Job Search Obstacles

I’ve reviewed 500+ applications as a recruiter at Amazon, Microsoft, and TikTok. This is the kind of resume that gets rejected in 3 seconds. I'll break down why such resumes fail to create an impact and how you can avoid such mistakes. Problem 1: Too much, too soon Two degrees, 15+ courses, and 30+ tools listed - all in the top half. Recruiters don’t need a tech stack dump upfront. Instead: ➡️ Start with a skills summary tied to impact-driven achievements. ➡️ Highlight tools you’ve mastered, not dabbled in. Problem 2: Responsibilities ≠ results Worked with IT to maintain PC and network health. Okay... but how did it matter? Reduced downtime? Saved costs? Improved performance by X%? Instead: ➡️ Write impact-focused bullets — e.g., “Reduced network downtime by 35% through system upgrades.” Problem 3: Irrelevant experience Amazon Prime Shopper role at Whole Foods is listed in detail. Unless applying for retail or logistics, this distracts. Instead: ➡️ Group unrelated roles under a single “Other Experience” section. ➡️ Focus on transferable skills like teamwork, deadlines, or inventory handling — but keep it brief. Problem 4: Projects without purpose Projects sound impressive but lack outcomes. E.g., “Built an AI model to detect human emotion.” Questions recruiters ask: What accuracy did it achieve? Was it deployed? How did it solve a problem? Instead: ➡️ Add metrics — e.g., “Improved emotion detection accuracy by 20% and reduced processing time by 15%.” Here’s the hard truth: Most resumes don’t fail because candidates lack skills. They fail because they fail to communicate impact. If you're not receiving calls from recruiters despite applying to 100s of jobs, it could be due to your resume. Repost this if you found value. P.S. Follow me if you are an Indian job seeker in the U.S. I share insights on job search, interview prep, and more.

“I applied to 200 jobs on Naukri, LinkedIn, Indeed… but no one even saw my resume.” This is what one of my students told me, eyes filled with doubt. And I wasn’t surprised. Because after reviewing 60,000+ resumes, I’ve seen the same painful truth: 90% get rejected by ATS before a human ever reads them. Not because the candidate isn’t talented. But because the resume is invisible. Here’s the reality: Recruiters spend 7 seconds skimming your resume. Job portals use ATS filters to auto-reject anything that doesn’t match keywords. And these small mistakes are costing thousands of people their dream jobs. Here are 10 game-changing details most candidates miss (don’t let yours be one of them 👇): 1️⃣ Missing Contact Info Sounds obvious, but 1 in 5 resumes don’t have a phone number or clickable email. ✅ Put your phone and professional email right at the top, ATS-readable. 2️⃣ No Clear Role Title “Intern” isn’t enough. ✅ Use: “Marketing Intern – Social Media Campaigns” instead. It tells the recruiter what you actually did. 3️⃣ Achievements Without Numbers “Handled client accounts” = vague. ✅ Try: “Managed 12 client accounts worth ₹3 Cr, improved retention by 25%.” 4️⃣ Ignoring ATS Keywords Job portals like Naukri & LinkedIn match resumes by keywords. ✅ Mirror exact job description terms in your skills/experience section. 5️⃣ Not Linking LinkedIn/Portfolio In 2025, recruiters expect proof. ✅ Always include your clickable LinkedIn URL + portfolio/GitHub/Behance links. 6️⃣ Using Fancy Templates That Break ATS Many Canva-style resumes look pretty but fail ATS scans. ✅ Stick to clean, text-based formats in Word/PDF. 7️⃣ Burying Skills at the Bottom Recruiters skim. ✅ Put a “Core Skills” section on the first half of page one. 8️⃣ Generic Summaries ❌ “I’m a hardworking professional seeking growth opportunities.” ✅ Instead: “Data Analyst with 3 years’ experience in SQL & Python, improved reporting speed by 40% at TCS.” 9️⃣ Overcrowded With Irrelevant Details Nobody needs your 12th board marks if you’re 5 years into your career. ✅ Cut the noise, keep it sharp, 1–2 pages max. 🔟 Forgetting to Proofread One typo can ruin first impressions. ✅ Run it through Grammarly + ask a peer to review. I’ve helped 50,000+ candidates land offers at companies like Google, Accenture, KPMG, Barclays, and Wipro by fixing exactly these mistakes. And trust me, your dream job isn’t far. It’s just one strong resume away. If you want my step-by-step guide on “How to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume” that got my candidates hired at top companies, comment YES and I’ll share it in my next post. #resumetips #atsresume #careercoach #jobsearchindia #interviewpreparation

