Mastering Job Applications

I used to review hundreds of job applications and CVs for my startups and different venturing units I built. Whenever I saw this line in a CV: "Computer skills: Microsoft Suite: excel, Powerpoint, Word." It was a red signal 🚩 , not because those skills were not important, but because this has become redundant and expected from applicants that they will have those skills in any job in tech or investments. However, in the new transformational age of AI, you can pivot this line into one simple liner that is so powerful, and that will make you a super-star applicant 🦸 . Please write this simple line in your CV: "AI Skills: Perplexity, ChatGPT, Claude AI, Lovable" or include any other AI tool you experimented with! Adding your "AI Skills" line does not only show that you know how to work and apply AI in your work, but also, it shows that you are experimental, curious and innovative. It shows that you are up to date with new technologies and could adapt to the changes in technological progress. #AI #AISkills #Jobs #JobApplicant #Tech #SkillsontheRise

You don't have time, same is with HR. They also don't have time. With recruiters spending just 6 seconds scanning a CV, it's crucial to get it right. Your CV is your first impression on potential employers, making the difference between getting an interview or being rejected. A well-crafted CV is a strategic document showcasing your unique strengths, achievements, and personal brand. These 4 CV improvement steps will definitely help you towards your Job finding goa: 1. Understanding What Recruiters Look For : Recruiters seek CVs that are clear, concise, and effectively communicate skills, experience, and achievements. Tailoring your CV to the specific job, using relevant keywords, and showing clear career progression can make your CV stand out. 2. Crafting Your Personal Brand and Unique Selling Proposition (USP) : Your personal brand combines your skills, values, and personality traits that set you apart. Your USP is the specific benefit you bring to an employer. Clearly articulating these helps tailor your CV to showcase your strengths and attract hiring managers' attention. 3. Effective CV Structure and Layout : A well-organized and visually appealing CV grabs attention and conveys your qualifications clearly. Use clear headings, bullet points, and a logical flow starting with contact information, professional summary, education, and work experience. Consistent formatting and reverse chronological order enhance readability. 4. Showcasing Achievements and Skills : Highlight your achievements with specific, measurable language to demonstrate your value. Quantify accomplishments to show impact, and list relevant skills and certifications. This balance of modesty and confidence will showcase your strengths and why you’re the perfect fit for the job. Looking for more career growth strategy tips, follow Smriti Gupta. #JobSearch #ResumeTips #CareerAdvice #CVWriting #PersonalBranding

When a precision strike is better than carpet bombing. The market is turning. Over the last few months, I’ve spoken to an increasing number of senior executive leaders who are out of work or between jobs. This is a noticeable difference from last year, when many of our executive assignments required us to deploy the entire arsenal of search weaponry. Then, the response to advertising was woeful. Although we’ve always prided ourselves on the diversity and quality of our shortlists, we need to work our networks hard to get a result. While this is still the case, there are some differences when we reflect on some of our recent assignments. Here are some examples: 1. Senior transformation position: Over 200 applications and a shortlist that could easily have presented 20-plus suitable candidates for our client to consider. 2, A specialist media executive leadership position: Although we conducted a confidential search, this process drew over 60 applications, with our client deliberating five well-qualified candidates for one to secure the job. The competition for other leadership positions is equally fierce. As the Australian jobs market starts to swing back in favour of the employer, you need to consider your job search strategy and approach. We recommend a deliberate and considered approach vs. mass applications that are encouraged via the easy-to-apply job board functions. Avoid this at all costs. To illustrate the point, recently, I met a capable leader who was referred to us. "Bryan" has a well-considered career history with respected employers. Yet, having turned 50 years old, Bryan has found himself out of work for the first time in his career. As we reviewed his options, Bryan shared that he has made over 300 job applications as desperation and anxiety to secure his role took hold. Needless to say, his mental health has taken a toll. I don't know how anyone could accept such rejection. I don't think I could. My advice to him was to revisit his approach. I was surprised no one else had shared this with him before. Bryan has become trapped in the job board paradox, applying for more jobs and experiencing ever-greater rejection. The law of diminishing returns seemingly works in tandem for candidates and for us, as we’ve seen ever-lower-quality applications over the years. The advice I shared with him was this: 1. Resist the temptation to apply for everything. Be selective and deliberate. 2. Activate your network. Find people willing to advocate for you. 3. Seek referrals, including recruiters you can partner with or hiring managers you can be introduced to. 4. Reach out to the hiring manager or recruiter to introduce yourself in advance of applying. 5. Then, ensure you prepare a customised cover letter and amend your CV to address the role criteria. 6. Seek feedback on your application - you may need to be persistent here. 7. And rinse and repeat the process. This is why a precision strike is better than carpet bombing.

