Preparing For Career Opportunities

I've been writing resumes for over 15 years. A long time. After all these years, there is still one widespread mistake I see in these files that is easy to fix: Heavy emphasis on day-to-day tasks with minimal results. If you want your resume to stand out and be noticed, it must share value. Value is best demonstrated through results. Fill your resume with specifics, metrics, and personal initiatives, and aim to create results-rich resume statements like the samples below. Examples of helping a business do things faster, better, or smarter: 🔹 Lowered customer complaints 60% by launching a formal feedback system. 🔹 Improved product delivery time 23% after assigning clarified monthly job tasks to the entire team. Examples of making money, saving money, or increasing efficiency: 🔹 Grew revenue 44% and improved gross margin 25% in 1 year by standardizing business operating procedures. 🔹 Produced $2.5M in cost savings after renegotiating all supply and service contracts. Examples of personal success: 🔹 Built sustainable technical sales organizations from the ground up within 3 global organizations. 🔹 Generated over $4M in new revenue after identifying, pursuing, and securing 2 new international client contracts. The above statements can be further detailed for more significant impact with added context, but hopefully, you get the idea: * Focus heavily on results, not tasks. * Share metrics and measurements. * Be specific, not vague. * Focus on details unique to you that align with the target audience's requirements. If you don't think you have any results, check out the comments for a link to a free guide to help you better identify and track your achievements. Every person has done something well in their work, and these things can be measured more often than not. The key is to start identifying them and writing them down!

Most resumes don’t get rejected for lack of experience. They get rejected for how that experience is presented. Over the last 3 months, I’ve reviewed over 50 resumes.  Friends, Referrals, and community members. Each time, I notice the same patterns. The mistakes are often small but costly. The wins are subtle but powerful. Here’s what I’ve learned from those reviews and what you can fix today: What actually works? 1 - Tailored Content The best resumes don’t try to be everything to everyone. They’re sharp, role-specific, and rich with keywords that match the job description. 2 - Quantifiable Achievements A line like “handled sales” is forgettable. A line like “Increased sales by 20% in 6 months” gets noticed. 3 - Simple, Clean Formatting Single-column. Consistent fonts. No design drama. ATS systems will thank you. So will recruiters. 4 - Professional Summary > Objective Statement Start with a crisp summary that answers: “What do I bring to the table?” 5 - Action Verbs “Led,” “Built,” “Implemented,” “Optimized.” Not “Responsible for” or “Helped with.” What to absolutely avoid? 1 - Generic Phrases “Hardworking team player” is white noise. Show it. Don’t say it. 2 - Outdated or Irrelevant Info That 2012 internship? Probably time to let it go. 3 - Over-designed Layouts ATS bots don’t care about your Canva skills. Keep it functional. 4 - Typos & Formatting Errors One comma out of place? Might not ruin your chances. But why risk it? 5 - Missing Contact Info Yes, this still happens. Double-check that your phone and email are visible. Bonus enhancements that make a difference: - Use metrics in every role, not just the latest one. - Match your skill section to what the job actually demands. - Move education below experience, unless you're a fresh grad. - Include certifications and recent courses. - Keep font styles and spacing uniform throughout. My suggestion? Take an hour this weekend and do a ruthless edit. - Cut fluff. - Add metrics. - Tweak layout. Ask a friend for feedback. And if you want a second set of eyes, I’m happy to help. I regularly do resume reviews (for a small fee). If you're looking for personalized, actionable feedback, DM me or drop a comment. Let’s make your experience shine the way it deserves to. -- ♻️ Reshare if this might help someone. ▶️ Join 2,485+ in the Tidbits WhatsApp group → link in comments

I’ve seen this resume advice floating around for years... “Just copy as many keywords as possible from the job description.” Some even suggest hiding those words in white text to “trick” the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Let’s set the record straight. That’s not how it works. Recruiters don’t filter for buzzwords like “team player” or “strong communicator.” Those phrases won’t get you noticed. In fact, they often make your resume sound generic. What does get you noticed? Clarity and impact. Employers want to see evidence. Not adjectives. They’re scanning for: ✅ Quantifiable results — measurable achievements that show your leadership impact ✅ Relevant expertise — technical or functional strengths directly tied to the role ✅ Strategic alignment — a clear narrative that connects your experience to their business goals Your resume should speak the language of outcomes, not empty descriptors. Because at your level, you’re not just applying for a job. You’re positioning yourself as a solution. Forget the tricks. Focus on showcasing your value in a way that’s impossible to overlook. #ExecutiveCareers #Leadership #CareerAdvice #JobSearchStrategy #ResumeTips

