Tips for CV Relevance in Job Applications

I recently conversed with an individual who diligently sent his resume to 255 potential employers yet received responses from only five entities. Admittedly, I haven't actively pursued a full-time job for over a decade. Nonetheless, I found his experience disheartening. Upon requesting his resume and cover letter for review, it became evident why he struggled to elicit a response. It seemed he hadn't invested the necessary time and effort to craft his application materials with precision, intention, and self-awareness—focusing on his unique contributions, aspirations, and professional direction. Here are 10 tips we discussed, what did we miss? 💡 Quality Matters: A polished resume and cover letter create a positive first impression for potential employers, showcasing your qualifications effectively. 💡 Customize and Highlight: Tailor your application materials to match job requirements, emphasizing relevant skills and achievements while using keywords from the job description to grab attention and help with the bot reviews. 💡 Attention to Detail: Mistakes or generic content can make you appear unprofessional and disinterested. Take the time to craft personalized materials that align with the job requirements. 💡 Research and Align: Research the company and position to tailor your materials accordingly, aligning your skills and experiences with the organization's mission and values. 💡 Self-Reflection Matters: Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, interests, and values to guide your job search strategy effectively and articulate your career goals. 💡 Adapt to Changes: Job application methods are evolving, including automated responses. Utilize networking, social media, and personalized outreach alongside traditional methods. 💡 Targeted Efforts Pay Off: Focus on quality over quantity in your job search. Target opportunities that match your skills and goals to increase response rates. 💡 Communicate Value Clearly: Emphasize relevant accomplishments and skills that demonstrate your ability to contribute to the organization's success, using clear and concise language and formatting. 💡 Seek Support: Take advantage of resources like career coaches, workshops, online platforms, networking, and mentors to improve your job search and interview strategies. 💡 Continuous Improvement: Reflect on your approach to job searching and applications, prioritizing quality, seeking feedback, and exploring new strategies to enhance your success.

One of the biggest pieces of advice that I give to job seekers when it comes to tailoring resumes, writing cover letters, and preparing for job interviews is to think about your audience! What I mean by this is that you want to understand what aspects of your skills, experiences, and accomplishments will be relevant to the recruiter or hiring manager. To understand what will be relevant, you need to have a strong grasp on the position at hand, as well as the company's needs. So how do you gain this understanding? Pay careful attention to the job description! The job description should be your guide throughout all stages of the application and interview processes. Not all job descriptions are the same, but typically you can glean information like: 🔷 Essential responsibilities of the position 🔷 Key skills and competencies they want you to possess 🔷 Technical proficiencies that can give you an edge 🔷 Types of accomplishments that will make you a competitive applicant 🔷 Metrics or goals they will want you to achieve 🔷 Level of impact they are hoping you can provide 🔷 Required and preferred qualifications you will want to highlight Taking the time to present your background and abilities in a way that resonates with these aspects of the role will maximize your chances of success. This is helpful not just in tailoring your application materials, but also in knowing what you will want to discuss about yourself and your experience during an interview. When I hear job seekers express frustrations that they are sending out 50+ applications a week and haven't heard back from any employers, I emphasize this approach. Pay attention to your audience and speak to their specific needs! Quality > Quantity #jobsearchtips #resumewriting #coverletterwriting #interviewprep

Happy Friday everyone! I've received a few requests for some resume tips and tricks this week and thought I'd share some awesome tips for all the job seekers out there! Here is one of my favorite tips: ⭐ No one knows your work experience better than you do! ⭐ There are countless amounts of job seekers who feel defeated at some point in their job search that consider hiring someone to write a resume for them. Nothing wrong with getting this service but may "Career Coaches" on this platform advertise that they can help you create a resume with a 100% money back guarantee that it will "bypass" applicant tracking system. I can assure you that as long as your resume is in an acceptable file type such as a Word Doc or PDF then your resume is going to make it in front of the recruiter if you apply on their company website. Don't fall victim to some of these scams about trying to "bypass" the ATS. It is a system that stores your application, resume/ other attachments and allows us to move candidates forward to the hiring team. The reason you are probably getting rejected has nothing to do with your resume formatting and everything to do with the quality of content on your resume. 📢 Here is what I want you to try: 💼 1️⃣ Find 3 -4 jobs that are similar by at different companies. Print out the job descriptions for each and set them side by side next to your resume. 2️⃣ Go through all 3-4 job descriptions and find similarities in the qualifications and requirements the hiring team is looking for. Circle them or highlight them. 3️⃣ Head back over to your resume and see if you have that information listed in your resume. If you don't, do you have that experience or skillset? If you do or have something similar, create some bullet points to show case this. Don't just copy and paste the same bullet points from the job description. Create impactful bullet points. 4️⃣ Make these things easy to find in your resume. For example if the job requires a Bachelors or Masters Degree, in your education section, make sure that degree or certification is listed first, especially if you have a ton of certifications or education to list. What I have done in the past is put certifications or degrees that they require in bold so they jump out to the recruiter and it is easy for them to find. Completely my preference and some may not agree which is completely okay but at the very least, make sure those requirements are the first things listed in case the recruiter skims over them being surrounding by so much other information. Follow this formula when you are applying to jobs and watch those request for interviews skyrocket! 🚀 Have a great weekend everyone! 🍻 #jobseekers #resumetips #hiring #veterans

