The Secret Life of a Job Posting

You may like the second edition of this post even better.

Adapted from Fire Yourself: Get the Job You Want a No BS Guide and Tips for Effective Cover Letters (Get and Keep the Job You Want Book 2)  both by Tom Sheppard.

 Corporate Genius Wanted

Position requires experience with brain draining, abstract, and concrete thought.

Certification a plus. Great benefits, wonderful location. Will help with relocation.

Send résumé with salary history to:

Wanna B Smart Inc.

c/o I. M. Brilliant

1 Smart Place

Wisdom, Montana

Have you ever looked at a job posting in your field and being initially excited when you found it with the job title and company you want? Then, as you read all the desired skills, you despaired of ever landing the job you want? Don’t despair. The Secret Life of a Job Posting will unveil the skeletons in the closet of many job postings.

               Help wanted advertisements, job postings, and job descriptions can often give an idea of what qualifications an employer wants. But all too often they don’t really demonstrate the qualifications needed to get the job. Why not? 

               Thinking through the process the typical boss goes through to post a job reveals the answer.

               Jane has worked in her position for five years and got glowing performance reviews every year. Then, she gave notice and moved on to another job. During the time in her old job she grew from a novice to become a master of every task required, and then some. That is why she moved on. Her abilities exceeded what her boss could, or would, pay her for. So, she found a better paying job and moved on.

               Now, her boss sits at her desk filling out the job description to post her job. She thinks of Jane and all her talents, knowledge, and skills. She begins writing. Listing every ability, skill, and area of expertise Jane delivered, she creates an impressive list of qualifications which the job candidate will see in the ad. The boss knows that anyone who delivers less than Jane’s performance means that she will have to do more work, filling the gaps and training the replacement. Having a full plate already, she is unwilling to settle for anything that will add to her own workload.

               The boss sends the job description to HR without ever considering that anyone who has all of Jane’s skills will be moving into a better paying job, just like Jane did. A candidate as well qualified and experienced as Jane won’t have to settle for the pay she has budgeted when they have such an impressive skill set.

               As the search for a replacement goes on much longer than anticipated, the boss realizes that her ideal candidate is Jane and she can’t afford anyone with Jane’s qualifications. So, she settles for a strong candidate who has demonstrated that they can do some of what is needed and is able to learn to do everything else that must be done.

               What does this mean to you as a jobseeker?

               It means that even if you only meet some of the job requirements, go for it. Send your powerful résumé and a hard-hitting cover letter.

               If you don’t remember how to format a business letter, the public library has books that will show you the format. Also, most résumé books will contain at least one usable example.  In fact, there is probably a book out there dedicated to “Killer Cover Letters” which will claim to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about formatting cover letters. Rather than go into all the formatting details, which you can pick up from that library book, I would like to focus on the content.

               The first paragraph of your letter should inform the reader what you have sent them and why:

“I am enclosing my résumé in response to your ad for a Corporate Genius which appeared in the July issue of It Takes a Genius magazine.”

               In the next paragraph, you lead right into your qualifications for the position, directing their attention to your résumé:

“As you can see from my résumé, I am a Certified Genius and have spent the last three years as a Resident Genius with XYZ Corporation.”

               Now, you point out the skills you have which they asked for in their ad, and accomplishments that demonstrate those skills:

“While at XYZ, I mastered advanced concepts in genius theory such as super brain draining and forming concrete thoughts. In fact, I was personally responsible for turning sixteen hundred hours of thought into a concrete Popsicle which earned XYZ a government grant of $50 million.”

               Next, let them know that you can be a contributor to their company:

“I am excited about the prospect of working as a Corporate Genius with Wanna Be Smart, Inc. I know that your company is a leader in its field and has done some wonderful things with concrete thought. I am eager to apply my skills at a forward-looking company where brilliance and hard work are recognized and valued.”

               Finally, let them know that you expect an interview:

“I look forward to meeting with you in person soon so we can discuss my qualifications as a Corporate Genius at greater length.  I can be reached at work (333-444-9999 ext. 000) from 6 AM until 9 PM, or at home (999-444-3333) from 9:30 PM until 1:30 AM, seven days a week, or via e-mail at [email protected].”

               Although Daffy here may not be your personal role model, you can learn many of the finer points of effective cover letters from this example. In case you missed some of Daffy’s message, the following page contains the Eleven Points to Perfection for a Great Cover Letter.

Eleven Points to Perfection for a Great Cover Letter

1. Always use good quality paper (preferably 24 pound bond). Ideally use paper and envelopes which match the paper used for your résumé.

2. Never hand-write the letter, and do not use a form letter with a fill-in-the-blanks format (this really has happened). Prepare each letter individually.

3. Make sure your name and current contact information (home address, phone number, and email address) are printed either at the top or bottom of the letter, depending upon which letter format you use.

4. If possible, direct your letter to the hiring manager, not to the personnel department. Use their name and title in the letter.

5. Make certain that the spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct and that words are used in their proper context. Verify anything of which you are not completely certain. Try reading the letter from bottom to top to catch errors. Have someone else read it as well.

6. Your letter should be no more than one page, and the wording should be brief and to the point.

7. In the first paragraph, tell them what you are sending and why. Mention any enclosures (i.e. your résumé) and, if not self-explanatory, the reason you have included them. Note how and when you heard about the job.

8. In the second paragraph, briefly direct the employer’s attention to strong points which you cover in your résumé and which also appeared in the job listing to which you are responding. Arouse their curiosity enough to give your résumé a thorough read. If there were qualifications mentioned in the listing which you don't have - don't mention them.

9. In the third paragraph, mention the contribution you see yourself making to the firm. Making an appeal to the self-interest of the employer is always helpful. Tell them a positive reason why you are choosing to apply to this particular company.

10. In the final paragraph, tell them that you look forward to meeting with them in person to discuss your qualifications at greater length.

11. Don’t forget to sign the letter.

Parts of this were originally printed in Fire Yourself: Get the Job You Want a No BS Guide and Tips for Effective Cover Letters (Get and Keep the Job You Want Book 2) both by Tom Sheppard.

(C) Copyright 2019 Thomas K Sheppard and A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Tom Sheppard, The Skillful PM (TM) & author of The Art of Project Management, specializes in leading large ($10mm+), high-risk, high-profile projects for US financial services companies.

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Tips for Effective Cover Letters: Get and Keep the Job You Want Vol 3 Now that you have found a job you want to go for, don't send your resume to school naked. Add a powerful cover letter to let your prospective employer know which job you want and how you can deliver results for them.

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