Over the past 4 years, I’ve reviewed over 100 resumes written by law students, and I always see the same handful of mistakes. This is AFTER both the student and their school’s Career Office have signed off and think the resume is “final.” ➡️ Please do not rely on Career Services to proofread your resume. That is not their job. The job is yours alone. So I created this checklist for you. It targets the 10 mistakes I see the most often. Please make sure your resume passes this checklist BEFORE you send out to any legal employer! CHECKLIST 1: Don’t tell me what your responsibilities were; tell me what you DID. Generalities are dirt. Specifics are gold. Make your resume interesting for your reader! 2: Use a readable font. Write in a font size that will be easy for your reviewer to read, and keep in mind that people over 40—including this one—cannot see tiny print. The last thing you want to do is make your reader work hard! 3: Don’t repeat that you did an activity for the company or your school when that is clear from the context. In a bullet entry under a job at a school or firm, you don’t need to specify you did something for the school or firm, and the context makes doing so redundant. 4: Be as concise as possible in your experience entries. Remove articles (the, a, an) before nouns. Convert “of the” clauses to possessives. See Dear 1L ch 13.3 for further guidance and examples. 5: Align your date ranges perfectly with the right margin. If you aren’t using a template (and I hate templates), you will need to set your right-facing tabs. See Dear 1L ch 13.2. 6: Use en-dashes for your date ranges. Note that lawyers do not use spaces around en-dashes, but as long as you are 100% consistent with your spacing throughout, doing so is not wrong per se for resume purposes. 7: Be consistent with your bullet formatting. Don’t mix square and circle bullets. Make sure all bullets are an identical size. 8: Be consistent with your vertical spacing. Err on the side of having more vertical spacing to make clear where one entry block ends and the next starts. Don’t cram entry blocks up against each other vertically. Adding a return that’s shorter than a full, 12 pt return can free up space. 9: Be consistent with your use of bold/italics & commas and other punctuation marks. These are probably the hardest nits to catch. Do a separate proofread to look exclusively for these types of inconsistencies. Consider using a magnifying glass. 👉 Look out especially for inconsistent bolding of commas and periods and inconsistent use of straight and curly quotes. 10: Don’t use adverbs. Don’t tell me that you “meticulously prepared” or “diligently organized” things. It makes me think you’re exaggerating. (But if you received particular recognition for your meticulousness or diligence, do mention that!) *** I hope this helps. I am sending so much luck to all of my new 2Ls during this stressful job-application period! 💌 Amanda

A resume isn’t just a list of experiences — it’s a storytelling document. Are you telling an effective story? Like any good story, your resume needs the right audience, structure, content, and design. 📌 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: - Dissect the job ad: What responsibilities, qualifications, and qualities do they want? - Talk to people in the field to understand what matters. - Put yourself in the reader’s shoes — can they clearly see why you’re a great fit? 📌 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: - Select experiences that prove you can do the job. - Group items in sections that are relevant to the job. - Highlight knowledge (head) and skills (hands). 📌 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: - Don’t just list tasks — show impact. - Quantify accomplishments where possible. - Use strong action verbs. 📌 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: - Use headers and layout for quick scanning. - Prioritize “prime real estate” (left edge + top of sections). - Keep formatting clean, clear, and consistent. - Bold key details to emphasize your story. A well-crafted resume doesn’t just tell employers what you’ve done — it shows them why you’re the right person for the job. 🚀

How to Make Sure Your Resume Tells a Story (Because That’s What’s Moving the Needle)   Let’s be honest. Most resumes sound like they were written by a robot that hates its job. And reading them causes me a pretend aneurysm every time.   “Managed this.” “Responsible for that.” Cool. So was everyone else. I mean, that was YOUR JOB, right?   If you want to stand out right now, your resume needs to tell a story not list chores.   Because stories sell. They build belief. They make people remember you when everyone else blurs together.   Here’s how to make it happen:   1. Connect the dots: Don’t just drop job titles. Show how each one led to the next. What did you learn? What skill did you build? How did you evolve? That’s your through-line.     2. Show transformation: Maybe you helped a company grow. Maybe you turned a broken process into a win. Your story isn’t that you did the job. It’s that you changed it.     3. Write with energy: Use words that move. “Built.” “Launched.” “Scaled.” “Improved.” These words show momentum. They tell me you don’t wait for things to happen you make them happen.     4. Quantify everything: Numbers are proof. They make your story real. 25% faster. 300 new customers. $2M saved. That’s what recruiters remember.     5. End with purpose: Your last line should tie it all together. Show where you’re headed and what kind of impact you want next.   Your resume isn’t just a document. It’s your trailer. If it doesn’t make people want to see the full movie, you’ve already lost their attention.   So stop writing resumes that sound safe. Start writing ones that sound alive.   That’s what’s moving the needle.

