Job Ad Analysis

Before you decide on a job ad, make sure that it provides you with sufficient information about
the ideal candidate for the company or organization. A primary objective of this assignment is to
tailor your employment documents to the specific needs of the employer. If your ad does not give
you sufficient information about your potential employer’s needs, the objective of the project is
defeated before you have even begun. If you are uncertain whether or not your job ad is
appropriate, do not hesitate to ask.

For this assignment, you must have a keen awareness of what your potential employer needs in
an applicant, and you must create a professional identity that proves you can fulfill and exceed
these expectations.

Usage Note: The form is “locked” for easy fill-in. If you need to unlock it for any reason, use the
“Forms” toolbar. If it’s not visible, choose View > Toolbars > Forms and click on the padlock
icon to unlock (or re-lock) the form.

Please write a few sentences for each question.

Reflection

1. Why did you choose this job ad? Do you feel that you are qualified for the position?

2. How long has the ad been posted? If it has been posted for a long period of time, are you sure
that the position is still available? How?

3. Where is the company located? Are you willing to move if it is out of state or in a foreign
country?

4. Why is living in the area that the company is located appealing to you?

Job Ad Analysis

1. What skills is your prospective employer seeking, from most important to least important?
2. What exceptional skills do you have that prove you to be
invaluable to this company or organization? Remember that your resume is not a record of what
you’ve done, but a persuasive document that proves indisputably that you are the best person for
the job.

3. As an exercise, list the skills, professional experience, personality traits, etc., the job ad is
asking for in the left column, and list in the right your skills, experience, etc.

Your prospective employer You

History of the Company / Organization

1. Did you know anything about the company before you saw the job ad?

No.

2. Does the company have a website? What is the URL?

Yes, the website is www.stjosephsvilla.org.

3. What is the mission statement of the company?

St. Joseph's Villa of Rochester helps youth, families and the community by caring for kids in
crisis. The agency specializes in helping at-risk youth overcome serious emotional and
behavioral challenges and build lifelong strengths through a network of high quality programs
and services. Relationships based on caring, respect and hope are the foundation of our efforts.
4. What are keywords on the website that you can use in your cover letter and interview?

Accountability, encourage independence and responsibility, strengths/empowerment theory,

respect, empathy, sensitivity and compassion, and works well with adolescents are all terms that
I could use in a cover letter and/or interview.

5. Write a few sentences about the history of the company. Remember that it is essential for you
to learn as much about the company as possible; you can use such knowledge for your cover
letter and interview.

This company has a rich history. In the 1930's three Catholic orphanages were shutting their
doors to a newly created foster care system. The Sister's of St. Joseph promised to care for the
fearful boys and girls awaiting placement. The growth of the Villa began when 80 acres of
farmland was given to St. Joseph's to use for the facility. In the 1960's more and more teens with
emotional and behavioral needs were coming to the Villa for help. This is when they began
treating a variety of young people with mental health and behavioral needs. In the 1970's the
organization switched funding and leadership and became a non-profit organization. In the
1980's day treatment programs were implemented along with chemical dependency programs. In
the 1990's the organization expanded to school-based, child welfare, and specialized residential
treatments. Today St. Josephs Villa of Rochester serves over 1200 youths per year with over 400
team employees. The organization partners with community agencies as well as remaining true
to their original missions statement put in place by the Sister's of St. Joseph in the 1930's.

6. Based on your research, what is your personal sense about the company? What do you feel
the company values?

This organization cares deeply about youths and the community. They offer both prevention and
treatment for mental illness and behavioral problems. They strive to empower children/youth's
to become a functional part of the community. They attempt to instill responsibility, decision-
making, independence, and other important life skills. I fully agree with the values and mission
statement of this organization. I feel that they are reasonable goals for youth that are struggling
with behavioral and/or mental issues.

7. Does Purdue’s Center for Career Opportunities have a networking system with this
company?

It didn't appear to…but I am honestly not quite sure how to figure this out.

8. Do you have any personal connections to this company? Do you know anyone who works
there? Does anyone in your family or friends of your family work there?

No.