Key Singapore Job Ad Phrases to Look Out for

When you are job-hunting and going through countless job ads, are you wondering if the points listed in the job advertisement are as direct as they seem?

You're not alone.

Some employers can rather vague in their job descriptions. For example, does “5-7 years of experience” mean exactly that, or is the employer open to someone older who has been working in the role/industry for longer? Most of us encounter this issue of vagueness when we're searching for a new role. It’s easy to get confused about what the role demands. You might even feel disheartened that you may or may not have the necessary qualifications for the role at your dream company. Ambiguity is also a known factor that could deter people from applying for a particular role.

So let's try to make sense of these ambiguous terms.

Here are some of the more commonly used phrases in job ads, what they actually mean and how experienced jobseekers should interpret them.

X number of years of experience

Most job descriptions indicate the number of years of experience required for the role. This could range anywhere from 1 year to 10 years of expertise in the field.

Many older jobseekers will have 10-20 years of working experience. So when a job ad asks for applicants with just 1-3 years or 5-8 years of experience, how can know what a potential employer is looking for or expecting in such cases? A job advertisement asking for an applicant with 1-3 years of experience typically implies the employer is probably looking for fresh entrants, with a lower pay grade and without much prior relevant experience. These positions suit fresh graduates with little to no years of experience. Entry-level positions are good learning opportunities for fresh graduates by giving them a taste of the industry.

Someone with a lot more experience will probably not be considered — 5-8 years of experience indicates the employer is looking for applicants with more expertise and know-how. In such cases, you can boost your chances of landing a job interview by highlighting your unique selling points in your resume:

• Zero in on your skills, both specialised and transferable, especially if you are switching job roles or industries. This helps you market yourself better during interviews and in cover letters.

• Highlight your responsibilities and key successes. Bring in statistics and quantitative data about how your efforts have helped the company. It would also be worthwhile to bring in real case studies where you had to take the reins of a project to showcase your leadership abilities.

• If you are switching to a new role or industry, draw parallels between what you have done in your previous job(s) and how you can easily fit into the advertised role. Even if you had no prior experience in the new industry, you can still market yourself to showcase your willingness to learn and key attributes that make you an excellent team player.

• Emphasise initiatives like new processes introduced in your last role, and any on-the-job training you've had. These can add value to your application as they would be relevant and useful to any role in any industry.

X qualification is preferred

Some corporations list academic qualifications such as being a degree or diploma holder as a job requirement. However, while the stated qualification is favoured, it is not absolutely essential. You still stand a chance of getting the job without the necessary paper qualifications if you have the relevant experience and soft skills.

Highlight these soft skills in your resume and include your portfolio of work, including articles that you are most proud of, so that the company can see your quality and experience for themselves. Give examples and statistics of how you have used your skills to enhance your company’s brand image and brand reputation. In exhibiting how you were an asset to your company or clients, you will make yourself a valuable and worthy candidate.

In this way, you emphasise the skills that you believe the company is looking for, such as analytical skills, industry connections, attention to detail, strong research skills and so on. Highlight also any relevant courses you may have attended or are currently attending that are helping you upskill.

Managing ambiguity can be challenging. But you can cnsult the employer during the interview to clarify any doubts you may have. Be sure to remain open-minded to make a killer impression on your interviewers. Interviewers always love humble and friendly applicants who are willing to learn!

If you're looking for more career advice, visit MyCareersFuture for articles to help you on your career journey.

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