In today's brutal job market, it’s not enough to simply have the right skills and experience. With job postings now attracting 700+ applicants, recruiters have new challenges emerging. Often they are forced to pull job postings down within days due to the sheer volume of resumes received. With these numbers, it’s not an exaggeration to say you're up against hundreds of other applicants many with similar qualifications.
Weeding through resumes clearly begins with the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Your crucial step here is how well your resume is tailored and aligned with the job requirements. By now, we’ve all heard of the formatting no-no’s that will cause your resume issues with ATS. After this, if you want to have your resume reviewed, you must tailor it.
Last month’s newsletter focused on this because many job seekers today are still struggling or not even trying this necessary step. It's still a hot topic. Just know that this necessary step does not need to be overly difficult. Frankly, this is why this is a dedicated topic when working with clients. You must utilize everything in today's job search that puts the odds in your favor.
Last month's newsletter:
Another emerging issue. With an ever-increasing volume of job seekers using AI to generate their resumes, recruiters struggle to find qualified candidates. Remember that pile of 700+ resumes? The issue is that resumes in this pile appear qualified, including key skills and experience; however, in the interview process, it’s discovered they do not have key experience, their resumes claim. How so many take pride in those AI-generated resumes but are not checking what AI is adding to their resume before sending it off. AI includes details from the job description, but not checking for and removing invalid details AI adds makes you appear dishonest and wastes everyone’s time.
Why am I calling this out? Because it's valuable to understand what's occurring to see what you can do to help yourself. How much harder for qualified candidates to make it through right now? Perhaps knowing this emphasizes the need for starting off with quality materials and strategy: fully optimized resumes, LinkedIn profile (i.e. your product website), and a focus on tailoring your resume for every job posting.
Moving On
Remember job descriptions include both “must have” and "nice to have" job requirements. Assuming your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn already tell your career story and showcase your value—and I really hope no one is leaving your professional brand to chance! A limited number of applicants will make it into the interview process.
At the interview stage, what will move you forward will be your presentation skills, value-driven storytelling, and likeability. Easier said than done right?
The good news is that everything we've done to prepare value-driven job search materials flows can be leveraged in your interview prep. Strong interview preparation comes from understanding your value proposition, having the right examples and stories demonstrating it, and communicating it effectively. Remember you are marketing your career and ability to solve big problems.
Let's consider that for a moment. Imagine shopping for a specific product to solve a problem, but you have multiple brands to choose from. Consider how you weed through the options to narrow it down to the product you believe will most likely solve your problem. How do brands stand out? How do they get your attention? Effective marketing!
Poor marketing = low or no sales
Effective marketing = more sales or offers
The stories are career accomplishments and challenges that market the key areas that speak to, or show yourself as the solution, to the hiring manager's problem. This is the focus of interview preparation as well. In any job search campaign, it can be front-heavy to set up. However, you’ll find there are strong stories you will use repeatedly. To reach a point where preparing for an interview includes research on the company and preparation, but you do not draft full responses for every interview. You begin to develop an Interview Inventory you can pull from and practice based on the company, culture, and job requirements.
I love lists. Any concept you can break down into simple bullets helps me consume new information. So here it is, the key components to interviews that have a stronger chance of leading to an offer.
Your Goals for Every Interview:
Communicating Your Value - You need to build a case that you can deliver significant results.
Establishing a Good Fit - You must show that your values align with the company's.
Building Likeability - You need to prove you'll mesh well with the team and external partners.
Let's pause here for a moment.
Is your current interview preparation strategy really helping you build a compelling case for that “Know, Like, and Trust” factor? If not, you may experience making it often to the interview process but nothing is making it to a job offer. If so, it's time to troubleshoot your interview strategy. If you're tailoring and your resume is being noticed, now you’re competing against other qualified applicants who have more effective interview strategies. In a market where there are less jobs per number of applicants, now is the time to up our game.
Our marketing strategy should make a strong first impression, build credibility, and clearly communicate your value...at every step. Otherwise, why would they want to hire you? Why would they trust you? How would they know you’re a good fit?
Reread that one more time.
If you do not build rapport why would they trust you? Without an intentional approach how would they recognize you are a great fit? If you do not talk about the right examples, how would they see you’re the one to hire?
Introverts, I’m looking at you—a solid interview prep strategy can be a game changer in an area in which most introverts will struggle. Going in armed with added confidence, preparation, a mental plan in place with strong value-driven stories, and having practiced how you'll tackle those common tricky questions, even if you're nervous, your answers will still come out more smooth! Confidence is half the battle and comes from having a strategy in place.
And this isn’t about memorizing answers or sounding rehearsed—the stories and insights help set you apart and increase your chances of landing the job.
How Does Value-Driven Interview Prep Work? Well it begins with knowing:
About yourself - Your personality, your character, your professional brand (i.e. who you are).
Your Assets - Skills, talents, qualifications, credentials.
Job Requirements - To align your assets and skills to the requirements.
The Industry - What is going on in the industry right now? Past, current, and future trends.
The Company - It's products and services, history, culture, and values. How the company is doing lately, any problems and recent wins.
Know Your Obstacles - We never want to ignore your specific obstacles, but we want to develop strategies to address and overcome them. Examples include prolonged unemployment, multiple jobs in a short period, questionable backgrounds, and educational gaps.
Who is interviewing you - if possible.
It then comes from having your primary message and stories selected that strengthen your primary message. There's more to it, but the good news is that interview prep does not have to be more complicated than necessary. Working with someone who can walk you through it is even better because this is an investment and strategy you will take with you for the rest of your career! Think about how many years you have left until you retire. Plus, it's a guarantee that you'll need to find multiple jobs before that point. Leverage proven strategies and equip yourself with the right tools for success.
Whether in an active job search or looking to advance your career, every interaction is an opportunity to reinforce your value and leave a lasting impression. Let's make it count.
If your job search progress is stalling at the interview steps, schedule a free strategy session and let's troubleshoot it together.
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