I've looked at 1,000+ resumes. (as a coach, hiring manager and recruiter) Here's what keeps people from landing the interview: 1. Buzzwords and jargon that don't mean anything. 2. No metrics, projects or identifiable brand names. 3. Hard to read. Not skimmable. 4. Consulting work that's at the top and creates more confusion than value add. 5. Too much information. 6. Reads like a history paper and not a marketing document. 7. Doesn't align with the job description. 8. Grammar, spelling, etc. = the basics. 9. Duties vs. accomplishments. 10. Nothing to differentiate you. BONUS: Relying solely on applying online. Please - for the love - make a personal connection to the hiring manager/recruiter. It REALLY DOES make a difference. Obviously, AI and ATS are part of the equation. They're ever-evolving and I know it's hard to keep up with (employers struggle to keep up as well). But you can't control that. You CAN control the above list. 📍 Which ones are you guilty of? (It's ok, we've all been guilty of some of these.) P.S. Interested in seeing MY resume/cover letter and get a breakdown of why I believe I landed an interview for a gig with 500+ applicants? (and then why I DIDN'T get the job) write RESUME in the comments and I'll send you a link to access my full video breakdown.

Most resumes don’t get rejected for lack of experience. They get rejected for how that experience is presented. Over the last 3 months, I’ve reviewed over 50 resumes.  Friends, Referrals, and community members. Each time, I notice the same patterns. The mistakes are often small but costly. The wins are subtle but powerful. Here’s what I’ve learned from those reviews and what you can fix today: What actually works? 1 - Tailored Content The best resumes don’t try to be everything to everyone. They’re sharp, role-specific, and rich with keywords that match the job description. 2 - Quantifiable Achievements A line like “handled sales” is forgettable. A line like “Increased sales by 20% in 6 months” gets noticed. 3 - Simple, Clean Formatting Single-column. Consistent fonts. No design drama. ATS systems will thank you. So will recruiters. 4 - Professional Summary > Objective Statement Start with a crisp summary that answers: “What do I bring to the table?” 5 - Action Verbs “Led,” “Built,” “Implemented,” “Optimized.” Not “Responsible for” or “Helped with.” What to absolutely avoid? 1 - Generic Phrases “Hardworking team player” is white noise. Show it. Don’t say it. 2 - Outdated or Irrelevant Info That 2012 internship? Probably time to let it go. 3 - Over-designed Layouts ATS bots don’t care about your Canva skills. Keep it functional. 4 - Typos & Formatting Errors One comma out of place? Might not ruin your chances. But why risk it? 5 - Missing Contact Info Yes, this still happens. Double-check that your phone and email are visible. Bonus enhancements that make a difference: - Use metrics in every role, not just the latest one. - Match your skill section to what the job actually demands. - Move education below experience, unless you're a fresh grad. - Include certifications and recent courses. - Keep font styles and spacing uniform throughout. My suggestion? Take an hour this weekend and do a ruthless edit. - Cut fluff. - Add metrics. - Tweak layout. Ask a friend for feedback. And if you want a second set of eyes, I’m happy to help. I regularly do resume reviews (for a small fee). If you're looking for personalized, actionable feedback, DM me or drop a comment. Let’s make your experience shine the way it deserves to. -- ♻️ Reshare if this might help someone. ▶️ Join 2,485+ in the Tidbits WhatsApp group → link in comments

