If a recruiter can’t figure it out fast, we have a problem.

Hi Emily,

Before you send another resume this week, please try something:

Pretend you are the recruiter.

You’ve got a gajillion tabs open, Slack is pinging, your next meeting starts in six minutes, and you have absolutely no emotional attachment to the resume in front of you.

Now look at the top third of your resume for 10 seconds.

Can you answer:

• What job does this person want?
• Are they good at the things I need them to do?
• Why should I keep reading?

Psst: You are not allowed to fill in the blanks with information that exists in your head. Try to be objective here, put yourself in the recruiter's shoes and read the words in front of you with no other context.  

Because I see a LOT of resumes from very accomplished people where I’m halfway down the page thinking:

Friend. What job are we trying to get here?

So here’s your assignment today.

Pull up one job posting you genuinely want and compare it to the top third of your resume.

Ask yourself:

• Is the job I want obvious?
• Are my top 2 to 3 strengths relevant to THIS job?
• Am I showing proof of those strengths?
• Am I leading with the experience that matters most for where I’m going next?

Your resume does not need every fabulous thing you have ever done.

Some things were impressive. Some things were important. Some things helped get you here.

But if they don’t help you get this job, they may not belong on this resume. I say it all the time: "If it's relevant, keep it. If it's not relevant, remove it."

Tomorrow (Aug 11 @ 12:00 pm ET) in Summer School, we’re digging into this exact problem: How to make the match easier to see on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

We’ll talk positioning, keywords, accomplishments, metrics, career pivots, resume formats, LinkedIn profile tips, and what to do when your actual job title does not match the work you’ve been doing. (Replay available.)

REGISTER FOR SUMMER SCHOOL

And Thursday (Aug 13 @ 12:00 pm ET), Deb and I are back on LinkedIn Live talking about using AI to work faster without making your entire job search sound like everyone else who is using AI. Deb is taking the lead on this session, and she is a genius. I can't wait for her to share her knowledge. (Replay available.)

REGISTER FOR LINKEDIN LIVE

Now, my dear job seeker, today's assignment: Do the 10-second test.

If your reaction is, “Ohhhh. Yeah. This is not obvious.”

Good.

Now you know what to work on.

I’m rooting for you. 👊

Emily

Emily Worden