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Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

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Read:A successful job search follows this simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

In the previous chapter, you learned that networking is the best way to find jobs. But once you find a good job lead, what should you do first? Match your skills to the employer’s needs. This is another job search skill that will help you work smart.

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Josh’s Job Search

Read:When Josh started his job search, he updated his résumé to include all of his experience and then attached it to his job applications. Despite applying for many jobs, he didn’t hear anything back most of the time. Can’t these employers see how good he would be at the job? Is there something he could be doing differently?

Discuss:In what ways can you relate to Josh?

Read:Many job seekers ruin their chances from the beginning by not first identifying the employer’s needs and then matching their skills to those needs. They just send in the same information about themselves and think the employer will figure it out. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Believe it or not, this is sort of like ordering a pizza.

Imagine that you have been thinking about pepperoni pizza all day. You don’t want any other kind of pizza—just pepperoni. So you order a pepperoni pizza from your local pizza shop. You are starving and can’t wait for it to arrive. The doorbell rings and you open the door, pay the delivery person, and take the unopened pizza box to the kitchen. You set it on the table and open it up, and this is what you see:

pizza

Discuss:How long did it take you to realize this isn’t what you ordered?

Read:If you don’t take the time to first identify and target employers’ needs, they will probably screen you out just as fast as you screened out the wrong pizza order. This has been part of Josh’s problem. He didn’t know how to target employer needs. He was sending in résumés and applications with information the employer wasn’t interested in. Successful job seekers take the time to understand what the employer ordered; then they serve up the perfect application, résumé, or interview to meet the employer’s needs.

1. Identify the Employer’s Needs

Read:There are many resources you can use to identify the employer’s needs.

• Company websites and reports

• Internet

• Social media

• People working in similar roles

• Job description

Discuss:How could these or other resources help you identify an employer’s needs?

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Josh’s Job Search

Read:Remember in the last chapter how Josh called his uncle David? Well, Uncle David really came through for him. He referred Josh to a friend of his named Julie, who is a manager at a large local employer, ABC Marketing. Josh called Julie and introduced himself using his Me in 30 Seconds. Julie was impressed! Julie told Josh they are looking for good computer support, but they hadn’t posted the opening because they were too busy. She sent Josh the job description and asked him to send her a résumé. Before applying for the position, Josh decides to make sure he knows what the employer actually needs.

Activity (4 minutes)

This is the job description Julie sent Josh. We are going to review it together.

Step 1: One person will read the job description out loud. As that person reads, group members will underline, highlight, or mark the key skills and qualifications they hear.

Step 2: Then, as a group, discuss what you marked and why.

job description

Read:Now compare what you marked with this one. Were you pretty close, or did you miss a few things? If you missed several things, keep practicing and you will get better.

highlighted job description

Activity (5 minutes)

Look at the job description you brought with you, or think about the job you want. Take five minutes to do the same thing you did with Josh’s job description.

Step 1: Identify the employer’s needs by underlining, highlighting, or marking the important skills and qualifications.

Step 2: Review it with your action partner, pointing out what you think the employer needs.

Tip:The company and job description you found are both resources.

2. Match Your Skills

Read:Once you have identified what the employer wants, your next step is to figure out if your skills and experience match. This is as simple as asking yourself, “Do I have that skill?” or “What experience do I have doing that?” The more examples or accomplishments you can think of, the better.

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Josh’s Job Search

Read:This is how Josh began matching his skills to the employer’s needs. He highlighted the following sentence in the job description:

• Troubleshoot customers’ technical issues in person and on the phone.

He thought to himself, “I am really good at that. In my last job, I had a system for troubleshooting, and I got twice as much work done as the other technicians.” He also saw several other key skills and basic requirements that he met. He circled all of the skills or experiences he felt he was a match for. He also wrote notes about his experience and related accomplishments.

Activity (3 minutes)

This is the job description after Josh matched his skills and added notes.

Step 1: In a minute or less, individually review how Josh marked his job description.

Step 2: As a group, discuss what you liked about how Josh matched his skills to the employer’s needs.

job description with circled terms

Read:Keep in mind that most job descriptions are an employer’s ultimate wish list. It is okay if you don’t match every skill or qualification listed. Do not lie or make things up just to get an interview or job. If you review a job opportunity and think you match at least 50 percent of what the employer wants, you should apply. If you match at least 75 percent, you are probably a strong candidate.

Activity (5 minutes)

Look at your job description, or think about the job you want. Take 5 minutes to do what Josh did by circling what skills you have and making any notes that will help. Then pair up with your action partner, and share it with him or her.

Discuss:How will matching skills this way help you in your job search?

Conclusion

Watch:“The 16th Time Is the Charm,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 54.)

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Discuss:What are the most important things you learned from this chapter?

Read:Matching your skills to the employer’s needs is working smart.

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

Match your skills before you apply for a position, write a résumé, or have an interview. If you do, you will experience greater success in your job search.