How to Stand Out Professionally

I can't tell you the last time I looked at a resume in over 12 years of hiring, and I've hired many people. It's not even a nonstarter. I don't even think about it. I know others will disagree with me, but I don't find any value in the PDF version of your LinkedIn page. I'll just go to LinkedIn. But don't despair; there are many ways to garner attention, be introduced, or stand out. 1. Follow-up notes - it's incredible how often I do not receive a follow-up message after a conversation. It's so easy to do. Here's my opinion on the best follow-up message setup: (1) Thank the person for their time. (2) Bullet point a couple of things you learned from the conversation (3) Ask a question to re-engage. Send the follow-up within an hour of the interview. Send a note to each participant if it's a group meeting or panel. IMPORTANT: If you don't get a response after your first note, could you send a couple more? People are busy, and the inbox is even busier. 2. Use video - I always appreciate it when an applicant uses Loom or another video provider to send an introduction or thank you video. It's a rare occurrence that surprises me due to its ease of use. 3. Please research the role and be sure you are a fit. Are you framing your qualifications to match what the hiring managers are looking for? Ensure you fully understand what you are applying for. 4. Research the team and understand the company. Who are your hiring manager's peers? Who else would you want to meet? If you are interviewing with the CMO, contact the CRO or VP of Sales and try to schedule a meeting. It doesn't hurt to ask. There is no excuse not to research with tools like LinkedIn available to you. 5. Get an introduction before applying - Once you research and meet a couple of people from the company, ask for an introduction. I can count on both hands how often I've received an introduction from a team member for a role I am hiring for. Even better, if you are a referral from a trusted peer, you go to the top of the list, no matter what. 6. Prepare with questions—Spend an inordinate amount of time listing out questions you want to ask the interviewer. Discuss the role expectations, but don't forget to ask questions specifically about them, such as "Why did you choose to work here?" etc. Hiring great people isn’t about resumes but connections, preparation, and effort. Don’t rely on the same old playbook if you want to stand out. Get creative, do the work, and show why you’re the best fit for the role. The good news? Most people won’t do these things. That’s your edge.

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

10 things i would do today … if i were to get started in Cloud Security . (Cybersecurity career week edition) 94% of orgs are already using the cloud (Pluralsight state of the cloud report 2023) Cloud adoption/migrating to the cloud is growing … By 2025 over 95% of new digital workloads will be deployed on cloud native platforms up ⬆️ from 30% in 2021, ~ Gartner. Skills gap is one of the challenge in cloud security (1 in 4 companies cite cloud security skills gap) ~ SC media I also get a ton of questions on how to get started or pivot to the cloud security space As someone working as a cloud security Engineer at a Fortune 500 org i recommend 1. Ask yourself WHY you are interested in cloud security vs other domains in cybersecurity? What is it that about cloud security that appeals to you? 2. Start with the Basics - Make sure you've got a solid grasp on security fundamentals, Networking concepts, etc 3. Learn the cloud - start with any of the major cloud service providers either AWS, or Azure. If you know one it won’t be difficult to translate concepts to other cloud service providers such as understanding equivalent services etc I started learning the cloud late 2020 with AWS i earned - AWS CCP, Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK),SANS GCLD (Cloud essentials 2021, KCNA, AWS Solutions Architect in 2022 then recently passed the AWS Security Speciality, AWS AI practitioner & Microsoft security, Compliance & Identity 4. Learn Infrastructure as Code (IaC) such as Terraform, AWS CloudFormation, etc to deploy infra as code. 5. Understand DevSecOps culture, how version control tools work such as GitHub, GitLab etc 6. Learn scripting language such as python for automating tasks. 7. Cloud tech changes frequently. Keep up with the latest trends, tools, & technologies to stay ahead & being able to secure effectively. Follow folks on LinkedIn who are sharing relevant content on cloud security topics through posts, books, courses, podcasts etc 8. Essential skills are important - critical thinking, attention to details, communication, collaboration & networking. 10. Build Your Brand - Share your learnings, helpful tools & thought leadership on cloud security so that folks in your network & beyond know you are interested in cloud security for opportunities - i have a LinkedIn learning Course on that ->Build your in Cybersecurity. (Before I transitioned into a cloud security while doing the learning, I did a presentation with a demo on cloud security topic at SANS CloudSecNext summit). 10. Continue to learn on the job - you will continue to get unique problems, tools such as CSPM, etc - you get to learn the problem & find a solution. You won’t still know everything and that’s ok Hence the need for passion for continuous learning, problem solving skills, collaboration, asking questions etc Did I miss anything cloud security or cybersecurity pros? #cloudsecurity #cloudcomputing #cybersecurity #cloudsec

