Video:How to Analyze a Job Position

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Transcript:How to Analyze a Job Position

Hi! This is Angela Lussier for About.com, and today you'll learn how to analyze a job position.

Ask Questions to Those Employed in the Job Position

Talk to the people already doing the job you want to do. Who knows better about what's going on than those people already sitting in that chair every day, doing the job responsibilities that you're reading about. Follow them around, shadow them for the day, find out about the kinds of challenges they have, the kinds of opportunities they have, and what they like and don't like about the position.

Look at the Career as a Whole Not Just One Job Position

Analyze the industry. Don't just look at the job position, look at what field it falls in, and what the future is like for that field. Are there growth opportunities? Is the field dying? Are there opportunities to move up, move laterally, or move around in that field?

Analyze Yourself and Your Career Goals

Look at the job position and what they're asking for. What are the qualifications? What kinds of educational background do they need? How many years of experience are they looking for, and what are the responsibilities? Create a spreadsheet and match that up with what you've done. Look at where you excel, what are your weaknesses, where are you falling short, are where are you a home run?

Match the job description with your own career goals. Regardless of educational and job requirements, think about where the position is going, and if it's in line with where you're going. It's time to look at your career goals and see where you want to be in 1 year, 5 years and 10 years. I know that's difficult, but if you can just write out a rough sketch, and see if it matches up with the future of this position, it'll give you a good idea if this is the job you want to apply for, or stay away from.

Thanks for watching! To learn more, visit us on the web at About.com.