Jane Friedman Offers Writers Valuable Advice

Jane Friedman Offers Writers Valuable Advice Its undeniable that writing and the publishing industry have vastly changed over the last 20 years. Publishing and media solutions UK group Ribbonfish poignantly wrote on their website: The publishing industry is no longer restricted to ink and paper; digital technology has a vital role to play in the industrys current and future activities. Publishing companies are now just as likely to be producing, marketing and selling digital forms of fiction and non-fiction, as they are to be printing hard copies of books and magazines.E-readers and digital copies of books (plus the constant availability of the phone in our pockets) have led to a generation of readers who are able to carry their books on the go without a giant tote bag to store them. While its a positive thing overall that more people have access to literature and writing than ever before, this can make for a complicated landscape for writers and publishers to navigate through.Not since the invention of the printing press has t here been more of a revolution in the publishing industry. Today, writers and publishers are not only expected to produce their work in a traditional book format, but also for several different types of electronic formats such as EPUB, AZW (the Amazon format), PDF, ODF, and MOBI. Writers and publishers also have the task of marketing the book on social media and getting and keeping the attention of the reader, who now has millions of reading choices available to them at the touch of their fingertips.Seeing the fast-paced changes in the publishing industry, Jane Friedmanâ€"writer, author and publisher strategist, and co-founder of The Hot Sheet (the essential industry newsletter for authors)â€"decided that there was a need for someone to help authors and publishers make smarter business decisions in this new publishing world. She has dedicated her website, JaneFriedman.com, to advertising her services for querying, book proposals, author website critiques, and more.Lets take a look a t what JaneFriedman.com offers for authors and publishers and take a dive into her blog on insights and tips for the industry.What services does JaneFriedman.com offer?Jane Friedman offers a wide range of publishing and digital media strategy services for authors and publishers who are at every stage in their career. All of the work is directly done by Jane herselfâ€"she makes it a point to let her potential clients know that she doesnt subcontract or use assistants to do this work (with the exception of administrative tasks that dont directly involve clients)Query letter and synopsis critiquesA query letter is a formal letter that is sent (typically unsolicited) to magazine editors or literary agents to propose a writing idea. They are written in a very specific format to capture the attention of the person you are writing to in order to sell them on your idea.Jane Friedman offers critiques on both the query letter as well as synopses that authors write. Jane writes on her website, If youre preparing queries or synopses for an agent or publisher, I can edit and evaluate your materials and suggest improvements to increase your chances of a response. I cant guarantee youll get representation or a publishing deal, but I can offer you insight into potential challenges or stumbling blocks in your efforts to get published.The goal is to have a finalized query and synopsis of your book that is appropriate to send out to an agent or publisher.Here is how the typical process will go:Jane will typically rewrite or revisit a clients query or synopsis.She will not write for you, as she cant write in your particular style, but she will make sure that the query is a collaborative effort in order to capture the best qualities of your book.She will correct grammar, style, mechanics, and spelling if it is necessary.She will apply the necessary formatting that is consistent with book publishing standards.Jane can also provide insight and advice on any legal issues raised by yo ur project.Nonfiction book proposal critiquesNonfiction book proposals are a completely different ballpark than querying fiction. In order to help you prepare your proposal, Jane Friedman offers nonfiction book proposal critiques that are backed up by her extensive experience working in nonfiction as an editor as well as preparing nonfiction book proposals for her own work. In many cases, authors with little experience with or exposure to book proposals will have missed some of the necessary sections, or they havent addressed important issues such as competing titles, target market, or the marketing plan.Here is how the typical process will go:Once you have written a proposal, Jane will take a look at it and propose either a phone consultation or a book proposal edit and consult.A phone consultation will be one hour on the phone or via Skype to discuss the book proposal. This is frequently recommended if there is a lot of work to do on the proposal. Jane will recommend next steps du ring the consultation.A book proposal edit and consultation will consist of a thorough review and edit of the proposal as well as a follow-up Skype call to discuss the changes that were made.If you havent written a book proposal yet, Jane also offers an online course on book proposals that will allow writers to ask questions about putting one together on your own.Author website and blog critiquesAuthors are expected to not only write well, but also constantly be marketing their product on their website or their blog. If your website needs some work, Jane can assist you in cleaning it up or ensuring that it adheres to best practices such as search engine optimization or mobile device optimization.Here is what you can expect if you hire Jane for author website or blog critique services:First, you will be asked to complete a worksheet to help her understand the history of your website, how you manage it, and what you want to get out of the website in the future.After having time to rea d and review the website, Jane will schedule an appointment to discuss your questions and concerns.She will give you a detailed report on your website that will help you improve it based on strategic goals, prioritize your time and make the best use of what you currently have, and help you build a plan for the next stage of your website.Additionally, she will help you understand the influence of SEO on your site and help you understand your sites Google Analytics.Jane also provides blogging critiques, which includes an overview of blogging strategy, a critique of your social media accounts, how to improve the effectiveness of your online writing, and what it will take to generate more traffic.Nonfiction book concept reviewIf you are thinking about entering into the world of nonfiction and you want to test the waters with a book concept, you can send the proposal over to Jane Friedman for a safe place to review and get feedback without too high of stakes. Sometimes you may have a gre at idea but arent exactly sure if there is a market or how you can make the book appeal to the masses. The service is fairly affordable (only $200) and will help an author get their feet wet on a new idea.Before you begin writing your proposal, you can send me your concept for review and advice, and Ill offer written feedback via email. This can potentially save you time and frustrationâ€"so that you dont develop a book proposal for a concept thats not likely to be viable or salable.Jane FriedmanOn the nonfiction book concept review, you can expect the following:You will start by filling out a form that asks you to categorize your nonfiction book (memoir/life story, narrative nonfiction, collection of essays, prescriptive, or business). The form will also ask you to write a description of your book, talk about your background as a writer or an author, whether or not you have pitched the idea before, and what you are hoping to learn from the experience of working with Jane on this co llaborative concept.By the end of the collaborative exchange, the idea is that you will have concrete next steps or a directionâ€"and sometimes that direction is to abandon the project.Whats on Jane Friedmans blog?In addition to all of the services Jane offers on her website, she also includes a blog where she shares tips and tricks for the author and publishing community. She shares tips on strategic marketing (such as her recent post on an introverts guide to launching a book), tips on crafting stories (like her post on flashbacks in fiction), as well as tips for productivity (see her post on staying sane while publishing).The posts are regular and they offer so much insight into the ever-changing publishing industry for those in every stage of their careers.

