Tips to Help You Along Your Job Search
Welcome to The Standout!
I recently bought a new grill that required assembly. Naturally, the unopened box spent two months sitting in my garage, staring at me accusingly every time I got in or out of my car.
This is called procrastination, and if you’re looking for a job, you might know something about it.?
Maybe you need to update your resume, write a cover letter, or create a stronger LinkedIn profile. These important tasks sit in the back of your mind, nagging at you but never quite getting done.
Why do we procrastinate? Because we’re afraid of rejection. We want things to be perfect. We don’t want to fail.?
Here’s a simple tip to help you overcome procrastination: write down any triggers that might distract you from your job search. Then try to figure out how to avoid those distractions.?
Jobscan can also help. We make it easier to do all the tasks you need to do to get a job, from updating your resume to writing cover letters to optimizing your LinkedIn profile .
Together, we can tackle that unopened box and start assembling the career you’ve been dreaming of. ????
Check out our latest podcast episode…
In the newest episode of The Standout Jobseeker, Sydney Myers talks with Shawn Gerard, Harvard Medical School’s Program Operations Manager.?
Shawn shares his journey of switching to emergency management despite having a different background. He emphasizes the importance of networking, continuous learning, and leveraging tools like generative AI.?
Practical tips include tailoring resumes to improve application quality, using interviews as learning experiences, and recognizing transferable skills.?
Don't miss Shawn’s inspiring story of how he successfully changed careers!?
You can listen to The Standout Jobseeker on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Amazon , and pretty much everywhere else.?
In today’s edition of The Standout, we offer the following five tips to help make your job search easier and faster:
Here’s the first tip…
?? Can’t answer a knockout question honestly? Don’t apply. ??
Knockout questions are used to screen candidates. The term “knockout” is not an exaggeration. An incorrect answer will disqualify you from further consideration. If you have to answer dishonestly to a knockout question, consider cutting your losses and moving on to a different job application.
Next step: Get ready for knockout questions by carefully checking the job description. Make sure your qualifications match what they're looking for. This way, you can answer honestly and confidently.
? How many questions should you ask in a job interview? ?
It’s important to ask questions in a job interview, but how many? A good rule of thumb is: 50% of the time let the interviewer ask questions, and 50% of the time you ask questions - about the company, the team, and the job. Approach a job interview as a conversation, because that’s what it is.
Next step: To learn what questions you should ask, read Top Questions to Ask In an Interview.
?? Enthusiasm can get you the job ??
Even if you lack some skills or have been out of the workforce for a while, showing enthusiasm can help you get the job. Research shows that 40% of employers would not hire a candidate if they lacked enthusiasm. Remember, you’re much more attractive to employers when you’re on fire.
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Next step: Take some time to figure out what excites you. When you align your job search with your interests, it’s much easier to show genuine enthusiasm during interviews.
?? Should you add dates to your education section? ??
You should include dates if you graduated within the last 10-15 years. You should not include dates if your education is older than 15 years and you have extensive work experience. This allows you to focus on your professional accomplishments and, more importantly, avoid age bias.
Next step: For more information, read How to Format Your Resume Education Section .
?? Match the font of your cover letter to your resume ???
For a cohesive and professional look, use the same font (and font size) for both your resume and cover letter. Choose clean, professional fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri in sizes 11-12. Paying attention to details like this can make a strong impression on employers.
Next step: For more information on fonts and font sizes, read The Top 10 Best Fonts For Your Resume .
? Product update! New Jobscan features to INSTANTLY improve your resume ?
The Jobscan engineering team has rolled out some awesome updates to our Jobscan tools. Watch the video below to learn more.
?? More Insights From the Jobscan Blog ??
Discover the top interview questions with sample answers and customizable answer templates to help you nail your job interview.
These free courses and certifications cover a variety of fields, including technology, business, marketing, and medicine.
Here’s everything you need to know about hard skills: what they are, why they’re crucial for your career, and how you can develop them.
Soft skills are personal traits that are crucial to success in any workplace. Here’s how to add them to your resume.
That’s it for this edition. I hope these tips have sparked some new ideas for your job search.?
See you in two weeks!
Robert Henderson, CPRW, Resume Expert