Cracking the ‘Job-Ad Code’ – Translation, Please?

Sometimes I think I’m applying for the wrong jobs.  I think it's possible that I’m misreading the job requirements or misunderstanding what my own skills are or mischaracterizing my work experience.  After countless unsuccessful job applications, I’m starting to wonder if I'm doing something wrong.    

A dictionary of common job ad terms and their definitions might help.  For example, I love to write.  If a writing job is described as “marketing communications,” though, do I have no shot at that job because I haven’t actually worked in marketing?  I’ve done public relations work, which is certainly a form of marketing; but is it the kind of marketing that qualifies me for a marcom job?

Another example: my public relations experience was gained at school districts and as a freelancer.  Does this mean that I shouldn’t bother to apply for PR positions with PR firms?  I haven’t worked for a PR “agency” – does that make me unqualified for agency positions, even though I’ve done plenty of PR work?

Then there are the ads for “medical writers” that almost always say things like, “Must have x number of years experience writing for the pharmaceutical industry.”  It is rare to find a medical writer position that says, “No pharmaceutical industry experience needed.”  So how do I gain that particular experience if they won’t hire me because I don’t have that experience?

And while I’m at it, why do people think that writers should be paid in pennies for our work?  I see so many freelance writing projects where the advertiser indicates that they’re “willing” – gasp! – to pay “$3 per article” or some other such ridiculous amount.  Not only is it insulting, but who can afford to work for a couple of dollars per article? 

I never apply for these jobs because I DO know what they want.  Have you ever wondered why the writing you see at many second-tier websites is so awful?  You get what you pay for.   Anyone can string words together, and for three bucks an article, that's exactly what you'll get.

The bottom line is, a lot of times I just can’t tell for sure if I have the skills and experience an employer is looking for or not.  Maybe job ads are written in “job-ad code” and I  haven’t learned to crack it.   Maybe I need an interpreter to help me with the translation.  This thought kind of worries me, though.  After all, I’m a communications professional; I’m supposed to know about words and their meanings.

I don’t know.  Like I said, after a year and a half of effort with nothing to show for it, I’m starting to wonder.