Jobs between the lines

First-time home buyers may be swayed by promotional jargon like "easy-care yard," but the savvy shopper understands that's code for "small and loaded with stones and cactus." "Excellent beginning home"? That implies you'll have to spend a lot of time repairing it.

So it is with employment advertisements. We're typically eager and pleased to read job adverts for positions that seem excellent, especially early in our careers. The ordinary job seeker, blinded by optimism and opportunity, examines the title, location, qualifications, prerequisites, and next steps – and then shoots out a CV with little consideration.

Don't do it! Instead, learn to view job advertisements with the skepticism of the seasoned property buyer mentioned earlier. As Hannah Morgan of US News & World Report puts it, you must "dissect" the job posting. This entails doing a lot of reading between the lines to find hidden insights and information.

My recommendation? Read the advertisement with enthusiasm — but just the first time. If you are persuaded after the first read that this may be a terrific role for you, read the ad again. Play the role of the devil's advocate this time. Look for hidden flaws and disadvantages. Examine each sentence to see what the organization really needs and if you have it.

Another option is to use a program like Wordle to create a word cloud from the job description. This will assist you in identifying the most significant keywords in the ad. Then, create a word cloud out of your CV. Contrast the two clouds: If they aren't comparable, that's a warning sign. If several of the key words are similar, that's fantastic! Simply update your CV with more of the company's keywords. You're not lying about your credentials; you're just stressing how your achievements correspond to the job's criteria.

Yes, recruitment is a numbers game in which you must send out more resumes in order to get more answers, but your time is important. You must carefully prepare each letter and CV, and personalize your materials to each position, or you will be wasting your time. As I have said, job searching should be done with a laser, not a flashlight.

Companies need to fill positions. They have the ability to employ, but they require you more than you need them. When applying for jobs, be suspicious and picky.