Resumes for a Curated Career
Many job seekers feel pressure to apply to every job they're qualified for. It's important to remember, however, that not every job will be a good fit for you, even if you’re a good fit for it. Instead of applying to every job, focus on finding positions that excite you, align with your values, and offer interesting work.
The truth is, you're likely qualified for more jobs than you think. Most people only consider their skills and relevant experience when assessing their qualifications, but taking your values and interests into account can open up a wider range of opportunities and lead you on a path to finding a happier healthier work life.
The jobs you're qualified for are at the intersection of your skills, values, and interests. We call this the Curated Career: the intersection of what the world needs and what you care about.
To build a Curated Career, start by figuring out your skills, values, and interests. Then, research jobs and companies that align with those areas.
In some cases, recruiters are looking for someone who meets all the requirements, but in other cases, a 60% match is perfect. If you're not sure, go ahead and apply, because you’ll never really know the answer unless you do.
When you're ready to apply, make sure your resume is tailored to the job you want. Here's how to do it:
Identify your transferable skills and look for job descriptions that match at least 70% of those skills. Ignore job postings that require skills you don't enjoy using, even if you're qualified in those areas.
Write your BRAG stories, highlighting your transferable skills that match the job posting. Only include relevant information on your resume. For example, if you're skilled in digital marketing but applying for an operations position, focus on transferable skills like project management or data analysis.
Use language from the job posting in your resume, in the skills section, bullet points, and executive summary. Be honest, (ie, don’t add things that don’t actually pertain to your experience,) but use wording that matches the company's language.
Remove any jargon from your resume that isn't relevant to the posting. For example, if you're transitioning from education to tech, use client or customer instead of student.
There are other ways to help curate your career through your LinkedIn, networking, acing your interview, etc. We’ll get into each of those in another blog. For now, reach out if you have questions!
👉 What we’re reading and listening to:
Life Kit's podcast has a firsthand account of someone making a big career change.
Hire Women Week, hosted by Lady Bird Talent, is running through April 28th. Check it out!