Best Science Fair Ideas and Projects by Grade Level

Evaluate the Changes and Continuities in the Role of...

China has been the home to various religions. At different times different dynasties endorsed certain religions while repressing others. While Buddhism flourished during the Sui and Tang dynasty, it faced opposition from the government during the Song dynasty. Confucianism lost government endorsement during the Sui and Tang but gained momentum during the Song as Neo-Confucianism. Yuan dynasty promoted Islam and Tibet Buddhism but ignored Confucianism. Different rulers sponsored and protected different religions but Confucianism and some form of Buddhism have always been alive in Chinese society from 600 to 1450. After much political disunity and chaos China was finally united under the Sui dynasty (589-618) and Sui emperors allowed†¦show more content†¦Empress Wu, the only female to ever rule China, was a devout Daoist. Also, as the Tang Empire expanded eastward, contact with India increased and Buddhist influence reached its height. Many people traveled to India. Monks like Xuanzang went to India, brought back many sutras, literary compositions based on the teachings of Buddha, and translated them into Chinese. Seeing the rise of Daoism and Buddhism and the fading of Confucianism, Tang scholars set out to defend Confucianism. Han Yu, an essayist, vehemently argued against Buddhism and asked the Chinese to go back to their roots by studying and interpreting the Confucian Classics. His main argument against Buddhism was that the foreign religion preached equality among all and didn’t place proper importance between the five relationships (ruler vs. the ruled, father vs. son, h usband vs. wife, older brother vs. younger brother, and older friend vs. younger friend) necessary for social tranquility. He urged that this was destroying social order. Nonetheless Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism all coexisted as the three teachings under the Tang. Under the Song (960-1279) dynasty Buddhism started to lose popularity and endorsement while Confucianism was revived. Near the end of the Tang dynasty Emperor Wuzong issued the Great Anti- Buddhist Persecution. This persecution had economic and social reasons. First, war with Uyghur tribes in 843 left the country in dire need for money. Monks did notShow MoreRelatedCCOT And CC Essay1549 Words   |  7 Pages/2 – 8000 bce – 600 bce, 600 bce – 600 ce Africa Compare and contrast life in foraging societies with life in agricultural societies after the Agricultural Revolution Identify two key changes in early African history that resulted in a new period in the history of the region The Middle East Analyze the political changes in the Middle East from the Agricultural Revolution to 600 c.e. Compare and contrast the basic features of TWO of the following religious systems prior to 600 c.e. PolytheismRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pages10.5/12 ITC New Baskerville Std Credits and acknowledgments borrowed from other sources and reproduced, with permission, in this textbook appear on the appropriate page within text. Copyright  © 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrievalRead MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 Pagesactivities 9.1.2. Responsibility matrixes 10.1 Communication planning (.2.3.4) [App. G-4] Chapter 12 Outsourcing 12.1.1 Procurement requirements [G.8] 12.1.2.3 Contract types 9.4.2.3 Conflict management 12.2.7 The art of negotiating 12.2.3.5 Change requests Chapter 13 Monitoring Progress Chapter 5 Estimating Times and Costs 6.4 Activity duration estimates (.3) 6.4.2 Estimating tools (.1.3.4) 6.3.1 Identifying resources 7.1 Activity cost estimates (.2.3.4.5) 5.1.2.4 Delphi method