Making Your Resume Stand Out: Insights from a Recent HR Discussion 👨💼 Recently, I had a conversation with an HR representative from my firm, and our discussion shed light on the common pitfalls that lead to resume rejection. Having reviewed approximately 1000 applications for one single business analyst position, they shared some crucial insights as highlighted below: 😊 Tailor Your Content: One glaring issue observed was the prevalence of copied and pasted resume content where many resumes seem identical. It's imperative to stand out by demonstrating your suitability for the role rather than resorting to generic buzzwords. Take the time to carefully align your resume with the job posting, emphasizing relevant skills and experiences. Rather than just talking about what you did on the job, highlight your specific value additions to the project and achievements. Talk about the impacts you created! 😊 Focus on Relevance: Reading the job description thoroughly is essential. Ensure that your experience aligns closely with the role you're applying for. For instance, for a data analyst role primarily focused on data collection and entry, applicants should avoid mentioning unrelated skills such as machine learning or data engineering. 😊 Craft a Personalized Cover Letter: If your previous experience doesn't directly correlate with the position you're applying for, a tailored cover letter is crucial. Explain why you're specifically interested in this role and how your background makes you a suitable candidate. Remember, hiring managers prioritize candidates who show genuine interest in the role and are willing to learn. While experience is valuable, passion and adaptability are equally important, especially for entry-level positions. By aligning your resume with the job posting and crafting personalized applications, you can truly make yourself stand out in a competitive job market. #linkedin #jobsearch #career #growth #usajobmarket #usajobs #careertips #jobhuntingtips #layoffs #layoff #jobmarket #resume #resumebuilding #newyorkjobs #programmanagement #projectmanagement #northeastern #internationalstudents

🚫 Using the same resume for every job application is a mistake. 🚫 But don’t worry—you don’t need to start from scratch each time. Here's what you should do instead: 🎯 Focus on tailoring, Not rewriting 🎯 Your resume shouldn’t be a "jack of all trades, master of none." A generic resume won't stand out to recruiters. Instead, make strategic tweaks to highlight your fit for each specific role. Now, I know it's frustrating to have to tailor a resume with every application And I understand that submitting a resume right away helps you feel better And that you are making progress But I promise it will not be worth it in the long run A tailored resume has: ✔️ Relevance: Focuses on employer’s needs & mirrors job description. ✔️ Clarity: Make it easy for hiring managers to see your fit. ✔️ Enthusiasm: Show you took the time to understand the company & role. Let's say you are applying for a Marketing SEO Manager position Don’t just mention: -General marketing experience -Years of experience in marketing -Broad marketing background with no focus Instead, highlight: -Specific social media campaigns you’ve led -Success in increasing follower engagement -Familiarity with platforms and tools mentioned in the job posting Notice the difference? In all reality your resume is already on the right track It just needs clarity and focus Here's a quick guide to help you with tailoring your resume: ➡️Analyze job description: Underline key responsibilities and required skills. ➡️Identify keywords: Look for repeated or emphasized phrases. ➡️Highlight relevant experiences: Match your past roles with job requirements. ➡️Revise your summary: Reflect how your background makes you an ideal candidate. ➡️Reorder bullet points: Emphasize your most relevant accomplishments. ➡️Show quantifiable achievements: Align with job responsibilities. ➡️Trim irrelevant details: Downplay experiences less relevant to the job. Tailoring your resume for each position can seem like extra work But it’s an investment that pays off. Take those 10-15 minutes to make your resume shine for each application The 10-15 minutes you take to revise your resume will save you more time in the job search down the road #ResumeTips #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #Recruitment #JobHunting #ResumeWriting #LinkedInTips

Ensure your resume speaks to the job posting you are applying for, not your overall experience. Remember, skills are skills, regardless of industry, so you want to focus your resume to attract the roles you want, not necessarily the job you currently have. This is key for any pivot, including: ✅ Industry transitions. ✅ Taking the next step in your career into a promotion. ✅ Focusing on People Management, either into a role as a people manager or away from managing towards an Individual Contributor role. ✅ Combining your previous “unrelated” experience with your new, advanced education into an experienced role in your new field, not having to start as entry-level. You want to control the narrative and highlight your relevance, highlighting the right information in the bullet points for each role, including contextual evidence. Tell the reader, “I did what you’re looking for, and I did it well.” Good luck!

