Apply, Network, Repeat
Apply, Network, Repeat
Part 2 of 3: Job Search, Application, & Interview Tips
This is Part 2 of a three-part series on job searching, applying, and interviewing.
Learn about my job search tips in Part 1.
Subscribe below to read Part 3 when I publish it.
After you’ve searched for jobs, it’s time to apply. Unfortunately, this can be the most exhausting part of the entire job search. From filling out obscenely long application forms to waiting for companies to reply back, this process can wear you down and severely impact your mental health. You will certainly encounter the mindfuck of having to add your resume content to an application even after you’ve uploaded your resume. You will likely have days and weeks when your inbox will fill up with rejection emails. And you will probably wait a lot longer than you’d like before hearing back from companies. It’s important to focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t.
With some practice and patience, you can manage the job application process and your well-being. By concentrating on your resume and LinkedIn profile, you can submit strong applications that will increase your chances of getting interviews.
Skip the cover letter
As someone who enjoys writing and having people read what I write, I realize how ironic it is to admit that people don’t like to read, but it’s true! I blame social media and the digital device you’re likely reading this on. People have short attention spans today. They are more likely to read a short tweet than a long article. You can’t change this, but you should be aware of it.
Forget about it
I know this might be a hot take for some, but don’t bother writing a cover letter or adding one to job applications. It’s a waste of your time. If you want to customize anything for an application, consider customizing your resume. The fact that most people don’t like to read anything long and that recruiters have to screen sometimes hundreds of applications for one role leads me to believe that cover letters are not being read today as much as they used to. Your time is valuable and you have to be smart about how you manage it. I just don’t see the value in spending your time writing a custom cover letter that might not even get read. Do you know what will get seen by the recruiter and everyone at the company who interviews you? Your resume. That’s what gets attached to calendar invites for interviews, not your cover letter.
In today’s world of talent acquisition, your resume, LinkedIn profile, and connections to a company far outweigh anything you could ever write in a cover letter. I’d also like to point out that most job applications now don’t require a cover letter. I wonder why that is. Spoiler alert: it’s because people don’t like to read!
Spend your time wisely
So what should you do with all that time you will save by not writing a custom cover letter for every job application?
Perfect your resume so it showcases your skills and the value you bring to companies.
Build a LinkedIn profile that attracts companies and new connections. This includes adding a professional photo, listing your skills and work experience, and asking former colleagues to recommend you.
Use LinkedIn to contact the recruiter or hiring manager for jobs you apply for (more on this later).
Step away from your computer and literally do anything else! Go outside, exercise, get lost in a hobby, or spend time with family and friends. Breaks should be a non-negotiable when it comes to your job search. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you later.
Buff and puff your resume
Your resume is the most important part of your job application. It’s what opens doors to opportunities. It’s what the recruiter, hiring manager, and anyone that interviews you will read. Since your resume plays such a critical role in the job search process, you need to do your best to make sure it’s a masterpiece. It’s your chance to go all out and showcase the very best version of yourself and your career.
Puff it up
Puffing up your resume doesn’t mean lying, but it does mean strategically focusing on your strengths. If you want your resume to open doors, you need to sound confident and accomplished. One of the best ways to do this is to focus on ownership and results.
What did you OWN?
Don’t just list your responsibilities. Describe what you owned. What did you do better than anyone else on your team? What did you do that brought you the most engagement and energy at work? What did you put your name next to that made everyone confident you would OWN it? This can be daily tasks, weekly responsibilities, or month-long projects. Drill into not only what you did independently, but also collaboratively. This is where you can highlight communication, project management, and leadership skills. Don’t be afraid to puff up your roles and contributions on projects. You’re not lying, you’re putting yourself in the best light. And don’t worry, everyone does this!
The numbers don’t lie
I admit. Adding stats and numbers to a resume can be challenging, especially if you don’t have access to or can’t remember them. If you don’t have exact numbers available, then estimate. Some quantity is better than no quantity. Whether you improved some process by 25% or 50% is not important. What matters most is that you made the improvement. What does this convey? It sends the message that you can bring value to a team and actually make things better instead of worse. It makes recruiters and hiring managers want to interview you because you might be a good fit for the role.
Polish it to a shine
You don’t need to add a photo or colors to your resume, but you do need to nail the format.
Length
Your resume should be no longer than two pages. If you can make it one page, even better. Remember, people don’t like to read! Usually, the hardest part about fitting a resume into one or two pages is the work experience section. Listing every single job you’ve ever had will likely make this impossible. Think strategically about which past jobs relate to the job you’re applying for. Maybe that means only listing your past three jobs or the past ten years of your career. The key here is to list your past jobs that demonstrate you have the skills, knowledge, and experience to succeed in the role you’re applying for.
