Key Ideas
Here are some important terms that will help you understand how to use want ads to help you in your job search. You can look over these terms before you go to the "Activity" step. You can also return to this list while you do the activity.
- Want Ad
- Category
- Keyword
- Job Title
- Job Responsibilities
- Qualifications
Want AdA want ad is an announcement or notice in a newspaper. Ad is short for advertisement.
Want ads are put in the part of the newspaper called the classifieds. There are different types of want ads. For example, you can look in the want ads if you want to
- get a pet,
- find out about garage sales,
- learn about day care centers or computer training programs near you,
- find someone to repair your television, or
- buy a car or a home.
Want ads for jobs are also called employment ads. They are usually listed in the classifieds under the word "employment."
CategoryA category is a group. When people, places, or things are divided into different groups, these groups are often called categories.
Want ads and employment ads are divided into categories. When you look for a job in the newspaper, you will look under different categories. Here are some employment ad categories:
- clerical
- construction
- customer service
- food services
- education
- general office
- health/medical
- maintenance
- manufacturing
- restaurant
- sales
Your job may not be placed in the category you expect, so check every category where your job could possibly be listed.
KeywordA keyword is a word that describes a central or main idea. It can help you find a specific listing when you do an online search.
Sometimes job banks and databases have hundreds or thousands of listings. You can't read them all. But you do have two possibilities. You can read all the listings in one category, or you can use keywords to narrow your search.
When you enter a keyword, you will receive all the listings that contain that keyword. For example, the keyword machinist will give listings like these.
- Tool Room Machinist. Experience preferred. Precision machining and grinding. Good salary. Call 555-8873.
- Needed: Forklift operator and machinist. First and second shifts. Must be dependable. /hr. Call 555-9087.
When you are choosing keywords, find words that are part of the job title, the job requirements, or the qualifications.
Job TitleA job title is the name of a job.
Here are some examples:
- customer service representative
- warehouse distribution clerk
- service technician
- shift supervisor
- loader
- maintenance mechanic
- desk clerk
- cashier
- stocker
- production manager
- beauty consultant
- dental assistant
A job sometimes has more than one job title. A nurse can also be called a care coordinator. Job titles can also have abbreviations. For example, RN stands for registered nurse.
Different companies can give different names to the same job. Try to find out all the different job titles for the job you want. If you aren't sure what a job title means, read the rest of the ad and find out what the job responsibilities are.
Job ResponsibilitiesA responsibility is a duty or something that you are expected to do. Job responsibilities are the tasks that you must be able to do for your job.
Here is a list of some jobs and job responsibilities:
- service representative for a laboratory : pick up medical samples + deliver reports and supplies
- teller for a bank : pay and receive deposits + handle customers and solving their problems + sell bank services and products
- accountant : make month-end journal entries + file financial reports + perform monthly account analysis and budget
- receptionist : operate the switchboard + make appointments + handle correspondence
Job responsibilities are different from qualifications. Job responsibilities are tasks that you complete on the job. Qualifications are skills and other things you must have before you can get a job. Compare the job responsibility examples with the qualification examples below. This will help you understand the difference.
QualificationsA qualification is a degree, skill, or experience that you have. A job qualification is something you need to have to get a job.
Here is a list of jobs and qualifications you need to get the job:
- service representative for a laboratory : excellent driving record + good communications skill
- teller for a bank : high school diploma + computer skills + good personal credit record + sales ability
- accountant : four-year degree in accounting + two years of work experience
- receptionist : typing speed of 30 wpm + knowledge of specific word processing software + good organizational skills + polite phone manner
Job responsibilities are different from qualifications. Job responsibilities are tasks that you complete on the job. Qualifications are skills and other abilities you must have before you can get a job. Compare the job responsibility examples with the qualification examples above. This will help you understand the difference.