Learning the Language of Job Descriptions

One of the first exercises I was tasked with when I began life in the Staffing industry was to take a Job Description to the Workopolis database and come back with a selection of resumes I thought fit for the position.

After countless searches I had my stack and was ready to go.

“Make sure you read the entire resume,” said my manager. “You need to know how to read them before you can browse them.”

Walk before run. Sound advice.

Five years later, the average resume gets anywhere from a 15 to 30 second browse before I’ve made my decision on next steps. But back then, I read every word. It’s how I learned the language of Technology and the language of Recruitment. It was in those resumes where I learned the basis of my profession.

I didn’t like it. But I did it.

And you’re not going to like what I’m about to tell you to do, but I think you should do it.

Just as I was handed the begrudging task of learning the language of resumes, I encourage all job seekers to sit down and become familiar with The Language of Job Descriptions.
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Most people view job descriptions as generic and forgettable. To a large degree, they are correct. A job description does not warn about the thing growing in the back of the kitchen fridge. A job description doesn’t say anything about internal corporate dynamics. And a job description definitely does not tell you about what happened at the Christmas party last year.

But there are a lot of things a Job Description does tell you. It introduces you to your potential employer. It tells you what you will be expected to do, what knowledge you are expected to bring and what you can expect in return.

And just as you expect me to read your resume, I expect you to have read my Job Description.

After all, if you haven’t read the job description, how do you know you’re a good fit for the job?

The good news is that, just as sitting down to build a template for your Cover Letter will save you countless hours during the application process, so will learning the Language of Job Descriptions. Once you understand how to read what a job description is asking for, you’ll be able to quickly tailor your resume to provide it.

Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to Find Five Job Descriptions for similar jobs in whatever field you are looking to get into. Print them. And read every word of them. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, read them again. Every word.

What do you notice in all of them?

Start to see patterns. Make note of the way they are written and the language being used. Get familiar with looking at them. See the way they are laid out. See the way information flows. See yourself doing the things you are reading about. Think about how you’ve done similar things in the past.

Once you feel comfortable and familiar with the Language of Job Descriptions, I’ll be back to teach you how to read it and what to do with it.