Stand Out and Succeed With These Job Search Tips
Welcome to The Standout!
Would you like to get some free career advice tailored specifically for you? Here’s how:
First, take a Myers-Briggs personality test at 16Personalities.com. There’s no cost and it only takes about 10 minutes. (I’m an INFJ-T, which is the rarest type).
Next, ask ChatGPT: “Based on my personality type [fill in your type], what careers would suit me best?”
Want to go further? Paste a specific job description into ChatGPT and ask if it’s a good fit for your personality type.
This simple, free exercise can bring real clarity to your career search. 💡
Check out our latest podcast episode…
In this debut video episode of The Standout Jobseeker, Sydney Myers welcomes Marta Budzyńska, a career coach and former Amazon recruiter. The topic is how to ace job interviews. Marta discusses the importance of thorough preparation, aligning personal motivations with company values, demonstrating confidence without arrogance, and effectively using the STAR method to answer questions.
You can listen to The Standout Jobseeker on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and pretty much everywhere else.
In today’s edition of The Standout newsletter, we offer the following five tips to make your job search easier and faster:
Here’s the first tip…
📝 Focus on the first paragraph of a job description 📝
Pay particular attention to the first paragraph of a job description. It usually contains the role’s big-picture purpose and the main results the employer wants. This provides a clear view of what’s really needed. Then you can position yourself as the solution they’re looking for. Here’s an example:
Next step: Put the first paragraph of a job description into ChatGPT and ask it: “What are the 3 main things I should focus on if I'm applying for this job?” For the above example, ChatGPT says 1) demonstrate strategic leadership, 2) showcase problem-solving and innovation, and 3) exhibit a strong business mindset.
🔍 Don’t ignore your LinkedIn skills—they matter 🔍
Recruiters increasingly start their searches with skills rather than job titles. LinkedIn lets you list up to 100 skills on your profile—use this to your advantage! Be specific: skip generic terms like “project management” and highlight specialized skills like “agile,” “waterfall,” or “scrum.”
Next step: Make sure the skills you list align with jobs you are applying for by using Jobscan’s LinkedIn Optimization tool.
💼 Job-hopping isn’t a dealbreaker 💼
Worried that changing jobs often might hurt your chances? Don’t be. These days, frequent moves are more accepted, especially early in your career. What matters is that you can explain convincingly to potential employers that each move was a thoughtful step toward your professional growth.
Next step: Practice explaining your job changes by focusing on what you learned at each role. Create a clear, confident story that shows growth and purpose.
Recommended by LinkedIn
📜 Don’t let missing qualifications stop you 📜
You don’t need to check every box to be a strong candidate. Employers are often willing to overlook gaps if you show potential, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. Many successful candidates “punch above their weight” by showcasing their transferable skills and enthusiasm.
Next step: To learn more about which skills are in greatest demand, read Discover the Resume Skills Employers Want the Most.
🌈 Find hope in adversity 🌈
Every storm eventually passes, and with it comes new opportunities. The challenges of a job search are temporary, but your ability to stay hopeful will keep you moving forward. Believing in a brighter future helps you stay resilient and open to possibilities.
Next step: Start a daily journal. Each day, write down one positive thing or small win related to your job search.
👀 More Insights From the Jobscan Blog 👀
As a recruiter, I know the right resume format can make all the difference. Here’s how to choose one that highlights your strengths
Learn what the five essential resume sections are, and in what order you should put them in for maximum impact.
Learn the key differences between soft skills and hard skills, why both are crucial for your career, and how to highlight them on your resume.
Discover what critical thinking skills are, why they’re essential, and how to develop and showcase them to boost your career.
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
Program Manager, Process Engineer, Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
1moyou do realize Meyer Briggs has no science behind it at all and it's really common to take it multiple time and have different results even in the same day