Employers typically spend 6 to 7 seconds looking at your resume or LinkedIn profile when you apply for a job. Ever wonder what they're looking for in those few seconds? Here are some tips on how to make your resume stand out in that amount of time: 1. Simple formatting is key. Although we may be tempted to show off our creative side on our resume, it is recommended to keep your resume in a standard, easy to read format. No need for graphics, artsy templates, or anything that will take attention away from the meat of your resume. 2. Education should go at the bottom of your resume unless you are a new grad. If you have any work experience that is relevant to the job you are applying to, that should come before what you learned in a classroom years ago. 3. Take your GPA off your resume unless this is your first job out of school. I can guarantee it is not a service to you. 4. Use bullet points not paragraphs. It is much easier to read, and your resume could be overlooked because employers frankly don't want to read a paragraph but want to quickly skim bullet points. 5. The order of your bullet points matters. Put the items most relevant to the position you are applying to at the top of the bullet points. 6. List your accomplishments, not just awards. Try to list key projects you are proud of or projects where you saved a company time or money and QUANTIFY them. 7. Don't worry about the "one page" rule. It is better to have an extra page or two than to exclude relevant information that could get you the job, just remember to be concise but thorough. If you are looking for a rule of thumb, try to keep the amount of bullet points under each position between 6 and 10 bullet points. 8. PROOFREAD YOUR RESUME. If an error/typo is found within those 7 seconds, your resume might be discarded immediately. Take the time to review your resume and perhaps even have someone else review it to pick out any errors. 9. Consistency is key. Do not switch between past and present tense and ensure uniformity throughout your resume. As they say, its all in the details. 10. Use Control+F to your advantage. Some hiring managers use the Control+F function during those 7 seconds to search for key words relevant to the job description. Take the time to find key words from the job description and add them into your resume. If you need help with your resume, don't hesitate to reach out so we can boost your chances of getting interviews!

Here's my advice for #Jobseekers: "Think like a Recruiter, not like a Job Seeker." Check out these tips & sites to help you adopt a recruiter's perspective when crafting your resume. 𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬: Easy on the eyes: ✔️ Opt for classic fonts & consistent formatting. Keep colors, bold/italics, and images minimal. Relevant content: ✔️ Start with recent work experience, emphasizing impact & solutions provided. ✔️ List software/technologies used, with bonus points for including versions. ✔️ Use industry-specific keywords from the job description to optimize visibility to recruiters. ✔️ Focus on quantifiable achievements rather than just listing duties. ✔️ Prioritize relevant info at the top for quick recruiter attention. _____________________________ Links in the comments --->>> Recommended Resume Sites: ✔️ Resume Worded ✔️ Indeed ✔️ Resume Genius ✔️ My Perfect Resume ✔️ Resume Builder Notes: 📌 Avoid column formatting for Mid-Level talent & above. Important details may be excluded to fit columns, wasting valuable space for showcasing your value. For 1-page resumes, especially, it's not ideal. For 2 pages or more, empty column space is wasted opportunity to highlight your strengths. 📌 Early Career Talent may use columns sparingly (still not preferred). Here's why: 👇👇 📌 This format doesn't seamlessly parse into ATS, making it challenging for viewers to read. ATS may incorrectly score your experience due to formatting differences. Not Recommended Resume Sites: ❌ Canva: (👀 I love Canva for everything else)- too creative with graphics and columns ❌ Novo Resume: too creative with graphics and columns ❌ Resume.io: Pictures on resumes is NOT recommended, also too creative with graphics and columns ❌ Zety: too creative with graphics and columns What would you add? _____________________________ Hope this helps someone today! Share if you found it insightful. Follow my page for #Recruiting Tips & Advice Have a blessed day! _____________________________ Bonus Tip: To find "industry-specific keywords" that Recruiters will use to find you, ask ChatGPT -->> "What industry-specific keywords would a Recruiter use in their Boolean String to find (Job Title) in the (Specific) Industry?" Level-Up Bonus Tip: include the Job Description

A great way to gauge the effectiveness of your Resume is to shut your eyes for 30 seconds, open them, and see if you are picking up the following at-a-glance: #1) What type of work you do (and just as importantly) the IMPACT it has. Tip: a boldfaced branding statement at the start of your resume can really help with this. Avoid listing out job titles or mentioning excessively “soft” skills here. #2) At least 1-2 unique value “hooks.” With competition and the overall volume of resume submissions going up, it is really important that you distinguish yourself in a positive way as quickly as possible. Think way beyond job descriptions and into the heart and soul of what makes you successful at your job. How are you with leading others? What is the strategic perspective you bring that is sorely needed in your industry? What singular aspects of your background give you a competitive edge (ex. if you bring a deep financial analysis background to an industry and role that’s not expecting it, you should DEFINITELY consider using it as a selling point!) Tip: rather than overload your resume with keywords, consider a few bullet points that bring these traits to light before getting into the meat of your Professional Experience. #3) An obviously relevant job (or two) on that first page. When recruiters and hiring managers scan your resume, relevancy is usually their top-most criteria. Forget about trying to obfuscate or insert things like volunteer experience or advanced education- start with the most relevant, most recent role that directly supports points #1 and #2. Tip: if you’re trying to switch industries or make a big change on the role front, then it is doubly essential that the big picture stuff you highlight at the start of your resume be supported by the first role you choose to highlight here. The impetus is on you to clearly communicate the “connective tissue” between where you’ve been and where you want to go next. Got questions about your resume? Wondering whether or not to make a particular change? Drop them in the comments below and I will do my best to answer them.