Like many other things, finding the right job comes down to strategy and a mix of several actions. The aim is to align your personal brand with the role you’re targeting and curate a consistent narrative across your resume, LinkedIn profile, and how you present yourself in interviews.
Employers and recruiters want to quickly understand not just what you’ve done and know how to do, but also get a sense of who you actually are, how you think, how you solve problems, and how you add value. Your resume must tell your story beyond the job titles. Highlight improvements, efficiencies, or innovations you introduced and make it easy to read. Focus on relevance over completeness. Your resume is a marketing document, tailor your content to match the role you’re applying for. Use keywords from the job description to help pass applicant tracking systems, and structure your resume so that your strongest, most relevant experience is seen first—even if it’s not your most recent. A well-targeted, clearly formatted resume often speaks louder than a lengthy one.
Networking often outweighs applications and it is critical to build and leverage relationships rather than only submitting resumes online. Bear in mind that the hidden job market is real and many opportunities are filled before they’re posted publicly.
Be prepared and have succinct relevant and examples of your work with details. Employers are not just evaluating your skills; they’re asking themselves whether they would want to work with this person everyday. Building genuine rapport in interviews, tailoring your application to reflect the company’s values, and showing emotional intelligence can often give you a stronger edge.
The hiring process is not always about finding the “most qualified” person on paper—it’s about finding the right fit. This means your personality, communication style, and how you align with the company culture often carry as much weight as your resume.
Author: Alexia Hatva, 2025