As a hiring manager, I stopped looking for the perfect candidate a long time ago. Why? Because no candidate will 100% fit any position. And if they do, spoiler alert: they will get bored in a couple of months and leave. If employees don’t have any room to grow and don’t learn new things, they will have a feeling of stagnation. Dear companies, stop looking for someone who meets every requirement on the JD. Dear job seekers, stop self-rejecting yourself and start applying to jobs where you meet at least 60% of the qualifications. Let’s normalize this concept by sharing this so more hiring managers and job seekers can see it!

I reject CVs with no whitespace. I don’t care how experienced you are — if your CV is hard to read, it's going straight into the "no" pile. Believe it or not, you’re not the only perfect match for the vacancy I’m working on. The content of your CV matters, but how it’s presented is just as important. If you lack attention to detail and don’t consider the impression it leaves on the reader, you’re unlikely to make my shortlist (unless you are Sir David Attenborough who could submit a voice message and I would notice). ✅ Whitespace isn’t optional. It allows the reader’s eyes to breathe, guiding them naturally through the document. ✅ Modern format matters. Use clean sections, bullet points, and smart headers to direct attention where it counts. ✅ Information order is crucial. Put the most important details first. The best CVs are scannable, structured, and easy on the eyes. No one’s going to dig through a page of tiny font or endless paragraphs. If your CV isn’t getting compliments, it’s not because your experience is lacking — it's because your format is a mess. Disagree? Tell me why… 👇

I get around 50+ DMs every day saying, “How do I stay motivated when nothing seems to be working?” Even during consultation calls or webinars, the first question I hear is: “Why does it feel like I’m putting in all this effort, but nothing is changing?” And I get it. It’s not like you apply today and land a job by tomorrow. Sometimes, it feels like you're doing everything right, but you still don’t see progress. And when the results don’t come quickly, it’s easy to get discouraged. But how do you stay motivated through all of this? I won’t sugarcoat it—it’s tough. The job search is a grind, and it feels like you're stuck. But here’s what I’ve learned from working with hundreds of candidates who’ve been in your shoes: ✅ Take a step back and breathe The constant pressure of "I need to find a job" can be overwhelming. But in that rush, you risk losing perspective. So, just a day to refuel, reset, and remind yourself that you are more than the job search. ✅ Quality over quantity Mass applying to hundreds of jobs might make you feel productive, but it rarely leads to meaningful results. Instead, focus on targeting companies that align with your skills, values, and career goals. Research their culture, understand their needs, and tailor your application to show them why you're exactly who they’re looking for. Make each application count. ✅ Network like it’s your job Reach out to people, not just to ask for jobs, but to seek advice, insights, and connections. Build relationships that are based on mutual value. People want to help you if you give them a reason to care about you. ✅ Track your progress and adjust your strategy Write down the jobs you’ve applied to, people you’ve reached out to, and any skills you’ve learned. If things don’t seem to be moving, don’t be afraid to try something different. Maybe you need to update your resume, improve your LinkedIn profile, or focus on other companies. Keep showing up for yourself. Keep putting in the effort. The job will come when you're ready, for both it and yourself. And when that moment comes? Everything you've gone through to get there will feel worth it. All the best! #motivation #career #jobsearch #networking #jobseekers

