How to Know if You are a Good Fit for a Position You Found Online
If you have ever spent an afternoon applying for jobs, you know just how tiring it can be. Typing keywords into job boards and reading positions until your eyes cross, and then after all that, you may never get a call back! Here are some tips that you can use before you apply to make sure you are a good fit for any positions you would like to pursue.
Why should you care about being a good fit? Because Saint Louis is a small town. As recruiters we often recognize resumes or names when they pop up in our inboxes, and applying for every job you see without making sure you are a fit first makes your skills seem unfocused.
- First and foremost, stick to your current skillset. If you are interested in branching into a new field, you should look for positions that combine your current skills with those that you would like to acquire. Few hiring managers are willing to consider a candidate with 10 years of helpdesk experience for a Senior IT Project Manager position for example. If you want to get into Project Management, you should look for an entry-level Project Management position that focuses on helpdesk projects.
- Once you have located a suitable position, scan the job description and look for keywords. These keywords are what help recruiters and hiring managers know which candidates have the skills they are looking for in positions. A keyword will typically be in a sentence like “must have experience with______” or “5 years or more with ____”.
- Once you have located these keywords, write them down or copy them into a separate document or otherwise isolate them so that they are easy to find.
- Review your resume. Do you have these skills or synonyms of these skills in your resume? Of course very few individuals possess every skill on a job description. A good rule of thumb is to be sure you have all of the skills with the exception of one or two before you apply.
- Now that you know you have the required skills, check to see if you have the number of years of experience that they are asking for. The years of experience are a result of careful thought and analysis on the part of the hiring manager, so having fewer than 5 years of experience with a particular skill when 5 years are listed as required will most likely disqualify you.
- Check for educational requirements. Do you have the degree or certifications that the job description calls for? If not, you will most likely be disqualified.
- Lastly, look at any information that may be provided about the size of the company. Does it sound like it is a similar size to your current or most recent company? If not, you may be disqualified. This is because to employers, there is a big difference between supporting 40 users and supporting 4000. This doesn’t only apply to support positions either! Project managers, developers and engineers at larger companies perform more collaboration on a daily basis than their counterparts at smaller companies. Collaboration is an important skill that enterprise level employers are looking for.
- Once you are certain that you are a strong fit, make sure the person who receives your resume knows it too! Send a detailed cover letter that describes how you are a perfect fit for the position and company in the job description.
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Recent News |
Jake Amir, VP, Strategic Relations was elected to the Board of Directors for MKSSA – Missouri & Kansas Search and Staffing Association.
MKSSA is the trade association for the search and staffing industry within Missouri and Kansas. It is a non-profit organization set up to provide a resource for business and individuals alike who seek a search and/or staffing provider. MKSSA is affiliated with the American Staffing (ASA) and the National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS).
As the industry resource for information, education, training, and legal representation, MKSSA communicates industry matters to association members, legislative leaders, regulators, the news media, and the general public. MKSSA strives to provide a variety of networking opportunities throughout the year, all of which are open for members and industry partners to attend!
We have moved!
Due to our growth, we have moved to a new office. Our location is in the same building. We have moved from suite 425 to suite 285. The space is larger and has a larger conference room, a kitchen and room to grow.
VantageLinks, LLC a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner is proud to announce that it obtained a additional Microsoft competencies and specializations certifications:
Web Development Competency.
Software Development Competency.
These new competencies are in addition to the following competencies VantageLinks obtained in the past:
Advanced Infrastructure Solutions competency. Within this competency, VantageLinks obtained additional competencies in Storage Solutions Specialization and Active Directory Specialization.
Small Business Specialist Community competency. Within this competency, VantageLinks obtained additional competency in Network Solutions Specialization.
Security Solutions competency. Within this competency, VantageLinks obtained additional competency in Identity & Secure Access Specialization.
Mobility Solutions competency.
Networking Infrastructure Solutions competency.
To learn more about the program, please go to Microsoft
In order for an organization to become a Gold Certified Partner, the organization must have a certain number of certified employees, client references for completed project and completed consulting engagement. In addition, VantageLinks in conjunction with Microsoft consucted a customer satisfaction survey and the results put VantageLinks at the top 99 percentile. To learn more about the program, please go to Microsoft
VantageLinks is pleased to support the Society for Information Management (SIM) – St. Louis Golf Scholarship Event 2010 in support of area children to achieve a better future by advancing their education. For more information please visit the St. Louis chapter of SIM at www.simnet.org.
The Wendi Gordon Shelist NF Foundation, Inc., a charitable not-for-profit corporation, was established in 2005 to educate the public and hospital medical personnel about the disease Necrotizing Fasciitis (which is more commonly known as the “flesh-eating disease.”) and protection from infections.The Foundation was established to give something back to the community and to turn a negative situation into a positive outcome.
To learn more, please attend our fund raiser this November 16, 2009 hosted by:
LURE
1204 Washington Ave
Saint Louis, MO 63103
With event activities sponsored by SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, items for auction from the best of St. Louis vendors, supported by the American Military Surgeons and Washington University School of Medicine Trauma Team. The fund raiser is actively soliciting donations from people interested in helping our cause. Should you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation, please send a check to
Wendi Gordon Shelist NF Foundation, Inc.
1061 W. Monroe Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
Thank you for your support of the Foundation and we look forward to meeting on November 16, 2009 at 8:00 pm at LURE.
VantageLinks, LLC a Microsoft Certified Partner is proud to announce that it obtained a number of Microsoft competencies and specializations:
Advanced Infrastructure Solutions competency. Within this competency, VantageLinks obtained additional competencies in Storage Solutions Specialization and Active Directory Specialization.
Small Business Specialist Community competency. Within this competency, VantageLinks obtained additional competency in Network Solutions Specialization.
