Resume and Cover Letter Strategies

I've reviewed 2,000+ resumes this year. Avoid these mistakes that 90% make. 1. Generic Summaries ❌ "Motivated professional seeking opportunities to leverage my skills..." ✅ "Marketing Director who increased e-commerce revenue 47% through data-driven campaigns and strategic partnerships." 2. Missing Numbers ❌ "Led large team and improved sales." ✅ "Led 15-person sales team to deliver $3.2M in new business, exceeding targets by 28%." 3. Cluttered Formatting ❌ Tiny margins, dense paragraphs, and multiple fonts. ✅ Clean headers, consistent bullet points, and enough white space for easy scanning. 4. Outdated Information ❌ Listing your high school achievements and every job since college. ✅ Your most relevant accomplishments from the past 10-15 years that showcase your career progression. 5. RESPONSIBILITY LISTS ❌ "Responsible for managing client relationships and handling complaints." ✅ "Retained 98% of key accounts and turned 3 dissatisfied clients into top referral sources." 6. ATS-UNFRIENDLY DESIGN ❌ Creative formats with graphics, text boxes, and unique fonts. ✅ Clean, standard formatting with relevant keywords that match the job description. Your resume has 7 seconds to make an impression.  Use these tips to make them count. Share this to help others level up their resume! 📈 And follow me for more advice like this.

What if I told you your cover letter's first and last sentences determine whether you get interviews? Recently, I was reviewing cover letters with a client who couldn't figure out why she wasn't getting callbacks for marketing positions. After looking at her application materials, the problem became immediately clear. "Your cover letter is killing your chances." Her opening line was the classic "Please accept my resume for consideration of the Marketing Manager position within your organization" — and she never actually asked for an interview at the end. So, how do you write cover letters that actually get read? Use these powerful techniques instead: S — Use a sticky hook Forget "To Whom It May Concern" or "I'm writing to apply for..." Instead, try one of these attention-grabbing marketing-focused openers: "If your company is struggling to generate qualified leads despite increasing ad spend, I have the solution you've been looking for." "Innovation. Growth. ROI. If these marketing priorities align with your vision for the Digital Marketing position, we should talk." "Do you need a content strategist who can double your organic traffic and boost conversion rates by 35% within six months?" W — What's in it for the employer? Hiring managers are reading your letter thinking, "Can this person drive results?" Make it clear from the start that you understand their marketing challenges and can provide measurable solutions. I — Information This is where you provide brief, compelling evidence of your marketing qualifications and accomplishments. For example: "By implementing a targeted social media campaign for XYZ Corp, I increased engagement by 78% and drove $125K in new revenue within 90 days." F — Fast segue Transition smoothly to your request for an interview. For example: "With this proven marketing expertise in mind, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your customer acquisition strategy." T — To-Do Here's the #1 cover letter secret that DOUBLES your chances of getting interviews: actually ASK for the interview! "I'm excited about the Marketing Director position with ABC Inc. and would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how my experience driving successful campaigns can deliver similar results for your brand. Please call me at (number) to schedule an interview at your convenience." By simply asking for the interview, you've shown initiative and clarified what you want — something most candidates completely overlook. What cover letter techniques have worked for you? Have you tried asking directly for the interview?

My 'before' and 'after' resumes look nearly the same, but one got "IGNORED" and one got me "MULTIPLE" offers... I spent 3 months applying to jobs with ZERO calls back. Then I made these small changes to my resume and suddenly got 5 interview requests in a week! Here's exactly what I changed: 1. I stopped listing tasks and started showing results →Before: "Responsible for project management and team coordination" →After: "Led 5-person project that finished 2 weeks early and reduced customer complaints by 38%" →Companies don't just want to know what you did - they want to know what difference you made! 2. I matched my resume words to each job posting →Before: Used the same resume for every application →After: Changed key words in my resume to match exactly what each job posting asked for →When a job asks for "data analysis experience," don't say you have "statistical evaluation skills" - use their EXACT words. The computer systems scanning resumes look for exact matches! 3. I put my best stuff at the top →Before: Started with education and listed jobs in order →After: Created a "Key Achievements" section right at the top showing my biggest wins →Recruiters spend less than 10 seconds looking at your resume. If your biggest accomplishment is on page 2, nobody will see it! 4. I talked about the problems I fixed →Before: "Contributed to company initiatives and projects" →After: "Identified billing error that was costing the company $3,000 monthly and implemented new system to prevent future issues" →Companies hire people to solve problems, not just do tasks. Show them you understand the business impact of your work! 5. I removed these words that were hurting my chances →Before: "Team player," "Hard worker," "Detail-oriented" →After: Removed all these phrases completely →These words actually make recruiters trust you LESS! They want to see proof of your skills, not empty claims. 6. I added proof of my skills →Before: Just listed job titles and responsibilities →After: Added specific examples and numbers for every major achievement →Most candidates don't do this, but it immediately shows you're not just making claims - you have real results. These changes might seem small, but they made ALL the difference. My phone started ringing within days after 3 months of silence for the interviews. Where are you struggling to get your resume selected?

