- Evidence matters. It’s not enough to say in a cover letter, résumé, or interview, “I have outstanding organizational skills.” Be prepared to back up everything you say – “At my most recent position, I reorganized our database to increase productivity and reformatted our website to make it more user-friendly.”
- Presentation matters: impeccable grammar, no typos, professional formatting on job materials, and appropriate interview attire.
- Search strategically, even if it means casting a smaller net. Don’t just send out 100 résumés to any job that sounds like it might be right for you and 100 identical form letters. Take the time to figure out whether a job is a good fit for you, and tailor your cover letter to show how compatible you are with the position and company.
- You need to stand out – but only in positive ways. For example, you should certainly wear a suit to a formal interview, but add personal touches to show you have a sense of style while ensuring you still look professional and put together. Another example: rather than using a résumé template from Microsoft Word, try formatting it yourself, and always print on thick résumé paper (not just copy paper) in a slightly off-white shade like ivory or light gray.
- Mock interviews can make all the difference. Your interviewer can tell you if you’re dressed appropriately, whether you need to work on your speech (do you talk too fast? too much?), or whether you back up assertions about yourself with good evidence.