Uganda Free Essays

1. What is the nature of OpenMRS and why was it developed? Why were US universities, US National Institute of Health (NIH) and US donors involved in developing this system? 2. What were the impacts of using OpenMRS in ISS Clinic? How did the healthcare system improve? 3. We will write a custom essay sample on Uganda or any similar topic only for you Order Now What were the problems encountered in using OpenMRS? Discuss the battle of forms and why there were disagreements about what forms to use. Make a distinction between research vs. clinical objectives, US researcher vs. local objectives. 4. Why the OpenMRS project is in danger of failure? Why did the clinicians at ISS clinic say that â€Å"we didn’t ask for it. It is your problem†? Why MOH and US researchers are at odds about the value of OpenMRS? 5. What can be learned from this experience when implementing IT projects in developing countries? Do culture and world politics have a role? Why? 1. The OpenMRS is an electronic medical record system (EMRS) that was developed to track of patients medical records across a variety of different countries to be used in different types of clinics. Having the software as open source also meant that the source code could be assessed by anyone and customized to fit their particular need. In the ISS Clinic in Uganda it was used for patients being treated for HIV/AIDS. The system was developed to replace paper records which would make the work of researchers and clinic workers easier. The EMRs was used to track patient progress and track the inventory of antiretroviral drugs. US donors were most interested in the system as it made the retrieving information on patients that is needed for their research on AIDS, antiretroviral treatment, and other disease research much more accessible. 2. The impact of using OpenMRS was that it had greater storage capacity than Microsoft excel and it could be customized for their own particular use. Using the new system clinicians were able to able spend less time reviewing patient data and more time with patients as well as reducing wait times. Since patients usually did not see the same clinic staff. The data also allowed them to analyze patient trends and reduce the instance of drug stock outs. They could also use the data base to generate random samples for new research studies. 3. The problem with the Open MRS system is that not everyone in the clinic was on board. Clinic workers generally thought of the system as more for the US researchers. Clinicians did not have much access to the system either as their primary tool was still paper forms. Another bump in the road was the Ministry of Health standardizing all forms for HIV clinics meant that ISS needed to redo their system to match the new forms, which also were lacking room the for the additional data needed for UCSF and MGH research. The Ministry of Health in Uganda was concerned with making the reporting of HIV treatment standard for all patients across all the different health platforms, public or private. For the US researchers they wanted to include additional data for their various studies. Both the clinic and the researchers goal was to better and more efficiently treat the AIDS epidemic, however for the researchers they also needed to report back to their grant funders and publish studies in order to keep the program running. 4. The OpenMRS system was in danger of failure in 2010 because there was not enough financial support to cover the operational cost of the program. Funding was being stretched thinner and thinner and one of the clinics big grants was about to expire. The Ugandan Ministry of Health was also not willing to cover the gaps as they did not see the value in the system for their own objectives. The Clinicians didn’t see the immediate value of the system for themselves because they thought of it as a tool of the US researchers (US Researchers were the only ones publishing papers using the data) not thinking about how it’s effect on the day to day operations of the clinic. 5. I think that there is definitely a cultural element to the problem in developing support for the OpenMRS project. The US stakeholders seemed to come in and set up shop without any input from the local people or government. They thought that the government should automatically throw their support behind their efforts. The US stakeholders should have really engaged the local people more with the project, getting them more involved in developing the system and training them to use the system and showing clinicians why it is important for them. The Americans should have also gotten Ugandan researchers involved in using the system to publish their own papers. Having more of a local participation in the project and making it a collaborative effort would have made Ugandan government and workers see the system as their own. How to cite Uganda, Essay examples

