Standing Out in a Competitive Applicant Pool

I reviewed over 3,000 resumes in 4 years, here’s how you can stand out 💃🏻🕺 After reviewing more than 3,000 resumes in the past 4 years, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the forgettable, from fresh grads to experienced hires with 40 years of work behind them. Whether it’s your first job or a dream role, here’s how to stand out: 1. Find the third door 🔑 Think of job applications like a nightclub. Everyone uses the main entrance, but there’s always a third door, a creative, non-traditional approach that sets you apart. Don’t rely solely on traditional methods. 2. Cold emails & DMs work 📧 Don’t wait for job postings. Reach out directly with cold emails or DMs to companies or individuals you admire. Many opportunities aren’t posted publicly. 3. Persistence is key 🔁 Don’t give up if you don’t get a reply right away. Sometimes it takes multiple follow-ups over time to reach the right person. 4. Seize opportunities quickly ⏳ When you hear of a job opportunity, even casually, act immediately. Timing and decisiveness can make all the difference. 5. Make it easy to say yes ✅ Simplify the decision for employers. Offering a trial period or showing how you can solve their problems makes it easy for them to say yes. 6. Lead with value 💡 Focus on how you can help the employer, not just what you want from the job. Show them how you can solve their challenges and contribute. 7. Go above and beyond 🎯 Consider adding a relevant work sample, a video, or ideas in your application. Small, extra efforts make a huge difference. 8. Show, don’t tell 📂 Build a portfolio. Showing your work, even small projects, is always better than just listing skills on your resume. 9. Avoid buzzwords 🚫 Skip overused terms like “team player” or “synergy.” Be specific about your achievements and back them up with measurable results. These tips aren’t just about impressing employers, they’re about showing you’re the right person for the job. Take that extra step and make it impossible for them to ignore you. 🚀 Below is a resume example that you can use as a reference to craft the perfect application. Share this post if you found it helpful and feel free to DM me if you need help with your resume. Happy Sunday and stay safe❤️ #ayu #resume

After 16+ years of working in tech and interviewing 500+ candidates, I can say that the most technically skilled candidate often doesn’t get the job. In fact, I’ve seen the most technically brilliant person in the room lose the offer, more than once. Because once you’ve proven you can do the work, the question changes. The panel stops asking, “Can they code/design/ship? And starts asking: Do we actually want to work with this person every day? I’ve seen candidates talk down to interviewers, and brilliant minds fail to explain their ideas clearly. Every time, they didn’t get the offer. And then someone slightly less technical came in who was collaborative, clear, and easy to work with, and got the job. So here's what you should do to stand out. 1. Explain things simply If interviewers can’t follow your thinking, they won’t trust you to communicate in a team. Practice explaining your ideas as if you were talking to a smart friend outside your field. 2. Share credit, not just results Talk about how you worked with the designers, QAs, and the PMs. That signals you know how to play as part of a team. 3. Stay humble Panels don’t want a know-it-all. The best candidates say things like, “There are a couple of approaches here, and here’s how I’d weigh the trade-offs.” That shows maturity and openness, two traits teams trust. 4. Don’t underestimate likability This one decides more offers than you’d think. In debriefs, I’ve heard panels say, “I don’t know if they were the strongest technically, but I’d love to work with them.” This is the reality of hiring in modern product organizations. Competence gets you considered, but likability, communication, collaboration, and trust decide if you’re chosen. Repost this if it resonated. P.S. Follow me if you are a tech job seeker in the U.S. or Canada. I share real stories and proven strategies to help you land interviews at the top companies.

