Using application materials to tell your story
When you’re job searching, it’s best to spend the bulk of your time networking, setting up and conducting informational interviews, and applying and interviewing for positions. But you also need to spend enough time on your application materials (resume, LinkedIn, cover letter) so that they effectively tell your story to a recruiter. I’ve written about how important it is to develop a compelling personal story in interviews, but in order to get to an interview in the first place, your resume, LinkedIn and cover letter have to do the same.
So, here are my tips for materials alignment:
Resume. Most resumes I see are about two pages. The key thing I look for is a chronological history of what you’ve accomplished (not just the titles and responsibilities). Be sure to stay away from insider-y or wonky language so that somebody outside your organization or your field can understand what you did. And don’t over edit! It’s easy to spend too much time getting edits, Googling resume samples, or tweaking your resume for every job. While some people certainly do the latter and it may make sense in certain situations, don’t overthink it.
LinkedIn. I’ve written previously about what recruiters look for on your LinkedIn profile, but basically, it should read like your resume. If you were at one organization for multiple years, make sure that's clear on LinkedIn even if you moved departments or teams. (This is my own bias coming out as someone who worked for the same organization for 15+ years, but I like it when people have longevity at an organization.)
Cover letter. This is the part of your application that you want to adjust depending on what organization and position you’re applying to. It’s crucial that you specifically talk and gush about the organization and why you want to work there. I do a lot of teacher hiring these days, and I work with a lot of school leaders who will only move candidates forward who talk about the school in their application process. You also want to tell stories rather than regurgitating your resume. For example, if you’re applying for a writing position, talk about how you always catch typos in menus at restaurants.
I have a lot more thoughts about these, but I can save them for a future newsletter. I also want to hear from you: What other tips do you have for materials?
Here are the top three jobs we’re featuring this week:
Program Director at Ruth's List Florida, $65,000-$75,000, anywhere in Florida.
Deputy Director at Transportation Energy Partners, $65,000-$90,000, Washington, D.C.
Chief People Officer at (Confidential Organization), $150,000+, Remote.
Now, onto housekeeping!
NRG Consulting is offering coaching programs to folks on the job hunt, whether you’re an entry- or senior-level candidate. Check out the programs we’re offering on our website, and get in touch with us.
If you find this newsletter helpful, forward it to your friends and help us build our network! Also, if you have feedback or an idea for a future newsletter topic, shoot me a note.
Naomi