The last job I had, and my most current one, is as a Graduate Career Assistant for the Career Success Center. The job description definitely played a big role in my decision to apply. I was specifically looking for a position that would give me relevant experience in HR, especially in areas like mock interviewing, resume and cover letter screening, and working directly with others on their professional development. The bulleted responsibilities gave me a clear picture of what the supervisors were looking for, and I could immediately see how my background aligned with their expectations.
My actual experience on the job has closely matched the original description. I’ve been involved in tasks such as one-on-one appointments with students, helping with resumes, preparing them for interviews, and occasionally supporting employer engagement events. These were all outlined in the job posting, so there were no major surprises.
One similarity that stands out is how much emphasis they placed on communication and interpersonal skills in the job description, and that’s been a huge part of my daily work. A slight difference has been the amount of behind-the-scenes work I’ve taken on, like helping update resources or organizing materials for workshops. While that wasn’t heavily emphasized in the posting, it’s been a valuable addition to my experience and skill set.
Overall, the job description set clear expectations, which made it easier for me to not only prepare for the role but also thrive in it.
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2 thoughts on “Week 3: Job Descriptions”
Thanks for sharing your experience! It seems like your role as a Graduate Career Assistant has been a great match for your! It’s great that the job description played such a key role in helping you identify the opportunity as a good fit. I agree that having clearly outlined responsibilities makes it much easier to see where your skills align and to walk into a role feeling confident and prepared. I think in my current role i share a similar experience. If the job description was not highlighted duties the way it did, i may have not applied for my current role.
I also think it’s interesting that you mentioned the behind-the-scenes work. Even though it wasn’t emphasized in the job description, it’s great that you’ve been able to take on those extra tasks and expand your skill set. in my experience, I’ve learned sometimes those unexpected responsibilities turn out to be just as valuable.
Hi Hannah! Thanks so much for the thoughtful post!
I think its great that you paid attention to the job description and had an understanding of similar roles that would allow you to still get the experience necessary for HR. Skills such as communication are essential in this job and it sounds like you’re getting a lot of great exposure even if you weren’t expecting it. Good for you!