Purple free essay sample

Wow, have Stone Temple Pilots changed. Forget the unfair remarks about STPs music merely being recycled rock. And definitely forget about the endless Pearl Jam comparisons. Weiland and the boys are back with their new album,Purple to free your mind of any misconceptions you may have had about them in the past. Their music has an almost completely new style that they can genuinely call their own. Most of the songs follow this format: the melody starts out very soft and, just when you think its going to be a ballad, out comes a very potent song blasting through your speakers. Interstate Love Song would be a good example. It starts out with sort of a country intro. Yeah, I know country stinks, but trust me, STP make it work. Seconds later Dean DeLeo lets loose on his Fender. Army Ants is another good example. The song begins mellow and dazed, but then Eric Kretzs pulsating drumbeat aborts the monotone and Weiland starts yelling, You dont look but you kick me/You cant feel but you hit me. We will write a custom essay sample on Purple or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page While most of the songs are fast paced, there are a few soft tunes. Actually, some of the most subdued songs are also the most powerful. Big Empty, though very dim, is probably the most ardent song Ive ever heard from them. The softer songs also have the more personal lyrics. For instance,Still Remains is obviously about his wife: Love is still and sweat remains/A cherished gift unselfish feeling. Although this album isnt exactly emotionally cathartic, its also not one to be ignored. .

Gatsbys Dream Essays - The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby, Gatsby

Gatsbys Dream Jay Gatsby, the central character of F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby symbolizes the American dream. The American dream offers faith in the possibility of a better life. Its attendant illusion is the belief that material wealth alone can bring that dream to fruition. Through Gatsby, Fitzgerald brings together both these ideas. Jay Gatsby thinks money is the answer to anything he encounters. He has the best of everything. The fanciest car, the largest house, and the finest clothes. Jay has everything except the object he most desires, Daisy. Gatsby believes he can win Daisy over with wealth, that he could achieve the ideal she stood for through his material possessions. One look at Gatsbys past and it could be seen that he was destined to get ahead in life. Mr. Gatz told Nick, Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something. Do you notice what hes got about improving his mind? He was always great for that. He told me I et like a hog once and I beat him for it (182). Gatsbys determination to gain a large bankroll is a huge part of the American dream. He believes that once he achieved his financial goal it would lead to a better life. In America the car is one of the greatest status symbols. Gatsbys gorgeous machine is one of the most majestic cars created. Nicks comments on the vehicle describe its luster, ...and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hatboxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes...Sitting down behind many layers of glass in a sort of leather conservatory we started towards town (68). The use of the symbolic automobile can be seen as a demonstration of how an ideal based on materialism alone can be destructive. This was the fatal car which kills Myrtle Wilson and indirectly leads to Gatsbys death. Appearance is another important factor toward Gatsbys dream. In his quest to win Daisys heart Gatsby chooses to wear his best outfit. ...the front door opened nervously and Gatsby in a white flannel suit, silver shirt and gold colored tie hurried in (89). Silver and gold are the colors of wealth, Gatsbys sartorial splendor is as lavish as any of the other items he owns. Gatsbys shirts are more then just garments towards Gatsby. They are some of the many fascinating objects he possesses that were created by money. These shirts contribute towards Gatsbys vision of the American dream, that his money and belongings will create happiness for him. Another major object of Gatsbys dream was his incredible house. Jay states to Nick and Daisy, My house looks well, doesnt it? See how the whole front of it catches the light (95). Jay gave Nick and Daisy the grand tour of his house showing of all of his worldly possessions. Room after room, everything was shown and mentioned. At the sight of his piles and piles of shirts Daisy broke down. Theyre such beautiful shirts, it makes me sad because Ive never seen such--such beautiful shirts before (98). Jay Gatsbys ideals were parallel to the typical American dream. He wants to claim his objective by the use of his assets. He thinks that his money will give him happiness in life through love and his personal belongings. Even the richest man in the world cant have everything. Material wealth could provide many things for Jay Gatsby but not the thing he most desired. Although his wealth drew Daisy closer to him, he never truly could have possessed her heart. He demanded Daisy to state that she had never loved Tom Buchanan. Oh, you want too much! she cried to Gatsby, I love you now--isnt that enough? I cant help whats past. I did love him once--but I loved you too. (139-140). Jays true love still remained with her uncaring husband, Tom. Jay Gatsbys dream was smashed when he found out that even all of his assets werent enough to woo Daisy to him. Jay Gatsbys belief in the American dream keep him from realizing reality. He believes that if he worked hard enough and made enough money that he could have anything. He wants to perceive the world as a place where sufficient wealth would enable

