Job Search Tips I’d Give You If I wasn’t Afraid of Hurting Your Feelings
With a new year upon us, many of you are likely diving into the job search mode. With so much competition, it’s important to put your best foot forward to cut through the noise.
Here are the top tips I’d give you if I wasn’t afraid of hurting your feelings 😉
Profile pictures matter!
On LinkedIn especially! It doesn’t need to be a professionally taken one but it should be a professional-LOOKING one. If you’re on Instagram, Facebook, etc., be sure that your profile is private and that your profile and cover photos (usually public) are ones you’d be OK with a prospective hiring manager seeing. First impressions matter!Comments on other posts/controversial content.
When viewing a LinkedIn profile, activity and engagement with posts is clearly visible. Yes, that includes things you’ve commented on others’ posts. Make sure what you’re commenting is something you’d want the world to see. Avoid controversial topics. I’d also avoid “I’m interested” in job opportunity postings. If you’re interested in something you see, privately message that person – don’t tell the world (and your employer!) you’re looking.
“Open to work” banner.
Job searching is like dating in some ways – the unavailable is more desirable. Right or wrong, many perceive this OTW banner as desperation. Don’t shoot the messenger here, just telling you the reality.Third person description.
This is personal preference… but I just find it very weird. I mean, we all write these about ourselves, right?
City/state should show on LinkedIn.
When I go to a profile or resume and can't tell where a person is located, it's an extra step of detective work. In a world where we're all too busy, that means extra time to dig up a location or contact info, knowing that person might not even be in the right location. If we've got 3 other great candidates who we know ARE in the right location - guess where we’ll start? Even remote jobs often want candidates residing in certain states, or time zones, so knowing where you’re located matters.
Too many buzz words.
If you’re a “dynamic thought leader”, know that you sound like 500 other people out there. Skip the buzz words and be REAL.
And when it comes to your resume….
Way too long is bad, but so is way too short.
Find a balance. The longer you’ve been in the industry and the more you’ve accomplished, the more info makes sense. If you’re a c-suite exec with a one pager, you’re not making the impact you should. But if you’re an Account Manager 5 years into the biz and you’ve got 5 pages worth of jobs starting at McDonald’s when you were 15….it’s time to tighten things up and focus on IMPACT vs. listing every job you’ve ever had.
Indeed format – looks sloppy and generic.
The resume you can pull from Indeed – ick. They all look the same – sloppy and unimpressive, just don’t. At a bare minimum, copy and paste the info into Word and use it as starting point – refine the formatting, add a more impactful header, etc.
No contact info.
When I want to schedule a candidate for the interview and realize at the ninth hour I don’t have their email address for the hiring team to send the interview invite, check the resume and it’s no where to be found….it adds delay and also beckons the question, why wasn’t it there? Contact info should be readily available on a resume.
Bad email.
SexyKitten2097 or WildThing1975 should not be part of a professional email. If you want to keep those, fine but please – create a professional email with your name for work purposes. It’s free and easy, so there’s no reason not to.
Too many buzz words.
Just like in your LinkedIn profile… please spare us all the corny adjectives. Instead, show impact with responsibilities, impact.
Picture on your resume.
Years ago I felt this was OK but today - it just looks dated. Update your profile picture on LinkedIn – but remove it from your resume.
“Much of this might seem basic, I know – but as someone who sees this stuff day in and day out, I can attest, it’s not as common sense as you might believe. Cheers, friends – may 2026 be your best career year yet!”