Yesterday I reviewed around 600 applications. 600. Here’s the truth: when the volume is that high, small details make a big difference. If you want to stand out, here’s what actually catches a recruiter’s eye in the middle of a sea of resumes: 🔹 Tell me what the company does. You worked at "X Corp"? Cool — but I don’t know every company on Earth. A single line like “SaaS company focused on AI-powered logistics” helps me immediately understand the context of your role. 🔹 Stick to the classic format. There’s a reason the traditional resume layout still dominates. Don’t get “creative” with colors, shapes, or 3-column designs. I’m not hiring a graphic designer (unless I am). Keep it simple, clean, and scannable. 🔹 Give me numbers. “Improved efficiency” sounds fine, but “Reduced processing time by 28%” gives me a reason to believe you’re effective. Quantifiables always beat adjectives. 🔹 Tailor your resume to the job. Generic resumes get generic results. A brief, targeted summary at the top — aligned to the role — sets the tone. 🔹 Make your LinkedIn match. If your resume catches my eye, your profile is the next stop. Make sure it’s updated, aligned, and includes a headline that reflects what you actually do. Most of all? 🔸 Help me help you. The clearer your story, the easier it is to advocate for you. And that’s all most recruiters really want — a reason to move you forward.

I've hired hundreds of people in my career, and interviewed over a thousand individuals. These three things have stood out the most in the process over the last eighteen years. ✅ Referrals Anyone who came via the referral channel got a special opportunity to stand out. If the referral came directly to me, from a trusted source, I was absolutely going to give that person an opportunity to prove to me why they weren't a fit. If you're currently seeking a new job, this channel will 10x your opportunity to get hired, I promise you. ✅ Secret Shoppers Most of my hires have been in and around the sales department, and anyone who has taken the time to secret shop perks up my ears. Imagine a candidate who has detailed information on my sales funnel, how they were treated as a customer, their ideas for improvement, and more. It shows me that you were willing to take the time to stand out, and it gives me a sense of how you think as a potential hire. ✅ Be Different Candidates who wrote long form narratives on their observations during the interview, and what they would do as a hire. Candidates who used video instead of email in their follow-ups. Candidates who did a competitive analysis on our competition. Candidates who were willing to be different than others in the hiring process always got a second look, assuming their actions fit and were aligned with the role. If you're currently interviewing, don't be like the other 999 people in the resume pile, be different. If you're seeking a new role, hang in there. It's never a fun or easy process, but I promise you these tips will help you to get noticed to at least give yourself an opportunity to show off your skills during the interview process.

Ｔｈｕｒｓｄａｙ Ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔｓ：𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ⁉ Last week, a conversation with a new client looking at Financial Controller and CFO roles struck a chord with me. They mentioned applying for a position last week—before we started working together. When following up with the recruiter, they were astounded to learn there were over 1000 applications for the same role. That number is mind-blowing, surpassing what I observed during the peaks of the Global Financial Crisis and the onset of COVID. This revelation raises an essential question for any senior finance professional: How do your professional branding and LinkedIn profile ensure you stand out in this competitive landscape? More critically, do you feel confident that your application would land in the top 3 for an interview? The sheer volume of applications most mid- to senior-level roles receive demonstrates the importance of distinctiveness and precision in our professional presentations. It's not just about showcasing your achievements and skills but about narrating your unique story that resonates with your desired roles and industries. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿: ☑ 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆: Does your LinkedIn profile and resume reflect your professional journey, strengths, and vision for future contributions? ☑ 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: Beyond listing achievements, do your documents articulate the impact of your work in a way that is immediately apparent and compelling to recruiters and hiring managers? ☑ 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: In what ways have you differentiated yourself from your peers? What unique value do you bring to the table that can contribute to the success of the organisations you're applying to? For these roles, it’s crucial to communicate what you’ve done and how you think, lead, and drive strategic outcomes. These nuances elevate your profile from one among thousands to one in a thousand. As daunting as it may seem, navigating this highly competitive job market is manageable with a well-crafted strategy and the right support. As a resume writer and Career Coach who has spent over 20 years in executive recruitment and knows how to make your application stand out to recruiters and hiring managers, I can work with you to ensure your professional branding reflects your true potential and sets you apart in the crowded field, to ensure that when you apply for your next role, you do so with the confidence that you’re not just another application but the top choice for the position. 𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮; 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚. ✨ ❗ If you want to learn how I can help you, DM me CLARITY for a free session worth $497. #ThursdayThoughts #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #ProfessionalBranding #LinkedInTips #ResumeWriting #ExecutiveRecruitment #CareerCoaching

