How to read an Entry-level Scientific Job Description

If you've been following our recent blog posts you should have been able to create your resume, understand the application process, and know when it’s appropriate to start applying for jobs.  Now it’s time to find out why understanding what to look for in the job description is such an important part of the application process.

Here is a 10 second tip for reviewing a job description that will help save you from wasting your time filling out numerous applications.  Skip over the Responsibilities section and go right to the Requirements section.  It will usually be towards the bottom of the job description and look similar to the following:

REQUIREMENTS

Bachelors in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, or related science field

3 – 5 years of industry experience

Experience with HPLC, GC and UV-Vis

Knowledge of GMP and GDP required

Excellent oral and written communication skills

You have the requirement for the Bachelor’s degree already covered.  Moving onto the next line you see that they want someone with 3 – 5 years of industry experience.  Do you have the necessary industry experience?  If not, you have no reason to apply for this position.  Don’t spend anymore of your time looking through this job description.  If you follow this simple tip you will save yourself a lot of frustration because you won’t be wasting countless hours filling out applications for positions you will never get.     

Always go to the Requirement section first and see if you are qualified by looking at what degree is necessary and then the number of years of experience required.  If you can’t meet the minimum requirements, then don’t apply!  Instead, find postings for entry-level positions that require 0 - 2 years of experience or ones that specifically ask for a recent college graduate.

Please come back for the follow-up article on September 11^th where you will learn about the following:

Ø  Your competition

Ø  Number of jobs you will likely have to apply for

Ø  The reasons you won’t hear back after you've applied

Ø  How to avoid filling out applications

Ø  Why you don’t want to be seen as a “Hyper-Applier” 

Until then, feel free to catch up on our previous articles, and be sure to check out our pages on Linked In, Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ for the latest news and opportunities available through Verum Staffing! If you are interested in speaking with us further regarding positions we have available, future opportunities, or interview/resume help, please send an email to lhoff@verumstaffing.com to set up an informational interview.  

When to start applying for those jobs…

 It’s your senior year of college, and you graduate next week. You have no job offers lined up and you are starting to panic. When did you start looking for jobs? When did you start applying for those jobs? Did anyone ever tell you how early you should start applying? Senior year can be overwhelming. Between finishing senior projects, making sure all courses have been completed in order to graduate, and probably working a part-time job, it can be tough to manage time to look for post-college jobs. If you want to find a job closer to graduation day than later, you need to manage your time well enough that you can devote time and resources to finding your post-college job. There are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for the job search and to ultimately land that job.

The first thing you need to do is craft a solid resume. There are a lot of resources available to students. Your career center, various websites and VERUM Staffing. Once you have crafted a strong resume, you need to create a strong LinkedIn profile. Employers can use this to see your past experiences and you can use this to follow companies you’re interested in applying to. Once you have these ready, you need to lay out what it is you want to do. What types of positions do you want to work in? What industry? Are you open to relocating? Answering questions like these will help you to focus your search on positions you are most interested in. Now that you have your resume, your LinkedIn Profile and your search parameters set, you should be ready to be dive into your job search and begin applying to positions. But when should you start?

Now. Yesterday. Last year. The truth is, it’s never too early to begin applying to jobs. You want to apply to jobs in which the start date comes after your graduation date, but it’s never too early to begin searching for positions. As a freshman, it can be helpful to search for internships that will aid your career moving forward. The same can be said for your sophomore and junior years. Once your senior year starts is when you will be able to see jobs posted that you will be able to work after you graduate. The early part of the school year should be spent seeking out jobs that interest you and documenting them in a spreadsheet so you can keep track of them. During winter break is when some of those jobs that you are finding will line up with your graduation date. With your resume, LinkedIn profile and search parameters ready to go, you are prepared to dive headfirst into your job search and application process so you have a job lined up when you walk across the stage on graduation day.

Stay tuned for our next article on 08/28/14 when we’ll discuss how to better read through and understand a job description. Until then, feel free to catch up on our previous articles, and be sure to check out our pages on Linked In, Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ for the latest news and opportunities available through Verum Staffing! If you are interested in speaking with us further regarding positions we have available, future opportunities, or interview/resume help, please send an email to lhoff@verumstaffing.com to set up an informational interview.