Your state’s labor market information office may also publish statistics on job vacancies, employment benefits, marketable skills, or other information.
Meet your prospective employer’s needs.
In a recession, employers have many applicants to choose from. Make sure an employer can quickly see why you’re a good fit for the position. Read job ads carefully to fully understand the position being advertised. Visit CareerOneStop's Resumes + Interviews section to read about how to tailor your resume and cover letter to the job ad, and research an employer carefully before making contact.
Know how to talk about your skills.
Once you understand labor market conditions and the position you’re applying for, be prepared to talk about your skills. First, make sure you understand what your skills are. Visit What are Your Skills? for more information.
Finally, it's important to understand how to describe your skills in a way your potential employer will recognize.
- When highlighting your skills in your resume or cover letter, use the same terms you see in the job ad, if possible.
- Don’t use technical or industry-specific terms unless you’re sure the prospective employer will understand them.
- Highlight skills that are rare or especially valuable to a potential employer.
- Connect the dots for the employer. Describe specifically how your skills will benefit the firm to which you’re applying.