How to Improve Your First Job Application

Want your application to stand out? I get this all the time from folks who think we use AI to find our candidates. We don't. We don’t use AI to scan applications, but we do use filters to find specific experience and skills. If the posting calls for certain tools, certifications, or outcomes, make sure those are clearly in your application. If they’re missing, you may not pass the first screen. What we’re seeing most often: 🔴 Applying without the required skills: Most denials are from people applying to roles they aren’t qualified for. Aim for an 80–90% match before you hit submit, and tailor your examples to the job. 🔴 Incomplete applications: Don’t skip fields. If we ask for a reel or portfolio, upload it. With 800+ applications, we won’t dig around to find what the form asked for—the candidate who follows directions gets the edge. 🔴 Short stints without context: Multiple 6–12 month hops raise questions about how long you’ll stay. If you’ve had short roles, add a brief note (contract role, layoff, relocation) and highlight impact. How to improve your odds today: Make sure you have the skills required in the job description and show 2–3 relevant accomplishments with metrics. Fill out every required field and include all requested materials. If you’re not there yet, build the skills first—courses, projects or internships —and then apply. Bottom line: Qualified + clear + complete beats spray-and-pray every time. If you care enough to make it easy for us to see your fit, you’re already ahead. Happy to answer questions in the comments. #hiring #jobsearch #careeradvice #recruitingtips

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

Job Seekers, here's a systematic approach I followed to maximize my job search success! I had applied to a ton of jobs since last year to land one this year. I am not ashamed to say I have been rejected in many ones that I applied, but before getting dejected please ask for feedback to work on them. Sometimes you could just get rejected for any other reason than your skill set. Step 1: Identify Your Target Roles Start by defining your career goals. Understand the job market and pinpoint the roles you're interested in. Step 2: Craft Tailored Resumes & Cover Letters Customize your application materials for each position. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences. Step 3: Set Up an Application Schedule Plan a weekly application goal to stay consistent. Apply to multiple jobs to increase your chances. Step 4: Maintain an Application Tracker Create an Excel sheet to keep tabs on your job applications. Include details like company, position, date applied, and the status of each application. Step 5: Request Feedback Don't be afraid to ask for feedback if you're not selected. It's a valuable opportunity to improve. Send a polite email or message thanking them for their time and expressing your interest in their company. Step 6: Continuous Improvement Review your application tracker regularly. Identify patterns or areas for improvement in your application materials. Use feedback to refine your approach. Remember, the job search can be a marathon, not a sprint. Stay persistent, stay organized, and keep learning from your experiences. #jobsearch #careeradvice #networking #professional #tips Have any additional tips to share or success stories using this method? Please comment below, and let's support each other in our job search journeys! 👇

I have invested 3500+ hours in Job search, resume, and Interviews. Let me tell you the 10 biggest mistakes to avoid during your job hunt. 👇🏼 [1] Resumes: Your resume is your first impression. Craft it meticulously.  Include relevant details and tailor it to the job description. [2] Job Portals: Job portals are where you start your job search, not where you end it. Leverage your network, reach out to professionals, and explore platforms beyond the mainstream. [3] Customization: Every job application is unique and if you see a job that you want. Tailor your application, showcasing the skills and experiences that align with the specific role. [4] Keywords Matter: Biggest mistake is not understanding that keywords matter in job applications.  Tailor your resume with relevant keywords from the job description to increase visibility. [5] LinkedIn Profile & Online Presence: Your LinkedIn profile is your professional identity, engaging, and align it with your job search. Employers often check social media profiles, so curate your online image accordingly. [6] Industry Networking: Join industry-specific forums, attend webinars, and connect with professionals in your field. Networking not only opens doors but also provides insights into current industry trends. [7] Elevator Pitch: Craft a concise and compelling elevator pitch.  Clearly articulate your skills, experiences, and what makes you a standout candidate in under a minute. [8] Feedback Loop & Follow-Up: After an interview, follow up with a thank-you email. If you face rejection, seek constructive feedback.  Show appreciation, Use it as a tool for improvement, addressing potential weaknesses in your approach. [9] Interview Preparation: Prepare thoroughly for interviews, Research the company, and practice common questions. Demonstrating this knowledge in interviews sets you apart as a candidate genuinely interested in the organization. [10] Professionalism: Your title may not be "Job Seeker," but during the job search, that's your role.  Act professionally in all interactions, whether it's on social media, in emails, or during interviews. What’s the [11] - Let me know in the comments.

