Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Tips for Job Seekers
Read up on these “fast facts” to accelerate your job search and improve your application materials and online presence
When it comes to applying to jobs & networking, it’s all about knowing what you want and customizing your materials/profiles accordingly.
Below, we share some tried and true tips to improve your job application materials and online presence.
Not sure yet which roles to apply for? Wondering how your experiences & skills translate to a new role or career? Start by visiting our career development & career coaching resources page.
Resume Tips
Include relevant experiences and numbers in your bullet points. You have accomplished more than you think. Example: “Handled an average of 29 calls/day and led with the highest resolution rate for 4 out of 7 quarters out of a support team of five people.”
Stick to an applicant tracking system (ATS) friendly format (PDF if via email, Word doc if applying directly into a jobs board or software system) This increases your chances of getting in front of a recruiter or hiring manager
Focus on your highest-level accomplishments. You don't have to give every single detail. If you have a lot of experience, focus on the relevant things
Showcasing specific projects and volunteer work is a great way to transition into different industries.
Aim for 1-2 pages total, unless you are going for an academic or government position. 10-12 years of experience is what you should highlight, with the exception being if you are transitioning careers and something from earlier in your experience is relevant.
Cover Letter Tips
Cover letters aren’t as important as they used to be. In most cases, you don’t need to spend a lot of time customizing it. The exceptions are if someone is referring you and they indicate the hiring manager will look at it closely or if the job description includes clear instructions to provide a detailed cover letter and answer specific questions.
Make sure your cover letter shows that you read the job description and that you researched the company. Be relevant e.g. “One of the reasons I’m excited about this opportunity is that I noticed you launched XYZ project last year, and that’s something I’ve worked on in the past and would love to help drive forward.”
Have a template ready that you slightly customize. Have multiple templates if you are applying for different types of companies (one for startups, one for established companies, different industries, etc). Don't spend more than ~10 minutes on it. You are better off customizing messages to people on LinkedIn.
Know your industry and audience. Focus on the skills that set you apart and focus on the things that will add the most value to the job. Don't try to share everything in the cover letter, instead, remember that your resume & cover letter are conversation starters.
LinkedIn Profile Tips
You can copy over the job titles & responsibilities information from your resume, and there is also a section to input your skills.
Make time to fill out your complete profile - many recruiters, HR contacts, and hiring managers use LinkedIn to search for potential candidates, and this gives you a better chance of showing up.
Your profile is a chance to introduce yourself and network with a range of people. Think of it as a conversation, what would you share about yourself with people who are getting to know you?
When filling out your profile, tagline, and “about me,” prioritize accordingly. What is the most important thing people need to know about you? Second most important? And so on. If you are a project manager (or moving into the field), include “project manager” in your headline and start your “about me” with “I am a project manager who focuses on XYZ…”
Much like meeting people in real life, there are different styles & strategies to be successful with LinkedIn. Don’t be afraid to experiment, have conversations, and make adjustments as you go along.
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