Getting "ghosted" or receiving a generic rejection after spending hours on an application is incredibly draining. If you feel like your resume is disappearing into a "black hole," it is often not a reflection of your talent - it’s a sign that your strategy needs a technical tune-up. Today’s hiring process is driven by speed and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). If your resume is "pretty" but not formatted correctly, it can be filtered out before a human ever sees it. Don’t get discouraged; get strategic. Here are 4 ways to ensure you stop getting overlooked: 1. Simplify Your Formatting Modern resumes prioritize clarity over design. To ensure your resume is readable by both humans and technology, follow these rules: - Use a single-column layout and avoid columns, tables, or sidebars. - Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. - Avoid graphics, icons, or headshots that can confuse scanning software. - Keep critical info out of headers/footers, as some systems skip these areas. 2. Ditch the "Objective" for a "Summary" Outdated objective statements focus on what you want. Instead, use a 3-4 sentence Professional Summary that focuses on what you bring to the employer. Highlight who you are professionally, your core strengths, and the value you provide. 3. Use Keywords from the Job Description ATS systems look for specific language from the job posting. If those keywords are missing, your resume may never be seen. - Identify required skills, software tools, and industry terminology. - Use both long-form and short-form terms, such as "Customer Relationship Management (CRM)". - Leverage AI to identify the keywords the ATS will prioritize. 4. Focus on Achievements, Not Just Tasks Recruiters often spend less than 30 seconds skimming a document. They want to see results, not just a list of responsibilities. - Quantify your impact whenever possible because numbers get attention. - Strong Example: "Reduced monthly reporting errors by 20% by implementing a standardized review process". - Weak Example: "Responsible for monthly reports". The Bottom Line: A modern resume combined with a short, targeted cover letter is a powerful job search strategy. This combination helps you get past the filters and get seen by recruiters faster. #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #ResumeTips #Hiring #CareerGrowth #ATS

Are you struggling to write compelling resume bullet points? Writing resume bullet points can be daunting, especially if you're starting from scratch. But don't worry, I've got you covered! Here's a step-by-step guide to help you brainstorm, gather details, and quantify your achievements effectively. 1. Brainstorm Your Responsibilities and Achievements Start by listing all your job responsibilities and achievements. Think about your daily tasks, projects you've worked on, and any special contributions you've made. Ask yourself: What were my main duties? Did I lead or participate in any projects? Did I receive any awards or recognition? 2. Gather Details and Examples Once you have your list, dive deeper into each point. For each responsibility or achievement, consider: What was the scope of the task? What tools or skills did I use? What was the outcome or impact? 3. Quantify Your Achievements Numbers make your resume stand out. They provide concrete evidence of your impact. To find these numbers, think about: How many people did you manage or work with? How much money did you save or generate? What percentage increase or decrease did you achieve? 4. Use the Formula: Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z] This formula helps structure your bullet points clearly and effectively. Let's break it down: [X]: What you accomplished (e.g., increased sales, improved efficiency) [Y]: How you measured it (e.g., by 20%, by $50,000) [Z]: What actions you took (e.g., by implementing a new strategy, by leading a team) 5. Real-Life Examples Here are some examples to illustrate the process: Example 1: Accomplished a 30% increase in customer satisfaction as measured by survey results, by implementing a new feedback system. Example 2: Reduced operational costs by $40,000 annually as measured by financial reports, by negotiating better vendor contracts. Example 3: Led a team of 10 to successfully launch a new product, resulting in a 15% increase in market share as measured by sales data. 6. Review and Refine Finally, review your bullet points. Ensure they are concise, impactful, and free of jargon. Ask a friend or mentor to give feedback. By following these steps, you'll be able to craft resume bullet points that highlight your achievements and make your resume stand out. Happy writing! #ResumeTips #CareerAdvice #JobSearch #ProfessionalDevelopment #LinkedInTips

