Today’s job market is highly competitive. Millions are out of work. There are thousands of applications for each vacancy. How do you get your application to make the cut? How do you prepare an application or resume that will at least get you an interview for the position? How do you prevent your application from getting lost in the black hole of cyberspace when you apply for a job?

First, let’s start with the odds for success for each application submitted. Many factors weigh into a single opportunity of getting a job from a single advertisement. Unemployment rates and basic economic conditions of the geographic location factor into the competition. These numbers do not even include the out-of-state applicants looking for work. As a result, thousands of job seekers are scouring the same help wanted ads so it is important your application and the job advertisement be in sync.

Second, consider online job advertisements versus hard copy newspaper print advertisements. Hard copy, just by its nature, can provide very little information regarding a vacant position. With employers paying per line fees, usually minimal information is offered. Online job applications carry the power of the Internet. The applicant can click through the company website, view job requirements, minimal skill requirements and a wealth of additional information. This fact means that more research is required when considering responding to an ad found in the newspaper. If the ad includes company information, check the company website prior to responding.

How do you bring it all together? The question then becomes not only how to apply for a job, but how do you apply for a job and make it through the screening process? The chance of getting a job interview is based upon the perfect marriage of a job advertisement and the application. Extreme care should be taken to match your skills and abilities with the job advertisement.

Look at each job skill and accomplishment in your resume. Are there similarities with the position requirements? If you are applying to a library, does your experience include reference or public service skills? What, in your resume, indicates that you can pay strong attention to detail?

Sometimes it’s easy to become careless when completing a long job application. Remember, however, it is not about you. It is about the needs of the company. The recruiter needs to see how you will add value to their organization. By matching your skills with their requirements, you have just completed the perfect job application.