Job postings give candidates a snapshot of what employers expect out of workers in a particular position. These postings are also a great way for people to keep an eye on industry trends. They'll read about what the competition is doing and can plan for career advancement. Discover four reasons why you should examine job postings, even if you are happily employed.
1. Do You Deserve a Raise?
Take a look at job postings for the competition. Do they have similar qualifications for your current role? If so, do other firms pay more than what you make in your current position?
Answering these questions does two things for your career. First, it gives you a possibility of leveraging a raise based on the market value of your position. If other people start to migrate to the competition, there might be a specific reason why. Second, you can use your current skill set in your job to leapfrog to another position at another company that pays you more. When you research job postings more thoroughly, you can help your career advancement.
2. Are You Growing?
Look at the job description from when you first came on board. Does it compare to what you are doing now? Have your responsibilities expanded since you were first hired?
Take stock of your position and your career and audit what you accomplished since your manager hired you. This might lead to a new job title, a raise in pay or a promotion to a leadership position if you prove your value to your company. Using original job postings from the time you applied for the job also helps you in a performance review, as you can show your boss how much you met your performance targets and how much you grew since you started.
3. Can You Brand Yourself?
Identify major qualifications listed in any job descriptions that you decide are worth your research. Can you brand yourself and tailor your resume to these positions? Clarify qualifications and rewrite them in your own words to help craft a resume and cover letter if you feel the need to reach out to any of these employers. Even if you don't get an interview, this exercise helps you stay ready if an opportunity presents itself and you want to move on from your current employer. Learning to tailor your personal brand to a company's mission and job description is a vital skill that captures a hiring manager's attention.
4. Do You Plan Your Career?
Job postings give you a target to inspire your future advancement. Do you see yourself in another position in five years? Looking at job descriptions identify what you can do to further your cause. You might see that you need a few more years of experience, a higher college degree, a particular certification or managerial experience to give you a more solid case for earning a different position from the one you have now. Ask your employer if there are development opportunities for you that can help add more responsibilities to your current role.
Job postings aren't just for people who are unemployed and need a position. Researching job descriptions can help you plan the next step of your career so your skills remain relevant to your profession and employer.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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