Q&A: The Job Search

Have a question about your job search? Check out these frequently asked questions. You can also peek at full job search blog posts for additional insight!

• What are THE most important pieces to include on my résumé?

  I know these may seem like a no-brainer, but just in case, here’s a list of must-haves:

  Full name

  Here, I encourage you to use the name you go by. If you’re a Rebecca but go by Bex, put Bex! If you have one name on LinkedIn and another on your résumé, it can be confusing to someone reaching out. Using your preferred name gives the recruiter, hiring manager, or anyone interviewing you a clear idea of what you’d like to be called during your (most definite!) upcoming conversations.

  Phone number and email

  This is the most important one because people need to be able to find you! And please don’t use an @hotmail account. Everything communicates, and using an updated email shows you’ve joined us in the second decade of the 21st century. If needed, create a job search-specific address to ensure you’re coming off polished and professional.

  City and state

  Update! You don’t need to include your full address. Your city and state will do. Only want remote work? Keeping your city and state still helps recruiters know your cost-of-living price range, so be sure to keep it included.

  LinkedIn profile URL

• What sections should I include and what should I leave for LinkedIn?

  Great question! I drew up a full list of what should stay and what should be left for LinkedIn in What Makes an Effective Résumé?

  Scroll to the bottom to see how you can ensure LinkedIn always works for you, even when you’re asleep!

• How should I be using LinkedIn?

  Speaking of LinkedIn, please use this handy online tool. As a former hiring manager, I would use it over résumés (my recruiter did the vetting, and then I reviewed while running between meetings). I could quickly see job history, interests, and even breeze through a summary.

  If there is a section on LinkedIn, complete it! And then make it public so people can see all you’ve accomplished, even if you’re not connected.

  Did you know a full LinkedIn profile review is included in each Résumé Upgrade Package?

• How long should my cover letter be?

  This is important. This should not be (once more for the people in the back!) - this should not be - longer than a page. As I mentioned above, everything communicates, so you must showcase your effective communication skills starting now. Don’t include additional information and fluff words (both of which, without Grammarly, I’d be buried under!).

  Keep to the point, use bullet points, and link your experience to what the job posting is looking for. That’s it.

  Please don’t talk about your recent visit to the Himalayas unless it’s beyond relevant. Like you’re applying to be a backpacking guide in Asia. Otherwise, save it for the interview. People have minimal time, and I encourage you to respect it. Check out this post for more context on what makes a stellar cover letter.

• What should I keep included in each cover letter?

  Great question! Unfortunately, this will only be your opening and closing paragraphs… and then it’s all sales, baby! If you’re not customizing your cover letter for each role, you’re wasting your time. Here’s what you update based on the role:

  - Your years of relevant experience to the job description

  - Specific examples of using the top skills listed in the description

  - Your top (and relevant!) accomplishments aligned with the description

  - Why you’re interested in the particular role, specifically

  - Why you’re interested in the company

  Remember, while a résumé is a résumé, you get to pick the tone of this doc! You choose if you want to be professional, casual, excited… you get to be YOU.

• Do I always need a cover letter?

  Absolutely not! In fact, at Facebook (now Meta), we didn’t read them. Asked candidates not to send ‘em. I know this is the case at many large tech companies. So, if it’s not required, don’t waste the time it would take to draft it up. Save your energy and effort for places where they are requested.

  Now, if it’s required? Most likely, a recruiter will read it… So be ready and put your best effort into crafting it! Here’s more from Forbes on the topic.

  With that said, if you need to tell your complete story and you only have your résumé to do it? It may be time for a total overhaul.

• What’s an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

  Great news! There’s a whole blog post about it. 🤖

• I hate cold emailing. Are informational interviews ever helpful?

  A resounding yes! This is the one thing I tell each of my clarity coachees: you must put yourself out there for these conversations!

  I know it’s tough, but here’s a scenario: someone new to your field emails you out of the blue telling you they’re interested in your career journey because they’d like to move into your industry; they just don’t know how. They’ve done their due diligence by reading your profile and researching your role and company.

  Wouldn’t you give them 15 minutes? Exactly. More people want to help than don’t, and even if it takes some non-responses, you’ll start engaging with people in no time!

  Hot take: This is also a time when you can get more info on the company and culture… people are much more comfortable and casual here than in the formal interview process.

  Love the idea but are nervous about execution and need a hype woman? I’m your girl.

Is your question not answered here? Shoot me an email, and I’ll do my best to answer and add it to our list!

🥂 nicole:)