The Want Ads: Banking the Code - tips for reading the classified want ads

Do want ads remind you of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs? Check out these tips on how to decipher them.

Why is it that even a short "Help Wanted" ad can send job hunters into a cold sweat? It could be the pages upon pages of ads in large newspapers--or the fact that many ads are so cryptic, you have only a vague idea of what kind of job the employer has in mind. Job hunters sometimes feel they need expertise in ancient Egyptian writing just to decode the ads.

No need to panic! Believe it or not, wading through the job listings and figuring out what employers want need not be so difficult! Want ads are an excellent resource--especially for entry-level jobs. To have a successful job hunt, it's important to use all the strategies and resources available to you. That includes networking, coldcalling (phoning strangers), informational interviewing (talking with people in fields you want to enter), and responding to advertisements, wherever they may appear.

There are several sources of classified ads. You can find them in regional and national newspapers, for example. Trade journals--magazines that serve a particular industry--carry want ads, as do newsletters that target a specific group. The Internet is another source.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Finding the classifieds is the easy part. Deciphering them sometimes requires reading between the lines.

For example, it helps to know the difference between hard and soft skills. Hard skills are the specific, concrete qualifications that employers need. If you read an ad that asks for MCSE and Novell experience and you don't even know what MCSE is, do not apply for this job. Hard skills tend to be non-negotiable. MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) is a hard skill--either you have it or you don't.

Soft skills, on the other hand, refer to more subjective qualifications, such as leadership, project interpersonal skills, and the desire to learn. These skills are not specific to a single industry or occupation.

Even if you don't have the exact skills listed in a want ad, you should consider applying for it if you feel you can do the job. Let's say you see an ad from an accounting firm for an administrative assistant with experience in Microsoft Word and Excel. Maybe you've never used Microsoft Word, but you're familiar with other word-processing programs, and you've got a decent keyboarding speed. Or maybe you've never used Excel, but you're familiar with some computer accounting programs. In your cover letter, stress the skills you do have, not the ones you don't. Keep in mind that employers are looking for the ideal candidate; you just might come the closest to their expectations!

A few want-ad tips: Be wary of ads that don't list specific job requirements such as training, education, experience, and physical demands. If you're a recent graduate, chances are you'll be looking for an entry-level position--that of a beginner. But if the ad is vague, it can be difficult to determine what's an entry-level and what's an upper-management opening. Ads that list lots of responsibilities but have phrases like "Successful candidate will report to the Operations Manager" or "room for advancement" are quite possibly seeking entry-level candidates. Remember, if you believe you can do the job, apply. You have nothing to lose.

Avoid answering ads that ask you to pay for information about specific jobs or employers. And don't use a placement service that demands a percentage of your salary for helping you get a job. Placement services generally get paid by the employer.

Blind ads are those in which the employer does not include the name of the enterprise. Frequently you are asked to reply to a post office box number or to fax your resume. Many businesses use blind ads simply because they don't want to broadcast the fact that they are hiring. Sometimes blind ads are placed by recruitment or private employment agencies looking for potential applicants. One of the concerns about responding to a blind ad is that you might apply to the company you already work for, alerting your boss that you are looking for other work. On the other hand, if you're not working, what have you got to lose by applying?

One frustrating aspect of job hunting through the want ads is that salary is rarely advertised. Here's a tip: If the ad is a large display ad in the business section, you can safely assume the wages are above average. And if the ad reports, "Excellent remuneration package with 401(k) benefits," you can assume the wages are decent. The 401(k) plan allows employees to shelter a percentage of their earnings from taxes and may include some amount of matching funds from the employer. And yes, you should care about your 401(k) even now. The younger you start, the more beneficial it is--it collects interest while you're making more money.

Action Plan

You have the paper in front of you. Now what? First, circle all the jobs that sound like possibilities. Next, read the circled ads very carefully. Write down the qualifications each employer is looking for, and formulate in your mind how you fit those requirements. Make a note of the employer's address, telephone number, fax number, or, Web address, and any other pertinent information; then add the date you are responding. Answer the ad according to what the ad asks you to do. If the ad specifically says "no phone calls," then don't phone. Always include a cover letter explaining how your skills and their needs are a match. (For information on how to write a cover letter, see the October 1999 issue of Career World.)

Another frustrating element of the job search is that you rarely hear back from employers you've applied to unless they'd like to interview you. Don't take their silence personally. It's not unusual for advertised positions to elicit hundreds of responses. It simply takes too much time and costs too much for employers to respond to each applicant.

The key to making the want ads work for you is to read between the lines, and apply for jobs that interest you, even if you think your chances are only so-so. Use the want ads in conjunction with the other job-search resources mentioned earlier: networking, cold-calling, and informational interviewing. You'll want to use every resource at your disposal!

Can You Decipher

This Want Ad?

Get out your magnifying glass and your dictionary of hieroglyphics. See if you can unlock the mysteries of the ad below.

Match each term from the want ad with its definition.

_____Detail-oriented

_____Administrative support

_____Lightphone work

_____Excellent benefits

_____Excellent interpersonal skills

_____Room for advancement

_____EOE

_____Competitive wages

_____High schoo1 diploma or equivalent

1. Your salary will be determined by "what the market will ear"--no more than you can get elsewhere.

2. Equal Opportunity Employer

3. This is an entry-level position. other words, there's no where to go but up.

4. You may have to fill in for the receptionist or call clients.

5. You must be good at working with people and be able to express yourself well.

6. Not only do you need good math skills, you need to pay close attention to the fine points of you job. Decimal points matter and so do office procedures.

7. The equivalent f a high school diploma is a G D (a diploma earned after passing the General Educational Development Test).

8. Company be asked to assist with clerical duties such as filing, faxing, and copying.

9. Company contributes to health insurance and 401(k) plan.

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