Design
Once you have the content for your resume, you need to focus on the design. I use a sans-serif font on my resume. Only use a serif font in small doses, like for section headings. Make use of bold and italicized styles to draw attention to important pieces of content like company names and job titles. You might need to use a small font size to fit the content, but it should be big enough to read. If the printed version of your resume is too hard to read, increase the font size. Be careful when aligning text and using columns. If you do this right, it will make it easier for readers to glance over your resume quickly. A well-formatted resume has a better chance of being read than a messy one!
PDF is the way
Last but not least, always share your resume in PDF format. It’s the best and perhaps most accepted format for resumes.
LinkedIn! LinkedIn! LinkedIn!
LinkedIn is an essential tool when searching and applying for jobs. Let’s look at the facts. Countless companies use LinkedIn to post jobs. And many of these job posts offer detailed information about the role and company, including company size, skills associated with the role, salary range, and featured benefits. Furthermore, there are three features of LinkedIn job posts that I believe set them apart from other posts online.
LinkedIn job post features
Link to the company’s page
All job posts on LinkedIn include a link to the company’s page. Looking at a company’s LinkedIn page can not only help you decide if you want to apply for the job, but it can also give you some valuable information about the company that will be useful in interviews. Many companies nowadays are taking the time to build content-rich LinkedIn pages, complete with news about their company and what they’re working on, as well as spotlight posts and articles about team members, departments, and employee resource groups. This knowledge can set you apart from other candidates by showing companies that you’ve done your research and that you’re excited about the future of the company.
Connections to the company
The most impactful feature of LinkedIn job posts is the small link at the top that shows how many connections you have to the company. Of course, this only shows if you have connections to the company, but if you see it, click on it! You might be connected to a recruiter or someone who works in your field. You can then message them directly to learn more about the job, and the company, or even ask for a referral. And there’s no denying the power of job referrals. They open the door for you and can lead to an interview, or better yet, an offer.
Easy Apply
The last feature worth mentioning on LinkedIn job posts is the Easy Apply button. Not all posts have this button, but if you see it, you should consider using it to apply. Here’s why:
Your LinkedIn profile will get attached to your application.
You can attach a previously uploaded resume to the application (or attach a new one).
Easy Apply applications are generally shorter to fill out and as the name suggests, easy to use.
You will get notified if the company views your application.
Build a magnetic profile
After your resume, your LinkedIn profile is the next place recruiters and interviewers go to learn more about you. In fact, most job applications ask for a LinkedIn profile. Some even require it! As you did with your resume, take the time to create a profile that highlights your best career accomplishments and puts your skills and experience in the brightest light. Add a quality photo to your profile, ideally a professional headshot. Include a summary in the About section that informs people about your expertise and passions. I also suggest asking former co-workers to recommend you on LinkedIn. This is a great way to showcase the value you add to teams. And this praise comes directly from people you’ve worked with so it carries significant weight.
You want to build a profile that attracts people now and in the future. Having quality connections and a strong LinkedIn network will not only help you in your current job search but your next one too. And this can open the door to future job opportunities.
Click that Connect button
After you apply for a job, one thing you can do to increase your chances of getting an interview is to connect with someone from the company on LinkedIn. I have been doing this for several years now and it’s been so successful for me that it’s without a doubt one of the best tips I can share!
After applying for a job, I would almost always go to the company’s LinkedIn page and click the People tab. From there, I would primarily search for recruiters at the company. Next, I would go to the person’s profile and send them a connection request with a note. It’s important to include a note with the request. That way you can introduce yourself, mention the role you applied for, and ask to connect and chat with the person.
Now, before you start spamming the Connect button, keep the following in mind.
Don’t connect with the entire People Team or the Engineering team, for example. This can be perceived as desperate and sketchy. I would limit your connection requests to two per job, one to a recruiter and one to the hiring manager or someone in the department of the role. In most cases, I only sent one connection request per job and it was to a recruiter.
Try to connect with the right person. Pay attention to the details in the job post. Sometimes the post will mention the recruiter or hiring manager for the role and you’ll know exactly who to connect with. Medium to large-sized companies can have multiple recruiters, each focusing on certain departments. It doesn’t make much sense to connect with a tech recruiter if you’re applying for a marketing job. Likewise, if you decide to connect with someone who isn’t a recruiter, think about people that might be close to the role you’re applying for or involved in the hiring process, like a senior-level employee, a hiring manager, or a people leader.
Write a short and personal note. Address the person by their name. Mention the role and company. Include a call to action, like asking the person to chat or a question about the job or company. Don’t write more than a few sentences. Remember, people don’t like to read! You can even create a template and use that for all of your connection requests. Just make sure you change the names in it.
People don’t have to reply to your note or accept your connection request. In fact, most people won’t, but that’s okay. In my experience, it’s still a great use of your time. It doesn’t take long to do and it can greatly increase your chances of getting an interview.
Additional reading
In Part 1 of this series, I shared three job search tips, which can help you manage your search while prioritizing your mental health.
Subscribe now to read Part 3 when I publish it.