Are You Their Ideal Job Candidate? By Kate Lorenz When you are looking for a specific job, you show the company the skills and qualifications required for that job, right?  According to a CareerBuilder survey, candidates do not always highlight the skills that hiring managers are seeking. In fact, 31 percent of hiring managers say it is difficult to find qualified candidates, especially those with specialized skill sets. So how can you show the hiring manager that you’ve got the skills that they need? The trick is to highlight your experience in a way that makes you an obvious match to the job criteria. If you think you are the perfect fit for the job of your dreams, here are five ways to show them that you are the best choice. 1. If they throw you a bone, take it. It is difficult to show them that you have what it takes if you don’t know what it takes. One of the easiest places to start learning what they want is the job description. Read it closely and pay attention to the skills and experience the company is asking for, not just the job title. If they say they are looking for marketing expertise, you need to highlight your marketing experience. Too many people breeze through job postings without reading them closely. 2. Do your own research. One of the most important things you can do in your job search is soak up as much information as possible. Research the company, research the position, and research the industry. Not sure where to start? Look on the company’s Web site, do a search for news stories about the company, or scan industry sites to find out more. Next, talk to others at the company. Network with your contacts to see if anyone can put you in touch with someone at the company. Talk to others who hold similar positions to find out what it takes to successfully do the job. Once you know what the top qualifications are for the company and the position, you can more successfully highlight these skills. 3. Personalize your materials. Too many people make the mistake of sending out hundreds of resumes and sending cover letters to “Whom it May Concern.” Sending generic materials is a great way to get your paper shoved in the recycle bin. If you have done your research and carefully read the company’s job description, you must personalize your resume and cover letter to speak specifically to the position. Adjust the order of your resume to highlight your most relevant skills first, even if they aren’t your most recent. Create a simple chart or bullet pointed statements that align your experience with the job criteria. The key is to make it easy for the hiring manager to see why you should be interviewed. 4. Match keywords. Many companies use applicant tracking software to electronically scan for specific words relating to job title, experience, skills, training and degrees. These aren’t the verbs stressed in traditional resumes like “responsible for editing and writing.” They’re nouns like job titles “editor” or “web designer” and technical skills like “financial analysis” or “database management.” Imagine the reader comparing the words on your resume to a specific list of desired qualifications. Include a “career summary” section that will allow you to use more of these words and phrases as you describe your skills and experience. 5. Practice selling yourself. If your resume gets you in the door for an interview, your hard work is not yet done. You still need to sell your skills and qualifications. One of the most important things you can do is prepare yourself. Did the company’s ad say that they are looking someone to run the department? Make a list of your most significant managerial challenges and accomplishments to demonstrate how you were able to successfully motivate and manage your employees to reach particular goals. Be specific and to-the-point in your interview. You know what they are looking for, so give them strong, solid examples of how you have what it takes.