How to properly read a job posting so you dont apply to a terrible job

How to properly read a job posting so you dont apply to a terrible job When you’re on the job hunt, it’s almost like you need to become fluent in a new language. You need to look at a job description and figure out if it fits your experience and then whether applying for the job is even worth your time. You need to know what common phrases like â€Å"competitive salary,† â€Å"flexible,† and â€Å"growth opportunity† are really telling you about this company and this job, and how to adapt your resume to fit what it requires. But while you’ll certainly face a lot of jargon when searching for a new position, once you understand how to decipher any job posting you come across you’ll save a lot of time and energy.Anatomy of a job postingJob postings are often written like news articles: the most important information is presented right up front, with the extra supporting information down toward the bottom. First, let’s look at the straightforward parts of a standard job ad.The job title: This is basica lly the headline. It’s what you see in an email subject line or on the search results screen. It’s what grabs your attention first and sets the expectations for the rest of the post. Some job title lines will offer the company name or other (succinct) details like the experience level, but many will just be the job itself.Executive Assistant at Fortune 500 CompanyData Management ClerkLevel II Auror at the Ministry of MagicResponsibilities/description: This is where the narrative kicks in. This is usually a brief paragraph or series of bullet points outlining the highlights of the job. It’s not typically comprehensive, but provides a high-level summary of what the job is.Meet aggressive sales goalsProduce 5–10 newsletters per yearGenerate monthly sales reportsQualifications: This is where you kick in. The company has outlined what job they’re filling and what that role does, but now it shifts the focus to you: do you have what they’re seeking ? This is typically a section of bullet points outlining what the company’s ideal candidate for this position would already have.Associate’s Degree in Business or related field5-7 years experienceEnglish and Spanish language fluencyBenefits and pay: This is usually a short section outlining any specific salary and benefits associated with the job. This section may or may not be included in a job description. Benefits are listed far more often in job descriptions than a specific salary, because the benefits can be used as a lure, while a salary number may be either a dealbreaker for potential candidates or might limit the company’s ability to negotiate after a job offer has been made.401(k) matchingSalary commensurate with experienceDental and vision insuranceAbout the company: Company information is especially common when a job is posted in a database or another public forum like a website because the readers may not be familiar with what the company is or does. This is usually a brief statement about the company itself, or its general mission.Giving Hands is a nonprofit company that sends balloon animals to people in need.Cutting Edge Media, LLC is a digital media powerhouse that publishes immersive social media content.Since its founding in 1846, Big Books has shaped public debate by publishing award-winning content about dolphin life and philosophy. How to read between the linesFirst of all, know that a job description isn’t necessarily meant to be taken literally. It’s an ad sent out based on the best estimate of what a job will be and what kind of candidate the company wants to see applying for it. So while it’s absolutely a guideline, nothing is 100% etched in stone. Positions evolve over time, and a stellar candidate with slightly different skills might lead a company to tweak the initial description into something a little different.Job title:  While it seems pretty straightforward, this can sometimes have cl ues about the company and the qualifications you’ll need. For example, in the earlier example of â€Å"Executive Assistant at Fortune 500 Company,† the job title is used to establish the importance of the position (working with executives, so probably not entry-level) and that the company is large and/or prominent.Responsibilities: Again, this is a high-level summary of what the company anticipates for this open job. There may be significantly more (and more specific) duties awaiting the future holder of this job. If you see six rather vague responsibilities and want to know more about what the day-to-day life is like for this role, you can do a little digging online to see if there’s more information available about this particular job at this particular company.If you see a phrase like â€Å"other duties as assigned† or a similar phrase that leaves the job responsibilities open-ended, then that should tell you that the company values flexibility and lik ely has an all-hands-on-deck mentality. That’s a cue for your resume and cover letter package- definitely emphasize your flexibility as an employee and your commitment to getting the job done whatever it takes.Qualifications: If you don’t hit every single bullet point, don’t automatically give up and move on. (Though if you meet, say, 1 qualification