My candidate got 4 interview calls in a week after months of no response. All without changing her skills, her experience, or her luck. How? ✅ She just changed her resume. Recruiters don’t reject people. They reject resumes that don’t speak their language. Here’s the mistakes she made: 👉 She listed every task she has ever done (and hoped recruiters will “figure it out”). 👉 She used the same generic template from her college. 👉 She forgot that every line must scream: “I solve your problems.” Here’s what we changed and why it worked: 1️⃣ We ditched generic job descriptions. Instead of “Responsible for project management,” she wrote: “Led a 5-member team to deliver a ₹20L project 3 weeks ahead of deadline, saving 120+ hours.” 2️⃣ We made every bullet measurable. Numbers = credibility. “Improved process efficiency by 30%” beats “Helped improve processes” every single time. 3️⃣ We tailored her resume for each role. No more “one-size-fits-all.” We used keywords from the job description and mirrored the language recruiters used. 4️⃣ We optimized for ATS. Simple formatting. No tables or fancy fonts. Result? Her resume finally made it past the bots. (Pro tip: PDFs are safest, but always check the company’s instructions.) 5️⃣ We added a punchy summary at the top. 3 lines. Who she is, what she’s achieved, and what she wants next. Example: “Results-driven Marketing Analyst with 3+ years’ experience boosting campaign ROI by 40% at a leading tech firm. Awarded ‘Rising Star’ for innovative data strategies. Now seeking to drive growth at a fast-paced SaaS startup.” 6️⃣ We eliminated the clutter. No more “References available on request.” No 3-page essays. Every bullet was proof of impact. 7️⃣ We Optimized her resume for mobile. 70% of recruiters scan resumes on their phones. Short, sharp, and easy to read wins every time. If you’re also stuck in the application black hole, it’s not always your experience. Sometimes it’s the story your resume isn’t telling. Tailor it. Prove your impact. Beat the bots. #Resume #jobsearch #CVTips #careergrowth #resumetips #jobseeker

I’ve just finished reading a mountain of cover letters. The kind that makes you question your eyesight and your life choices.   Just north of 240 applications reviewed this last weekend for one leadership role. And here’s what I can report.   Too many of them weren’t written by people. Yep. You guessed it. They were written by our little AI helpers.   You could feel it straight away.   They had the same rhythm. They were politely confident and although there were differences, most ended up sounding strangely similar.   It left me craving something I never thought I’d miss: the very cover letters I used to complain about. The poorly written ones. The unstructured, imperfect versions. The ones with flaws, mistakes, and unmistakable signs there was a real human on the other side of the page.   Instead, these versions, were bland, as though everyone went to the same workshop on “How to Win a Job Without Revealing my Personality.” They were safe. A bit predictable.   You start noticing the patterns. The same opening. The comfortable middle. The "politically safe" closing. The phrases that seem impressive but make less sense the more you read them.   A few of the applicants had missed the point entirely. "Had they actually read the advert, position description, and done their own research," I wondered more than once.... ....or was it prompt. Ctrl C. Replace. No review. Bingo job done?   And then I recalled how most of my cover letters were written over the years.   Late. Rushed. Lacking attention to detail. And it turns out that still worked. Mostly. Because they weren't so polished they lured me into a false sense of security. I had to spend the time.   Now AI does all of that for us. A few prompts. A little finessing and instant cover letter.   But the only applications that cut through this time, the ones that made me stop scrolling, were the ones that didn’t try to "outperform." There was no "theatre."    Sure, they were sometimes a bit "rough around the edges." But hey, they sounded, human. And that made them hard to forget.   So, here’s my unconventional advice: Ditch the AI. Forget ChatGPT, Claude and their friends. Write it yourself.   By all means, get it to help a little with the structure and some of the key points. But be your own author. Don't outsource the creative part of the thinking.   Write it like a person who cares, not a polite and overly polished resume with manners.   AI can help you. But it shouldn’t replace the part of you that actually gives a damn. That’s still your advantage.