The secret to standing out isn’t being the best—it’s being different. You don’t need to compete with others on their terms; instead, build a unique combination of skills that only you can bring to the table. This is how you carve a path that’s uniquely yours. This is the advice I shared with young people who feel the pressure to be the “best.” Comparing yourself with others can be an exhausting downward spiral. Your uniqueness is your superpower. Rewrite the rules to work for you. When you’re starting out, carve out a niche. The more narrow it is, the easier it is to stand out and excel. Once you gain a foothold, you can broaden your skillset and expand your impact. Think of it as building a “skills stack.” The idea is simple but powerful: instead of trying to master one area, combine complementary skills from different domains. Each skill you acquire becomes a multiplier for the others. You don’t need to be the best at any single skill—being good at a unique combination is enough to make you stand out. Early in my career, I specialized as an economist. But over time, I recognized that solving complex problems required a multifaceted approach. So, I adapted: blending economics with history, financial markets with psychology, and finance with storytelling. This interdisciplinary approach allowed me to create my own game. Following my own path made work feel like a journey, not a competition. It kept me from getting lost in the trap of comparison. Start small: Choose a skill you’re curious about and think about how it could enhance what you already know. Over time, your stack will grow, making you uniquely equipped for opportunities no one else can match. The world doesn’t need more copies. It needs you, as you are. How are you building your own skills stack? And what advice would you give to those striving to be the best?

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

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.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 A tight deadline. A demanding client. A last-minute change that turns your work upside down. We’ve all been there. Stressful situations at work are unavoidable. But how you handle them? That’s where real professionalism shines. I’ve seen two types of responses: 🚩 Person A: Panics, gets defensive, blames external factors. ✅ Person B: Stays composed, finds solutions, keeps communication clear. Guess who earns more trust, credibility, and respect? Here’s what I’ve learned about maintaining professionalism under stress: 🔹 1. Pause Before Reacting When things go wrong, our first instinct is to react instantly. Instead, take 10 seconds to process the situation before responding. Your tone, body language, and words matter more than you think. 🔹 2. Control What You CAN You can’t control last-minute client demands or an overflowing inbox, but you can control: ✔ Your response time ✔ The way you communicate ✔ Your ability to prioritize and delegate 🔹 3. Keep Your Emotions in Check (Even When Others Don’t) If a colleague or client is frustrated, demanding, or even rude, don’t mirror their energy. Stay calm. Stay professional. Nothing diffuses tension like a composed response. 🔹 4. Focus on Solutions, Not the Problem Instead of saying: 🚫 “This isn’t possible. We don’t have enough time.” Try: ✅ “Given the deadline, here’s what we CAN do and how we can adjust.” 🔹 5. Your Reputation = How You Handle Tough Moments People don’t just remember your work—they remember how you made them feel in stressful moments. A calm, professional attitude builds trust and opens doors to bigger opportunities. At the end of the day, professionalism isn’t just about doing great work—it’s about how you handle the tough parts too. #Professionalism #CareerGrowth #Leadership

I’ve spent years observing how the best tools and strategies can help you stand out and land your dream cloud role.  Here’s what I learned: *** 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺: 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 Documentation is your secret weapon. Use Medium to share your cloud projects, showcase your thought process, and let your work speak for itself.  Don’t just describe the end result, explain your 𝗦.𝗢.𝗔.𝗥.𝗙 process:   • 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼: What problem were you solving?   • 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲: What challenges did you face?   • 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: What steps did you take to solve it?   • 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: What did you achieve?   • 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲: What didn’t work, and how did you adapt?  Tip: Add screenshots and detailed steps to make it even more engaging.  *** 𝗚𝗶𝘁𝗛𝘂𝗯: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Your GitHub profile is a testament to your growth and proof of your codebase.  𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁:   • Keep your commits consistent, regular updates show you’re improving.   • Add clear descriptions of your code and a READme file, what it does and why it matters.  Think of it as a portfolio that showcases both your technical skills and your problem-solving mindset.  Profiles with regular commits and well-documented READMEs are 5x more likely to catch a recruiter’s eye. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗠𝗘? Use this GitHub README template to structure your project descriptions clearly and professionally.: https://lnkd.in/eWjmJqjC *** 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗚𝗣𝗧: 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 Explaining your projects doesn’t have to be intimidating. Tools like ChatGPT can help break down technical concepts into simple, digestible language.  𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁:   "𝘙𝘦𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 5𝘵𝘩-𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭.”  Your goal isn’t to sound like a genius, it’s to ensure anyone following along understands the value of your work.  *** 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗨𝗽: 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁  When it’s time to share your project on LinkedIn, storytelling matters. Craft posts that answer the reader’s unspoken question: “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲?”  For example:   • 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳: “Check out my new project!”   • 𝗧𝗿𝘆: “This is how I deployed AWS Infrastructure in less than 10 seconds.”  Build a story around how your project helped you solve 𝗫, 𝗬, 𝗼𝗿 𝗭. You’ll resonate more with your audience and inspire them to engage.  *** Landing your next cloud role isn’t just about showing what you’ve built, you have to be able to articulate how you solved problems and how you improved on solving that problem.  Don't forget, its all about building your 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗! Using tools that can make it easier for you to stand out. What's your tech stack that you use to build your brand on LinkedIn.

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