After reviewing thousands of resumes throughout my career, I’ve noticed common mistakes that hold job seekers back. One of the biggest trends right now? Over-reliance on AI. AI tools can be a great starting point. They help with formatting, ATS optimization, and save time. But when candidates don’t take the time to proofread or customize their resumes, recruiters immediately notice. A generic, AI-generated resume won’t set you apart, it will blend in. Another misstep? Trying to “hack” ATS systems with tactics like white ink keyword stuffing. Not only does this not work (since modern ATS software reformats the text), but it risks making your resume unreadable if a human reviewer does see it. At the end of the day, your resume’s goal isn’t just to get past software. It’s to engage the person making the hiring decision. Clarity, strategy, and relevance matter. In my latest carousel, I break down the five most common resume mistakes and how to fix them. Take a look, and if you need a professional audit of your resume, reach out. #ResumeTips #CareerCoaching #JobSearchSuccess

"I've sent out dozens of applications, and it's so frustrating not hearing back from recruiters." The problem might not be your experience. It might be your CV. After reviewing hundreds of CVs, I see the same five mistakes blocking great people from great opportunities. 1. The "Responsible For" Syndrome ❌ Old Way: "Responsible for managing the social media calendar." ✅ Fix: "Grew social media engagement by 45% in 6 months by implementing a new content strategy." 👉🏾 Swap duties for achievements. Use numbers to show your impact. 2. The Wall of Text Recruiters spend seconds on a CV. A dense, paragraph-heavy document is daunting and gets skipped. 👉🏾 Use bullet points, white space, and clear headings. Make your wins easy to find. 3. The Generic Objective Statement "I am a hard-working professional seeking a challenging role that utilizes my skills..." This says nothing and wastes prime real estate. 👉🏾 Replace it with a punchy Professional Summary — 2-3 lines that sell your unique value. 4. Keyword Mismatch If your CV doesn't include the keywords from the job description, the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) might auto-reject it. 👉🏾 Mirror the language used in the job ad for key skills and tools. 5. Typos & Grammatical Errors A single typo signals a lack of attention to detail. It's an easy excuse for a recruiter to move to the next candidate. 👉🏾 Read it aloud or use a text-to-speech tool. Then, have a friend proofread it. Small tweaks make big difference. All the best in your search. 

Most career coaches will tell you to "just apply more." 🤦♂️ That's the WORST advice for getting a job in Germany. I always had this impression that job hunting was super formulaic. That there was a set of rules you had to follow 📚 That everyone else knew what they were doing and if you just sent out 100 applications, you'd land something. But it couldn't be further from the truth. Years into helping people relocate to Germany, I've worked with hundreds of professionals - from fresh graduates to senior engineers. And the one thing I've realized? 🤔 There's literally NO one-size-fits-all approach to landing a German job. Most people are doing it wrong. Most successful relocations happen through strategic positioning, not mass applications. And it's experimentation that actually PUSHES companies forward. What works for one person probably won't work for you. And the professionals that stood out didn't copy - they INNOVATED. 🍎 Some optimized their LinkedIn and got headhunted. 📦 Others built ATS-proof resumes that actually got past the filters. 💪 A few created content that made recruiters reach out to THEM. That's when it clicked for me → the more UNIQUE you are, the BETTER. It's your USP. It's why recruiters remember you. Over the last year, we've been refining what makes my clients different - and literally in the past month, we've nailed it. The strategy, the positioning, the approach... it finally feels hella cool. 😎 But it only came from experimentation. From mistakes. From testing ideas and watching what actually works in the real German job market. #publicspeaking #rvielts

Immigrants in Germany: Nobody knows you exist. That's why you're not getting hired. You can have the perfect CV. The best skills. Years of experience. In fact, this is true for my clients. They studied at top universities, worked for well-known companies, and built strong networks — but only in their home country. Here's the problem: In Germany, those brands aren’t recognized, and they have no local connections to vouch for them. 𝗦𝗼 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 — 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 — 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. This is exactly what I faced when I decided to move to Germany in 2019. I had great experience, but no local recognition — and no network. Instead of applying blindly, I focused on getting into real conversations. I reached out to 100 people: • Alumni in Germany (many UP alumni are here — we even have an association!) • Former coworkers & bosses (even if they weren’t in Germany) • Industry peers in Hamburg & Berlin (product managers and software engineers) • Hiring managers & founders (I showcased how I solve big problems) Then, I messaged them. Not to ask for a job — but to start a conversation. Within weeks, I had real discussions. Those discussions led to introductions. And one of those introductions led to my job offer. If you’re stuck in your job search, don’t just fix your CV. Start talking to people who can open doors for you. 🤔 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸? Leave a comment and I'll try to help!