If you want your resume to perform better, you must do 3 things to 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗻 its content. Most people write dull versus sharp in their resumes. Dull details are things that anyone could share in a resume: “responsible for,”….”results-oriented,”….”team player.” These basic statements fall flat with readers because they don’t say enough. Content that performs better in a resume is sharp and to the point. This means: 1. Details are your own When you write your resume, focus on what makes you unique. What are YOUR value-adds, and what themes have played out in YOUR career? You may be known for stepping into challenging situations and leading big turnarounds with impressive outcomes. Or, you may have a history of generating significant cost savings through innovative strategies. These are the details employers are hungry for! Let your value proposition shine in the resume. 2. Information is specific, not general Resume readers are not interested in reading a laundry list of basic job overviews in a resume. If you find yourself simply writing out your job tasks and putting them into bullet statements – stop! Re-write your resume statements with a CAR focus: --> What was a Challenge you faced? --> What Actions did you take to resolve or improve the challenge? --> What was the end Result of your efforts? Turn basic and boring resume statements into heavy-hitting details that share the specifics and make the reader want to learn more. 3. Content is concise and easy to digest Finally, less can be more in a resume. Oversharing or writing text-heavy narratives risks burying crucial content or not being read at all. The best resumes get to the point fast. To identify what matters most in a resume - and what to keep off - you must know the target job's requirements and customize your content for every opportunity. Yes, every time. Skimmable, relatable, and well-aligned content always trumps long-winded, general, and dull details in a resume! #resume #executiveresume #resumewriting #resumetips

We had 52,100 job applicants last year at Mews. 🤯 So this morning I called three of our top recruiters to ask what they recommend applicants do to stand out. Here is what I learned: 1️⃣ Applications for jobs are almost double, year-on-year, for the same amount of jobs. Recruiters have much less time to review your resume, so they need to be optimized for easy consumption in 30 seconds. - The top of the first page, is prime real estate, use it wisely. What is your tagline? - Use standard font for easy consumption - Use bulletpoints to highlight relevant skills, avoid long blobs of text - Maximum 2 pages, prioritize your last 2 roles with more detail - Cover letters are not dead, they actually give great context, use them to show you did your research on the company. 2️⃣ Warm introductions are more important than ever. When hundreds of people apply for a role, try to see if you have a connection at the company. We prioritize applications through referrals. Good people know good people. 3️⃣ Customize your application beyond the resume. The "how" varies per role. - Sales & Support roles: video is a great way to pitch yourself - Designers: show your design skills on your resume, without distracting from the most important messages. - Data analysts: show your skill with data in your resume, or a dashboard you created 4️⃣ We are looking for drivers, not passengers. We want to know what you specifically contributed to the success in previous roles, don't tell us what the company did. So always quantify your own contributions, what was the legacy you are leaving behind? 5️⃣ AI may not be your friend here. We see more and more people using AI to build their resumes, making them more bland and less personal. We want to see your personality, we want to see that you made an effort. 6️⃣ On Linkedin you can see how many others have applied for a role. If you really want the job, you have to put extra effort. Always answer the specific questions asked in the application with detail, clearly these are things the recruiter will care about. Thank you James Mantle (he/him), Yvonne Williamson and Jack Lawrence for the insights.

