Eliminate These Things From Your Job Search, According to Career Experts
Think about some of the main aspects of a job search: mastering your mindset, conducting research, personal branding, networking (online and in-person), resume writing, LinkedIn optimization, applying for the job, interview preparation, the actual interview, and so on. Suffice it to say, job seekers have a lot to do.
And they’re given a lot of advice about actions they need to take, some of which can be contradictory. All this advice on what to do (add-ons) can be overwhelming.
What if I told you there are things you can ELIMINATE (take-aways) from your job search that can help you be successful. Well, there is!
I reached out to top career experts (career coaches, resume writers, and career development pros) to see what they suggest people eliminate from their job search. Here’s what they said:
▶ “If they are not required and if you are not effectively crafting them, I recommend eliminating cover letters from your application process. A cover letter that is too lengthy, not specific to the job description, or seems recycled, will actually damage your chances of getting an interview. Recently, one of my job seekers followed up with a recruiter and was actually told that their cover letter was too general, too long, and it immediately landed them in the rejection pile. Increasingly, recruiters and hiring managers are skipping the cover letter entirely.” -Jessica Leigh Dow, MA, EdS, Career Coach, General Assembly + Private Practice
▶ “I highly recommend eliminating a broad job search. Your job search needs to be highly targeted to identify better-fitting job opportunities that align with your background, experience, and career goals. Additionally, I highly recommend eliminating irrelevant work experience. Your resume needs to reflect your alignment to the job target and your added value to the organization or company.” -Jessica Visek, CPRW, NCOPE, Career Coach, Founder and Owner of Your Resume Partner
▶ “Make sure you eliminate any unnecessary things that don't show relevance on your resume, LinkedIn, and/or portfolios that don't align with the position(s) you are applying for. Show clarity, accomplishments, and the value that you will bring to the table to that organization. Make it easy and clear to understand. Ask for help from a credible source if you're stuck!” -Phil Davis, PHR - Recruiting Leader & Career Coach at FulPhillment® Solutions, LLC
▶ “Eliminate use of templates, color, and/or creative formatting on your resume. This does not set you apart from other candidates, but rather, it tends to be distracting and takes away from the content, which is what the recruiters are most interested in. The feedback I have heard from recruiters is that non-template formats are ideal and best practice, as it is easy to pinpoint key information. The best way to standout is to ensure consistency and relevancy and incorporate keywords where you can. Your resume is a summary of your skills, education and experience. You do not want a flashy template to prevent those aspects from shining through.” -Amber Pleasants, MA, NCC, Associate Director, West Chester University Twardowski Career Development Center
▶ “Based on my experience reviewing thousands of resumes, I would suggest eliminating redundant language and bullet points 7, 8, 9 and so on. Redundant language, likely copied and pasted from the job description, is filler that doesn't any value to your resume. And anything beyond 5 or 6 bullet points for each work experience is going to average down your top achievements. More isn't necessarily better. Focus your bullet points on your best, more relevant achievements and make sure they are quantifiable if possible i.e. "increased sales by $300,000 last year and saved the company $50,000." -Shennee Rutt, Resume Writer for Executives and HR Pros & Founder and President of Laurel Virtual Solutions
▶ As for my suggestion, I would recommend eliminating applying for jobs online as an exclusive job search strategy. Yes, applying for jobs online should be a part of your job search. But a small part. Applying for job online is reactive, indicates you are a stranger to the company (otherwise you wouldn’t be applying online), and limits your access to the hidden job market (and yes Virginia, it exists). Focus more time, energy, and attention networking your way in, and getting recruited.
An effective job search isn’t necessarily one where you do more, and more, and more. Sometimes, you may need to take away things that aren’t working if you want to be successful. To figure out what you should eliminate from your job search, consider the above suggestions, assess what’s not working for you, ask for feedback from the companies you’ve applied to/interviewed with, check in with your career advisory board, and/or reach out to a career coach.
A job search can be difficult (although it can be fun). Make it easier on yourself by eliminating actions and activities that don’t work for you. Sometimes less is more – and better. Actually, it almost always is.
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1. Job Seekers - Reframe the Goal of the Interview: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/job-seekers-reframe-goal-interview-bill-leonard-mhrm/
2. Self-Imposed Term Limits to Achieve Your Career Goals. (What ?!?!?!?): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/self-imposed-term-limits-achieve-your-career-goals-bill-leonard-mhrm/
3. STAY or GO❓ Ask yourself this question: “Is there still alignment between my values and goals, and those of my employer?”: https://youtu.be/saU01WDGmpc
[This article was originally published on LinkedIn on 11/7/22: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/eliminate-things-from-your-job-search-according-bill-leonard-mhrm/?trackingId=4ijJy3hzSxeAX%2B%2B00pGnRQ%3D%3D]