If you think the construction labor shortage is about recruitment, think again. The construction industry doesn’t have a workforce problem, it has a culture problem. We keep saying: “We need more people.” But rarely do we stop to ask WHY people leave or HOW we can actually keep them. Because you can’t recruit your way out of a retention crisis. 📉 Each year, the U.S. construction industry loses roughly 1.7 million workers. 💔 About 40% of that turnover is due to culture-related issues, not tools, training, or pay, but harassment, burnout, and poor leadership. We’re not losing people because they don’t want to work. We’re losing them because they don’t feel seen, supported, or safe where they work. 400,000 women gone in a decade. Not because they lacked technical skills but because the industry lacked culture. Harassment. Lack of mentorship. No clear path to grow. According to NCCER, 39% of women who leave construction cite inadequate supervision or lack of mentorship. With less than 14% of the workforce being women, losing nearly half a million is devastating for the industry’s future. But this isn't impact can't be relegated to a women's issue. 1.6 million men gone too. Burned out. Dismissed. Disconnected. They didn’t leave the work. They left the conditions. They left poor, unsupportive leadership. We talk endlessly about “getting more people into the trades,” but filling the pipeline doesn’t matter if the culture at the other end is still leaking. By 2030, the U.S. will need 500,000+ new workers per year to meet demand. But what if we simply kept the ones who already showed up? The future of construction starts with people not just profits. Changing the skilled trades workforce starts with changing the work environment. We can’t convince people to love construction but we can make a concerted effort to: ✅ Protect, retain, and create belonging for those who enter the trades. ✅ Support the evolution of AI and technology as tools that enhance human skill, not replace it. ✅ Recognize that the next generation values purpose, flexibility, and connection, not just paychecks. We’ve proven we can build bridges, data centers, highways, and cities. Now it’s time to build cultures strong enough to keep the people who build everything else. We’re not short on people. We’re short on places where people feel safe, respected, and supported. That’s not a labor shortage. That’s a leadership opportunity. #constructionindustry #constructioninclusionweek #workforcedevelopment

Opportunity Card approved. Arrived in Germany. Now comes the part that’s rarely talked about.   Based on real conversations with Opportunity Card holders already in Germany, not from AI research 🙂   Imagine this. You move to the UK, the US, or Australia. You don’t speak English. You apply for jobs. The market is competitive. Your CV is solid - but you don’t speak the language. How easy do you think it’ll be? Now flip the scenario. You’ve landed in Germany. You don’t speak German. And you wonder why it’s hard.   This is what we hear again and again from those already here.   They arrive hopeful.  They apply to dozens of jobs.  Weeks pass - no interviews, no responses.  And the stress starts to build.  Rent. Living costs. Uncertainty.   Germany isn’t a “global English market.” Yes, it’s a strong economy.  Yes, it welcomes international talent.  But German is still the default.  In meetings. In documents. In daily life.   Even when the job says “English only”:  Your colleagues speak German.  Your clients speak German.  Your landlord? Usually speaks German. Your doctor? Most likely German.  The system? Very German.   Can you succeed in Germany without speaking German? Yes. But you need a plan.  And you need to prepare smartly.   Many professionals are finding success here - but they’re doing it with the right preparation.   - Look for roles in companies where English is truly the working language (Just know these roles are limited and highly competitive) - Target international companies with diverse teams in cities like Berlin or Munich - Start learning German before you arrive. Even the basics help   And most importantly: Invest in support like professional CV reviews and interview training - especially from someone who understands how hiring works in Germany. People invest heavily to move to Germany. It’s completely understandable to feel unsure about spending more on job search support. So they save where they can and apply using the same approach that worked back home. But the German job market works differently. By the time they realize it’s not working, 3 to 6 months have already passed.   Think long term.  Think integration.  Think beyond just the job.   If you want to build a career and life in Germany that truly works for you, start learning the language yesterday 🙂   ----- If you’re preparing to move - how are you getting ready? And if you’ve already made the move, what do you wish you had known earlier?   Share your thoughts below. Someone a few steps behind you might need it.