Last month, I posted an opening for an Urban Designer at form follow people. The response? Over 100 applications. The shortlist? 10. Why so few? Because most candidates made avoidable mistakes—the kind that make you wonder if they even read the job description. Let’s start with the basics. When I open an application, I’m hoping to see: > A thoughtful email. > A tailored cover letter. > A clear, relevant portfolio. Instead, here’s what I got: (aka red flags🚩!) >Empty emails—No greeting, no introduction, just an attachment. >Cover letters addressed to someone else—or worse, for a completely different position. >Zipped files—forcing me to download and unzip to see your work (spoiler: I didn’t). >Portfolios I couldn’t read—because the layout was chaotic, the margins were nonexistent, and the graphics were questionable. >Work that didn’t match the role—interior design for an urban design position? Why? Some went even further. One person forwarded an email they’d sent to another company. Now, let me be honest. I want to hire you. I’m rooting for you. But your application? It’s your first project for the firm. Here’s how to make it count: 1/ Write a proper email. Your email is the first impression. A simple, clear introduction that shows you’ve read the job description goes a long way. 2/ Follow the instructions. If someone ask for a cover letter, send one. If they don’t, don’t. This isn’t just about instructions—it’s about showing you care. 3/ Make your portfolio reader-friendly. Good design is clear. Think clean layouts, logical organization, and graphics that tell your story without making me squint. 4/ Be relevant. Show work that aligns with the role. This isn’t a catch-all job market—tailor your portfolio to the position you’re applying for. 5/ Be honest. If you exaggerate, it’ll show. And it’s not just about getting caught—it’s about starting off with trust. Hiring isn’t a mystery. It’s a conversation. Your application is the first line. Make it thoughtful. Make it relevant. And most importantly, make it easy for someone to say, “This is it.” But here’s the twist: Applications are only half the battle. Interviews? That’s a whole different game. Want to know how to ace those? Drop a comment below, and maybe I’ll spill the secrets. 👇

Cover letters can help humanize resumes. Experts told Harvard Business Review that cover letters show character and can explain the "why" behind your interest in a role. They can also address gaps or pivots. Send one when asked, or when it is optional, HBR says. Keep it to one page, and open by explaining your enthusiasm for the position and the company. Be specific. Then, intertwine your experience with the needs of the role. Pluck an item from the job description and explain how something in your past directly applies to it. Close by describing how your expertise will contribute to the team. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eSzwgPhf Summary ✍: Todd Dybas

People have always asked me how to build the best CV or resume. No document guarantees anything. But avoidable mistakes can stop a qualified person from getting an interview. For most industry roles, here is what I recommend: • Know the role or job family you are targeting. • Keep one master resume, then tailor it to each opportunity. • Make your level, specialty, and value clear within seconds. • Use a clean, readable, single-column layout with standard headings. Avoid tables, skill bars, text boxes, and complicated formatting that may confuse an ATS. • Opinions on photos differ. Many recommend leaving it off but some true experts like Ethan Evans think it can make you memorable. I leave this to your call. • I also like a statement of purpose of leading paragraph at the top that wraps everything together, especially if you won't use a cover letter. • Keep it concise. One page is often enough early in your career; two pages are reasonable when relevant experience warrants them. No more. • Use short bullets, not dense paragraphs. Readability helps in general and with the ATS • Focus on accomplishments, not only responsibilities. Show what changed because you were there. • Start bullets with strong verbs and quantify impact when truthful and meaningful. • Never invent a metric. Clear qualitative impact is better than a fake number. • Give more space to recent, relevant work and less to older or unrelated experience. • Include important skills, tools, platforms, certifications, and keywords naturally and in context. • Prove qualities such as leadership, collaboration, and initiative through evidence rather than adjectives. • Include relevant projects, freelance work, volunteer work, open-source contributions, and community leadership. • Make your portfolio, website, reel, ArtStation, GitHub, or work samples easy to reach. • For games, name shipped titles when permitted and explain your platforms, engines, discipline, scope, and contribution. • Keep titles, employers, dates, and major facts consistent with LinkedIn. • Never inflate titles, ownership, skills, dates, or results. Be ready to explain every bullet. • Check every link, proofread every word, and follow the requested file format. Then know when to stop. Build it properly. Get credible feedback. Tailor it intelligently. Then focus on relationships, referrals, outreach, targeted applications, portfolio quality, and interview preparation. Set it and forget it - most waste way too much time going in circles over materials once set. A great resume helps someone quickly understand why you deserve the conversation. That is all you are trying to accomplish: going from A pile to B pile.