bullet point out of 10, this job might be a bit of a stretch.) If you meet most of the job’s requirements, you should still consider applying. You can provide context in your cover letter and resume and emphasize the requirements that you do meet. It may be that the qualifications you’re missing are â€Å"nice to have† instead of â€Å"must have† from the company’s perspective or that your other qualities make up for that one deficit. So don’t let one or two misses discourage you from applying if you’re a good fit otherwise.Benefits and pay: There’s lots of rea ding between the lines here because job descriptions rarely pin down an exact salary or benefits. With phrases like â€Å"commensurate with experience† or â€Å"competitive salary,† the company is basically saying, â€Å"we’ll deal with this later, and be ready to negotiate if we offer you a job.†If you see a request to send your â€Å"salary requirements† along with your resume, that means you’ll have to do some finessing in your application. You can include a salary range in your cover letter. It’s probably wise not to ignore the request altogether- if it was included in the job posting, it’s possible that leaving out the salary requirement would screen your application right out of the running. But you also don’t want to get too specific, because that number could eliminate you as well if it’s too high or too low.About the company: There’s not usually a lot of mystery in this part of a job description. B ut just remember that the company is describing themselves in a very official, public-facing way. If you’re expecting a candid description of what it’s really like to work for this place, or their flaws, well†¦your expectations will not be met.You might also come up against a case where the company isn’t named at all. That can either mean that A) the company is shady; or B) the company is trying to be discreet. If it’s option A and you’re finding a vague, unnamed company advertising jobs on, say, Craigslist, all I can say is†¦think twice. If it’s option B and there’s other information given about the company (it’s a major media company or a top-tier financial company), then it’s possible they just want to avoid either getting a million applications for a single position or don’t want it made public that they’re advertising for someone’s job because he hasn’t been, uh, relieved of his duties yet. Look for context clues about the company if there isn’t a straightforward presentation of X job at Y company.Decoding the buzzwordsEvery field is subject to jargon or clichà ©d phrases, and the art of the job description is no different. Let’s look at some common words and phrases, and what they really tell you.Self-starter/independent worker: This means they’re looking for a person who is ready for a leadership role who doesn’t need a lot of hand-holding. In your application, emphasize your leadership skills or instances where you’ve taken the lead on something.Fast-paced: This job is going to be chaotic and likely subject to deadlines. In your application, demonstrate what you’ve achieved under pressure, or your unwavering commitment to deadlines.Flexible: The company may be looking for someone who’s not afraid to do a bit of scut work as part of their job, or who will be willing to go outside the normal 9-to-5 routine to get the work done. It could signal work-life balance boundary issues, so if you have concerns about this, a little extra research about the job or the company is in order. In your application, emphasize your ability to perform under pressure, or your ability to multitask.Detail-oriented: This company has received one too many applications with blatant typos, and/or the person currently holding this job has made a lot of messy mistakes. In your application, emphasize your organizational skills and your commitment to getting something done efficiently but accurately. And do not skimp on proofreading your resume and cover letter.Communication skills: This shows that the company wants someone publicly presentable, either with customers, clients, or other parts of the company. This is a delicate way of making sure that you can write and speak well and confidently.Growth opportunity: This is likely a low-level or entry-level job and the company might not expect you to commit long-term . That could be a good thing (the last assistant was promoted after six months in the job) or a bad thing (the last assistant got fed up and quit after three months on the job). Definitely mark this as a follow-up item if you get an interview- ask who had previously held the role (generally), and what they’re doing now.Team player: This is not a job for a lone wolf type, who would rather hole up and do the job himself rather than deal with others. In your application, emphasize how you’ve worked with others to achieve goals and, ideally, how you’ve led or inspired others to meet goals as well.So as you can see, there’s no great Rosetta Stone needed to work with the job descriptions that you’ll come across in your job search. And in fact, these postings are more similar than not, so once you learn the basics about what companies are trying to achieve with their limited space in a job ad, you’re ready to go forth and start tailoring your resum e to be the best possible candidate.