Endless applications. Deafening silence. It doesn’t have to be this way. Here are 5 common mistakes I’ve seen all too often – don’t let them cost you: ❌ Relying too much on “easy apply.” Startups value passion and understanding of their mission. A generic application won’t cut it. ✅ Tailor your application Even when it’s quick to apply, take the time to tweak your CV to highlight the skills that matter most to this founder. ❌ Skipping a personalised message Startups move fast, and formal cover letters might feel outdated. But they still want to know why you care. ✅ Keep it snappy Think 3 punchy bullet points in an email or a quick, genuine message on LinkedIn. Show you’ve done your homework. ❌ Focusing only on responsibilities. Startups don’t care just about what you did – they care about what you achieved. ✅ Quantify your impact “Scaled our app to 100k users in 6 months” will grab more attention than “responsible for app development.” ❌ Not being clear about your value-add Startups don’t hire for “roles” – they hire people who can solve problems. ✅ Show how you can help Research their pain points and explain how your skills fit. It’s not about what you want; it’s about what they need. ❌ Ignoring your online presence Startups often look at LinkedIn or GitHub alongside your CV. ✅ Make your profile work for you Keep it up to date and relevant to the kind of startup you want to join. Have a project portfolio or side hustle? Showcase it. The startup world is fast-paced, dynamic, and a little chaotic – but that’s why it’s exciting. Standing out means being thoughtful, intentional, and ready to show why you’re the perfect fit for their mission. If you know someone applying for roles and getting nowhere, please share this with them. Even better, share your tips in comments 👇 to help others looking for a new role 🙏

“Being ‘qualified’ isn’t enough. Here’s how to stand out in clinical research.” Early in my career, I thought hard work alone would open doors. I followed the traditional path—got the right degrees, gained experience, and expected opportunities to follow. But I quickly realized something: being qualified doesn’t make you memorable. In a competitive industry like clinical research, the professionals who rise aren’t just capable—they’re visible. They know how to position themselves, build strategic relationships, and demonstrate their value beyond what’s written on a résumé. So, how do you stand out from the crowd? 🔹 Own Your Niche – Are you a site operations expert? A regulatory powerhouse? A protocol development pro? Identify your superpower and make it known. 🔹 Build Your Online Presence – LinkedIn isn’t just for job hunting. Share insights, engage in discussions, and show thought leadership— opportunities will come to you. 🔹 Network with Intention – Stop waiting for connections to happen organically. Reach out, attend industry events, and nurture relationships that matter. 🔹 Keep Learning & Applying – Certifications like CCRA, CCRP, or PMP help, but what really sets you apart is how you apply that knowledge to solve real problems. 🔹 Be Proactive, Not Reactive – Don’t just do your job—think ahead. Anticipate challenges, suggest solutions, and position yourself as the go-to person in your team. The clinical research industry is full of talented professionals. But the ones who truly stand out are those who take control of their narrative. So, ask yourself—are you blending in, or are you making your mark? Drop a comment: What’s one thing you do to stand out in your clinical research career? 👇

