| "I can do that job, but I don't have…" | | | | you must have. Employers that use the term |
| If you've read the classifieds and surfed the | | | | Required, often only want to entertain |
| web for on-line job sites and said this to | | | | prospective employees that have what they are |
| yourself, you've felt the same level of | | | | looking for. The term Preferred tells |
| discouragement most job-hunters have felt. | | | | prospective employees what the employer would |
| | | | rather have, but Preferred skills are not |
| Is there any flexibility when it comes to | | | | necessarily essential to have. |
| meeting job qualifications? There is, but you | | | | |
| must be sure you understand your experiences | | | | Employers know that the chances of getting |
| and that they are actually what the employer | | | | the perfect person that has all the Required |
| is looking for. This isn't always easy, | | | | skills they are looking for is not very |
| because job listings have a language of their | | | | realistic. It happens, but not often. Because |
| own. | | | | it has become a challenge to find the ideal |
| | | | candidate, employers often lower their |
| Employers have their own sets of terms and | | | | standards and balance it with the best |
| meanings. It's almost as difficult to | | | | experience they can find. If you have enough |
| understand what they are really looking for | | | | proven skills to get you in the door, and the |
| as it is equally difficult to get the job | | | | employer feels you are capable of being |
| itself. | | | | trained for the rest, your chances increase. |
| | | | |
| Entry-level and Experienced seem pretty | | | | Working knowledge and Expertise in a |
| simple to differentiate, but not always. Most | | | | particular program is not the same. Having |
| people think entry-level would mean someone | | | | working knowledge says you have at least the |
| that has either no experience or at least | | | | basics and you are confident in operating the |
| experience that stretch from six months to 1 | | | | program. |
| year. However, entry-level could also refer | | | | |
| to someone fresh out of college, or at least | | | | Expertise says you have exceptional |
| 1 year or so. | | | | experience, are able to explain how it works |
| | | | and are able to use it for advanced projects. |
| Experienced could mean having worked 1 year, | | | | |
| minimum 3-5 years or no "working experience" | | | | Understanding the concept of what employers |
| but having a graduate degree which sometimes | | | | look for and knowing how to interpret their |
| counts for experience. | | | | terms and language increases your chances for |
| | | | success and getting the job. It will increase |
| Skills Preferred and Required Skills | | | | your chances for success in getting the job |
| definitely have differences, but can be | | | | because you will learn to spend your time |
| easily be thought of as the same. The word | | | | effectively in applying for the jobs you are |
| Required is absolute; it says this is a skill | | | | more likely to obtain. |