thing you’ll do on your resume?

Match the name of the job title in your resume. No matter what you have previously been, you are now what the job title is demanding. Every resume you tailor should have the job title you are applying for in your heading.

That job title is a keyword and it will allow the recruiter or whoever is reading your resume to keep scanning.

Skills

You’ve gotten that out of the way. Did you notice what skills they were looking for? Scroll back up and see! Which skills should you put on this resume?

The skills that they have listed in their description should be first in your skills list. That doesn’t mean to put all of the skills they have on there if you don’t have them. If you don’t have them that’s fine but don’t lie. Put the skills you have on your resume but make sure they come first:

People read left to right and if they see that your skills match the job description they will keep reading, and that’s what you want. For them to keep reading.

Bullet Points

I think this is the most important step. This is where you sell yourself and what you have accomplished in previous jobs. It doesn’t have to match the current job, all you have to do is match what type of person they are looking for. I don’t care what kind of job you have had, if you can sell yourself the correct way, you will get an interview.

Let’s say in your previous role, you were a Social Media Manager. In the job description they are looking for someone who continuously improves job processes, who reduces errors, and who communicates effectively. You can convey that with any job.

• Negotiated and secured partnerships with influencers, leading to a Y% decrease in influencer marketing costs.

• Established and maintained relationships with key clients through regular interaction and personalized content, contributing to a Z% increase in client retention.

• Streamlined content creation workflows by implementing an editorial calendar, reducing production time by X%.

• Introduced A/B testing methodologies to assess the effectiveness of different content types, leading to a Y% improvement in content performance.

These are the bullet points that are on the resume that the recruiter is reading. What they are looking for is showcased just within those 4 bullet points. They start with in a action verb, they describe their impact, and they follow up with a metric. The metric doesn’t need to be on there but if you can add it. This formula is a sure fire way to ensure that you are proving your value and impact to that company.

In the previous role as a social media manager they engaged with clients, they reduced spending and streamlined some processes of their job. You can break into tech if you can showcase those transferable skills. Look for ways to speak to want they want in your previous jobs and remember they don’t have to be related to tech.

You are now ready to apply for that job and hopefully this will bring you one step closer to breaking into tech.