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼 𝗦𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗨𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗦𝗼𝗼𝗻? I’ve seen it happen too often—people start their job search with high energy, sending applications, networking, preparing for interviews… but after weeks (or months) of rejections, ghosting, and no responses, they slowly stop. The motivation fades. I get it. Searching for a job can feel like a full-time job without a paycheck. But here’s what I’ve learned from people who kept going and eventually landed incredible roles: 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆—𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 📌 Sending 100 applications a day isn’t a strategy; it’s a waste of time. 📌 Instead of mass-applying, research the companies, tailor your resume, and reach out to someone inside the company. It increases your response rate by up to 10x. 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 📌 Got rejected? Ask yourself: ✅ Was my resume optimized for the role? ✅ Did I communicate my impact clearly? ✅ Could I have networked better before applying? Every rejection teaches you something—if you analyze it. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲—𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 📌 80% of jobs are filled through networking. Yet, most job seekers spend 90% of their time on job boards. 📌 Have 3-5 meaningful conversations per week—not just asking for jobs, but discussing industry trends, company cultures, and referrals. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝘆, 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 📌 Learn a skill, take up a freelance project, start writing about your field. 📌 Hiring managers notice proactive candidates. If you can say, “I’ve been using this time to upskill in X and worked on Y,” you stand out. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 & 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝘁 📌 Job searching without a plan feels exhausting. Set daily/weekly targets: ✔ Apply to X quality jobs ✔ Connect with X professionals ✔ Upskill for X hours Consistency beats bursts of energy followed by burnout. Here’s the Truth: The people who land the best jobs aren’t always the smartest or the most qualified. They’re the ones who didn’t quit. If you’re feeling demotivated in your job search, know this: you’re one conversation, one connection, or one opportunity away from everything changing. #JobSearch #CareerGrowth #StayMotivated #NetworkingWorks

When I started my job search, I thought the more jobs I applied to, the better my chances. So I applied everywhere but most of the time, I didn’t even get a reply. Later, I figured out the real problem: I was applying too fast, without understanding the job or tailoring my resume. Job hunting isn’t about speed. It’s about intention. If you apply without reading the description properly or aligning your resume with the role, your application won’t stand out. Here’s what helped me: • I started applying to fewer roles • I read each job post carefully • I customized my resume to match what they were looking for And it made a difference. You don’t need to apply to 50 jobs a week. Apply to 5 roles — but make every one of them count. Quality > Quantity. Slow down. Apply better. Not faster. #dataanalytics #interviewtips

Next time you're feeling stuck in your job search with zero interviews, try THIS resume strategy. Ask yourself these deep-dive questions: 1. What do you do better than anyone else? 2. What are you known for no matter where you work? 3. What do others come to you for? Finding these themes across your career reveals your signature strengths—the exact qualities hiring managers are searching for. This strategy transformed my client Kathryn's job search. As a global communications executive who worked 18-hour days and built departments from scratch, she thought her experience would speak for itself. But after four weeks using a template resume, she had zero interviews. When we dug deeper using these questions, we discovered her unique strengths and competitive advantages that weren't coming through on her resume. We restructured her resume to highlight these differentiators and showcase her accomplishments using the C.A.R. format (Challenge, Action, Result). The result? Five interviews with top Silicon Valley companies, including Amazon and Facebook. She accepted a VP role at Amazon within 30 days and was promoted again just eight months later. Your experience alone isn't enough—you need to communicate what makes you uniquely valuable. What patterns do you see across your career? What are your signature strengths? Those are your differentiators! If you're nodding along because you know you bring more to the table than your resume shows, I'd love to help you 1:1. Message me to discuss your executive resume. #LinkedInTopVoices #Resumes #Careers #PersonalBranding

I applied to 150 internships as a freshman. From the first 75 of those 150 applications, I landed 2 first-round interviews and 0 offers. From the second 75 of those 150 applications, I landed 8 first-round interviews and 3 offers. So what changed? My resume. In one of those two initial, first-round interviews, the recruiter took an extra 5-10 minutes to give me some hard-to-swallow but incredible constructive feedback on my resume. It was a really tough moment because I realized I needed to overhaul and completely redo this resume I had spent so much time on. But it was a pivotal moment since this was just what I needed to turn my job hunt around. After implementing this feedback, I went from landing two interviews to landing eight interviews, six of which were with Fortune 500 companies. Here is the EXACT feedback I received from my recruiter: ➡️ Don't just "say" your skills; demonstrate your skills through work experiences and projects. ➡️ Academic honors/awards aren't in scope for a resume when applying for an internship. ➡️ Hiring managers want to see that you have REAL-world experience. ➡️ Your project portfolio can make you a more competitive applicant. ➡️ Quantifying the impact you've made adds credibility & legitimacy to what you've done. And here are some other tips, tricks, and resume hacks I picked up along the journey of my first job hunt: 🎯 If you don't have work or internship experience, leverage "relevant" experience. 🎯 Don't reinvent the wheel/start from scratch; utilize resources to create and improve your resume bullet points. 🎯 You don't have to start from a blank space; try templates & examples! ↪️ Steal THE resume that got me into Disney 👀 + my resume kit with editable templates: https://lnkd.in/g2mYVDaV #internships #internship #summerinternship #earlycareers #resumetips