Have you ever read a job ad and felt that it told you a lot about an employer (good or bad)?  The truth of the matter is that an employer's job ad can reveal many things about the culture of that company and the attitude they have towards their workers.  Here are a few rules on how job candidates should read between the lines of job ads:

1.    How detailed is the job ad?  On many internet job sites, employers are allowed to create very detailed job ads (over a 1,000 words) that include information about the company's culture and mission.  If the employer fails to include details about their company and/or specifics of the position when they have more than enough space to do so, it may be a bad sign.

2.    Does the employer's job ad include information about how the position will benefit the job candidate? Or, do they simply focus on the responsibilities, duties and work experience required of the job candidate.  Employment is a two-way street that requires value from both the employee and the employer.  If an employer fails to mention how the company/job will benefit the job candidate then it may be cause they don't realize that the employment relationship is a two-way street which is never good for workers.  When examining a job ad, look for postings that answer the question: How will the job candidate benefit from working at this company?

3.    Job ads should offer valuable details such as salary information, specific job responsibilities and at least some information about the company's culture, history and/or mission. If a company offers the specifics necessary for a job candidate to make an informed decision about the applying for a position it is usually a sign that they understand and respect the relationship between the employer and employee and are willing to hold up their end of the bargain.