(ARA) - In today's job market, beginning your career can feel overwhelming. Having the right education, experience and motivation is key - but too often, candidates may hurt their chances of getting that first job before they even submit their resume.

So how can you interpret job ads to determine what an employer is really looking for in a candidate? Career counseling experts at DeVry University routinely advise students on how to read job ads in order to have the best chance of securing the position. Here are some of their top tips:

* Entry-level means that the company is looking for someone with minimal experience, and will be paying based on that level of experience.

* Experienced could mean that the company is looking for candidates who typically have at least three years of experience in the field, or skills that can be utilized in their advertised position. "Undergraduate and graduate degrees can often be substituted for some of the expected experience," says Florence Herman, director of career services at DeVry University in New Jersey.

* Working knowledge or familiarity with usually means that you should be familiar with the qualifications and understand what they are, but don't necessarily need directly related experience, says Herman.