I did a resume review and it was a good reminder that most of the time, it’s not your experience that’s the problem, it’s how it’s coming across on paper. This designer had great work across the U.S. and Taiwan. Strong branding and motion projects, solid clients but the way it was laid out was unclear. Here are a few fixes we worked on that might help if you’re tweaking your own resume: 1. Add a short summary. Just 3–4 lines at the top about who you are, what you do, and what kind of roles you’re after. Makes it easier for a hiring manager to get the picture right away. 2. Standardize your titles. Freelancers sometimes list projects under different names “Freelance Graphic Designer,” “Freelance Motion Designer,” "Brand Designer” which can make your path look scattered. We pulled everything under one clear title (“Freelance Brand & Motion Designer”) so her experience read as consistent and intentional instead of all over the place. 3. Make bullets about impact. Lead with a strong action verb and connect it to an outcome. Not: “Responsible for motion graphics." Better: “Designed and animated typography for a Google campaign, driving engagement.” It’s stronger and easier to skim. 4. Mention collaboration. A lot of resumes only talk about the work and forget to show how you worked with others. If you partnered with clients, producers, copywriters, or engineers, say it. For example: “Collaborated with producers and copywriters to align creative direction across video and social campaigns.” This tells employers you can work as part of a team, not just on your own. 5. Show results (even without numbers). If you don’t have data, talk about project scope, repeat work or client feedback. Example: “Earned ongoing partnerships with agencies based on successful delivery.” or “Promoted to Senior Designer within a year based on strong project delivery.” Those details prove the value of your work without needing exact percentages. 6. Don’t forget the basics! Make sure your portfolio and LinkedIn are clickable, list months (not just years) on your dates and keep your education section clean and simple. When I was recruiting, I wasn’t looking for the “perfect” resume.  I wanted to understand someone’s story without having to guess. If your experience reads clearly and shows how you’ve grown, you’ve already done more than most.

I applied to dozens of jobs and only got 2 interviews. Then I discovered what I was doing wrong. I just wrapped up a coaching call with a veteran I’ll call Sarah. Army Captain. 14 years of service. Extensive HR and compliance experience. Nearly completed graduate degree. On paper, she should be landing interviews left and right. Here’s what we uncovered in our session. Sarah’s resume had become “robotic.” After months of job searching, she’d fallen into the trap we all fall into. Copying keywords from job descriptions. Creating generic bullet points that could apply to anyone. Losing her unique story in a sea of sameness. Her resume listed responsibilities. It didn’t showcase impact. When I asked her to tell me about her favorite role (Director of Career Services), her energy completely shifted. She told me about: 🔸 Achieving one of the highest placement rates on the entire West Coast 🔸 Earning the Operation Inspire Award 🔸 Managing a diverse team while balancing HR compliance, ADA accommodations, and student mentoring 🔸 The actual lives she changed THAT story wasn’t on her resume. Just generic bullets that said “managed career services program” and “coordinated with employers.” Stop listing duties. Start proving impact. Don’t write: “Managed team and oversaw program operations” Write: “Led 4-person team to achieve top 10% placement rate regionally; earned Operation Inspire Award for program excellence” Use the STAR format for bullets, not just interviews. Every bullet should tell a micro-story: 🔸 Situation/Task: What was the challenge? 🔸 Action: What did YOU specifically do? 🔸 Result: What measurable outcome did you create? Quality over quantity. Sarah had 6-8 bullets per job. We’re cutting to 2-3 POWERFUL bullets per role that actually differentiate her. I told Sarah what I tell every transitioning service member: “You’re not just applying for jobs. You’re a product solving a customer’s problem.” That employer has a need. Your resume is your marketing material. If it reads like everyone else’s, why would they pick you? If you’re applying everywhere and hearing nothing, ask yourself: 🔸 Does my resume tell generic responsibilities or specific achievements? 🔸 Can someone reading this understand the IMPACT I created, not just what I was responsible for? 🔸 Would a hiring manager remember me after reading this, or does it blend in? Read your resume out loud. If it bores you, it will bore them. Sarah left our call with clarity, two priority applications, and a completely different approach. Will it work? I’m confident it will, because we’re finally putting the real Sarah on paper, not a watered-down, keyword-stuffed version. To everyone grinding through the job search right now.. You’re not failing. Your marketing materials are just underselling your story. Fix the story. The interviews will follow.