Security Solutions competency. Within this competency, VantageLinks obtained additional competency in Identity & Secure Access Specialization.
Mobility Solutions competency.
Networking Infrastructure Solutions competency.
In order to obtain the above competencies and specializations, VantageLinks must maintain trained staff in the above categories and demonstrate expertise with its’ client supporting the above competencies and specializations.
For additional information please visit www.Microsoft.com.
VantageLinks, LLC, a leader in information technology consulting, outsourcing and staffing has been awarded the re-certificaton of a woman, business enterprise (WBE) by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) in parthership with Women's Business Development Center - Chicago. This certification indicates that VantageLinks is at least 51 percent woman-owned and operated, and certifies VantageLinks to do business as a WBE in the category of, information systems software development and IT consulting under SIC codes 7371, 7372, 7373, 7374, and 7375. VantageLinks has been certified on June, 2008. The current certification is through June, 2010.
Click Here to view our current certificate WBENC Certification Information
The Wound Care Specialization, Science and Technology (SST) conference will be held in Chicago July 17-19. The significant scientific advances in wound care require the focus of a physician who has received specific training on techniques to manage acute and chronic wounds. Leah Amir will be presenting on the value of implementing improvement processes to achieve improved patient outcomes for acute and chronic wounds. The Wound Care SST provides this needed training with hands on opportunities for healthcare professionals and hospital administration to return to their facilities and initiate improvement processes across their wound care programs. Effectively utilizing the benefits from the scientific advances in acute and chronic wound treatment managing these patients can become a satisfying process in quality improvement that leads to a positive return on investment. Process improvement is at the heart of VantageView and VantageLinks,LLC. Click Here to view the program Wond Care SST
VantageLinks, LLC, a leader in information technology consulting, has been certified as a woman, business enterprise (WBE) by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) in parthership with Women's Business Development Center - Chicago. This certification indicates that VantageLinks is at least 51 percent woman-owned and operated, and certifies VantageLinks to do business as a WBE in the category of, information systems software development and IT consulting under SIC codes 7371, 7372, 7373, 7374, and 7375. VantageLinks has been certified on June, 2008. The current certification is through June 5, 2009.
Click Here to view our current certificate WBENC Certification Information
In order for an organization to become a Certified Solution Provider, the organization must have a certain number of certified employees, client references for completed project and completed consulting engagement. To learn more about the program, please go to Microsoft
VantageLinks, LLC, a leader in information technology consulting, has been certified as a woman, business enterprise (WBE) by the State of Missouri. This certification indicates that VantageLinks is at least 51 percent woman-owned and operated, and certifies VantageLinks to do business as a WBE in the category of, information systems software development and IT consulting.?VantageLinks has been certified on February 2nd, 2008. The current certification is through February 1st, 2011.
Click Here to view our current certificate WBE Certification Information
Nobember 1, 2011
Jake Amir, VP, Strategic Relations was elected to the Board of Directors for MKSSA – Missouri & Kansas Search and Staffing Association.
October 15, 2010
We have moved to new office!
Due to our growth, we have moved to a new office. Our location is in the same building. We have moved from suite 425 to suite 285. The space is larger and has a larger conference room, a kitchen and room to grow.
August 25, 2010
VantageLinks, LLC and Microsoft
VantageLinks, LLC is proud to announce that it achieved a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner.
August 25, 2010
VantageLinks, LLC obtained additional Microsoft competencies certifications
In order to obtain Microsoft's competencies and specializations, VantageLinks must maintain trained staff in the selected competencies and demonstrate expertise with its’ client supporting the competencies and specializations
August 25, 2010
VantageLinks, LLC and Microsoft
VantageLinks, LLC is proud to announce that it achieved a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner.
April 26, 2010
VantageLinks is pleased to support the Society for Information Management – St. Louis Golf Scholarship Event 2010 in support of area children to achieve a better future by advancing their education.SIM is an association of senior IT executives, prominent academicians, selected consultants, and other IT thought leaders built on the foundation of local chapters, who come together to share and enhance their rich intellectual capital for the benefit of its members and their organizations.
November 5, 2009
VantageLinks, LLC is please to be a proud sponsor and organizer for the Wendi Gordon Shelist Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation (WGS NF)
Our mission to help raise awareness of the disease, improve the diagnosis, and treatment of the disease and through research eradicate the disease. The Event invitation is being delivered to over 3,500 attendees of the Association of Military Surgeons, the Washington University School of Medicine Division of Acute and Critical Care as well as key members of the St. Louis community. We anticipate 350-500 people will attend the fund raising event.
August 17, 2009
VantageLinks, LLC obtained multiple Microsoft competencies certifications
In order to obtain Microsoft's competencies and specializations, VantageLinks must maintain trained staff in the selected competencies and demonstrate expertise with its’ client supporting the competencies and specializations
June 28, 2009
VantageLinks, LLC received WBEC certification extension to 2010
VantageLinks, LLC, a leader in information technology consulting, outsourcing and staffing has been certified as a woman’s business enterprise (WBE) by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
June 14, 2008
VantageLinks, LLC president Leah Amir is the feature speaker at the Wound Care SST conference in Chicago
Ms. Leah Amir, VantageLinks, LLC, President and CEO is the feature speaker at the Wound Care SST conference in Chicago.
June 12, 2008
VantageLinks, LLC is now certified WBENC
VantageLinks, LLC, a leader in information technology consulting, has been certified as a woman’s business enterprise (WBE) by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
January 2, 2008
VantageLinks, LLC and Microsoft
VantageLinks, LLC is proud to announce that it achieved a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider.
February 6, 2008
VantageLinks, LLC, is now certified WBE
VantageLinks, LLC, a leader in information technology consulting, has been certified as a woman’s business enterprise (WBE) by the State of Missouri.
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