I recently conversed with an individual who diligently sent his resume to 255 potential employers yet received responses from only five entities. Admittedly, I haven't actively pursued a full-time job for over a decade. Nonetheless, I found his experience disheartening. Upon requesting his resume and cover letter for review, it became evident why he struggled to elicit a response. It seemed he hadn't invested the necessary time and effort to craft his application materials with precision, intention, and self-awareness—focusing on his unique contributions, aspirations, and professional direction. Here are 10 tips we discussed, what did we miss? 💡 Quality Matters: A polished resume and cover letter create a positive first impression for potential employers, showcasing your qualifications effectively. 💡 Customize and Highlight: Tailor your application materials to match job requirements, emphasizing relevant skills and achievements while using keywords from the job description to grab attention and help with the bot reviews. 💡 Attention to Detail: Mistakes or generic content can make you appear unprofessional and disinterested. Take the time to craft personalized materials that align with the job requirements. 💡 Research and Align: Research the company and position to tailor your materials accordingly, aligning your skills and experiences with the organization's mission and values. 💡 Self-Reflection Matters: Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, interests, and values to guide your job search strategy effectively and articulate your career goals. 💡 Adapt to Changes: Job application methods are evolving, including automated responses. Utilize networking, social media, and personalized outreach alongside traditional methods. 💡 Targeted Efforts Pay Off: Focus on quality over quantity in your job search. Target opportunities that match your skills and goals to increase response rates. 💡 Communicate Value Clearly: Emphasize relevant accomplishments and skills that demonstrate your ability to contribute to the organization's success, using clear and concise language and formatting. 💡 Seek Support: Take advantage of resources like career coaches, workshops, online platforms, networking, and mentors to improve your job search and interview strategies. 💡 Continuous Improvement: Reflect on your approach to job searching and applications, prioritizing quality, seeking feedback, and exploring new strategies to enhance your success.

Job Hunting: Episode 4 After passing all the exams and earning the necessary certifications, one might think it would be an easy ride to secure a #job offer, especially with #sponsorship eligibility. However, the reality is often different. The job market is currently tough, and positions that come with #H1B cap-exempt sponsorship are hard to find. During my job #hunt, I sent out hundreds of applications and did more than 10 #interviews before finally getting lucky and landing an #offer. If I could give you any advice about job hunting, it would be these: 1. Get used to rejections: Most of your applications will be ignored or rejected. Get used to it, but don’t give up—keep applying. 2. Quality over quantity: It’s tempting to apply to every opening on #LinkedIn, #Indeed, or #Glassdoor. However, this approach often leads to sending out applications without focusing on their quality. My advice: don’t do that. Whenever you find a job opening, check if the organization is qualified to offer you sponsorship. If they are, proceed. You don’t want to waste time applying and interviewing only to hear, "Sorry, we didn’t know you needed sponsorship, and we cannot provide it." 3. Tailor your applications: Don’t use the same resume for different positions. Each opening comes with a job description (JD), and you should tailor your resume to match that description. You can use #ChatGPT or other AI tools to help you with this. 4. Improve your application and interview skills: After every interview or rejection, reflect on what you could improve. There are plenty of videos on #TikTok and #YouTube offering advice on how to enhance your resume and interview performance—take advantage of them. 5. One-page resume: If you have less than 10 years of work experience, keep your #resume to one page. Be direct—remove any information that doesn’t align with the job description. In a professional resume, no one needs to know if you were the president of the student union or what your hobbies are. Skip the #references and stick to what’s relevant. 6. Don’t be humble: This was one of the major mistakes I made in my early interviews. Due to upbringing or cultural norms, many of us are taught to be humble, so we tend to downplay our abilities. Don’t do that. Speak confidently about yourself and your skills. Let the interviewer know that you’re the best candidate they can find. 7. Don't give up: Sometimes you’ll ace the interview, and the manager or supervisor will give you assurance that everything will go fine—only for a rejection letter to follow. It happens. Once you’ve finished an interview, move on to the next #application. You can send a follow-up message a week or two later, but don’t invest too much hope in any one opportunity. I hope you find the job you're looking for soon. Thank you.

2 Quick Ways to Improve Your Resume—and Actually Get Noticed 1. Read Your Resume Backward. Yes, backward. Start from the bottom and read up, line by line. Why? Because AI tools (and even your own eyes) often miss subtle formatting issues, typos, and awkward word choices when reading top-down. I’ve seen a 30% spike in resumes with preventable errors—many caused by AI-generated content. A backward review catches what you’d otherwise overlook. 2. Don’t Use a One-and-Done Resume. Sending the same resume to 100 jobs? That’s a losing game. Instead, test small batches of 10–15 applications with slightly different resume versions. Adjust keywords, headlines, and bullet points based on the role or company. The data backs it up: Candidates who update their resumes after an unsuccessful round see a 5.85% match rate, compared to 3.28% for those who make no changes—a 78.1% improvement just by iterating.