I got job offers from top companies by cold applying. There were no referrals, no inside connections, just me. And I want to show you how I did it, so you can too! I landed product design roles at Lyft, Shopify, L’Oréal, and Mayo Clinic all by applying cold – no foot in the door, no insider contacts. 🤯 If you’ve been told you “need” a referral to get into big-name companies, let my story be proof otherwise. Here’s how I stood out as an applicant: 1️⃣ Turn interview questions into résumé upgrades After a few interviews, I noticed the same questions popping up – “What platform do you have proficient experience designing for?” and “What are your strengths as a designer?” I realized my résumé wasn’t answering these upfront. So I revamped it to preemptively answer common questions. I explicitly listed the platforms I had designed for (web, iOS, Android) and highlighted my key strengths and design accomplishments. 💡 By the time hiring managers read my résumé, many of their questions were already answered, making it easier for them to shortlist me. 2️⃣ Use recruiters as allies (yes, really!) Instead of fearing recruiters, I proactively asked them for insight. When a recruiter reached out to schedule an interview, I’d politely ask: “What is the hiring manager focusing on? Any interview questions or design challenge themes I should prepare for?” Surprisingly, recruiters often shared great insights – specific skills the team wanted, the kind of design challenge to expect, even tips to stand out. (Recruiters want you to succeed; filling the role is their goal too!) with that info, I tailored my answers and portfolio to exactly what the team was looking for. ⭐️ The result? I stood out from hundreds of online applicants and turned cold applications into hot offers. 🔥 If I can do it, so can you. I don’t come from a fancy network – I’m proof that with persistence and strategy, cold applying can open doors at even the most sought-after workplaces. You don’t need a friend at the company to land your dream job. Keep refining your approach, learn from each interview, and don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way. You belong in those rooms, connections or not. 💪🏼 Now I’d love to hear from you: Have you ever landed a job through cold applying? Or are you trying to break in without connections? Share your cold-apply wins or questions below! 👇 Let’s cheer each other on. #jobs #interviewprep #careers #tech #jobsearch

What really catches an interviewer's eye when they're drowning in developer resumes? Let me show you. This whiteboard shows how junior candidates performed in coding interviews. But honestly, most applicants don't make it this far. There are just so many qualified applicants that we have to get extremely selective when shortlisting for interviews. So what does it take to stand out? Here's an example from last year: A junior developer applied to Educative with nothing flashy on her resume, no FAANG internship or CS degree. But the first sentence of her cover letter was: “I built a quick prototype that connects GitHub repo metadata to personalized Educative course suggestions, just to understand how a feature like that might work.” That kind of ingenuity definitely raised some eyebrows — and in a good way. She went beyond the job description to use our product and imagine how it could serve users even better. That one sentence pushed her right to the top of the list. So what can you do to stand out in your job hunt? Here are 3 tactics: 1. Use the product. If it’s B2C, sign up. Take notes on what feels intuitive, and where there's friction. Even a single observation like “I liked the UI flow but was confused why X required two clicks” shows you’re thinking like a teammate. 2. Tie your skills to their future problems. Predict what they’ll need tomorrow and connect it to what you know (even better if you prototype it). Steal this prompt: “Given this job description and company's products, what technical challenges might this team face in the next 12 months?” 3. Add AI-powered projects to your portfolio. A single AI project can signal creativity, initiative, and AI-readiness. Use tools like GPT-4, LangChain, or Replit AI to build small, relevant projects. Vibe coding with AI is where development is headed, so might as well show you're already comfortable in that flow. If you're applying for jobs this fall, go beyond the resume. Your next hire is looking for someone who thinks like a teammate. Show them that's you: build things, do your research, and stay curious. #DeveloperJobs #TechInterviews #Developer 

I recently received a job application that stood out immediately - not because of extraordinary qualifications, but because the candidate included a brief video cover letter.   In just 60 seconds, this candidate accomplished what a traditional resume simply cannot: • Demonstrated genuine enthusiasm for the specific role • Showcased communication skills and professional presence • Highlighted relevant experience with personal context • Conveyed personality and cultural fit potential   For those not yet comfortable on camera, a thoughtful pre-interview note can serve a similar purpose.   This approach allows you to: • Highlight your most relevant skills and experiences • Explain specifically why you're interested in this particular role • Demonstrate that you've researched the company and understand its challenges • Address potential questions about your background proactively   What struck me most about this candidate's approach wasn't the production quality - it was the initiative it represented.   In a competitive job market, this small additional effort signals a willingness to go beyond minimum requirements.   The candidates who consistently advance aren't always the most technically qualified on paper.   They're often the ones who demonstrate the most genuine interest and initiative throughout the process.   What creative approaches have you used or seen to stand out during the application process?   Check out my newsletter for more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju   #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #applicationstrategies #jobsearchdifferentiation #personalbranding #hiringprocess