What makes someone an expert in finding a job? I don’t think it’s looking for a job. Is it finding your own jobs? Looking at resumes? Hiring people?

I’ve seen people take a lot of paths to the career expert job. The first is the most apparent—HR people. I’ve talked to many who want to transition from HR director to career coach for people just like them. There’s something inherently cathartic about helping other people survive the same trauma you experienced.

The next career path that leads people to become an expert in finding a job is recruiting. Recruiters will tap out their network for new requisitions, and all of a sudden, they’re rebranding as experts in resume writing. 

In most cases, it’s a ruse to get more resumes in the database. At best, it comes from a big heart with too much time on their hands.

The last path is the shadiest. It’s people who don’t have any relevant work experience then sell software and tech to candidates. 

You know the type – that vendor who thinks their tool will help you find a job.

Fun fact, I can talk trash on this because I was that person many years ago. I was writing advice about the job search two years into my career and one of the worst economic environments ever. I know. I was an idiot.

In fairness, I would say my writing came from a good place. I knew what it felt like to be a job seeker, and I didn’t want anyone else to feel like that. I wanted to help people find a job and genuinely believed my advice would help. Was I biased about the product they used? Absolutely.

Who’s The Real Job Search Expert? 

Who do you trust? I think you trust your gut. 

If there’s anything I’ve learned in the last five years, it’s that the best strategy for anything you want comes from your heart. Doing things to appease or appeal to others doesn’t work. You have to be who you are and find ways to connect. 

That advice goes for LinkedIn and standing out in your job search, too. 

There’s a moment where someone knows nothing about you, and you get to change their mind. That’s the kind of story you should be telling – one that stands out for all the right reasons. 

Yes, even in a job search. 

My Top Advice for Finding A Job

While I would never call myself a career expert, I am sure as hell an expert on writing memorable stories. 

All of these blogs will tell you a little different way to think about it; another way to do it your way and stand out because of who you are, not because of my template or some generic bullshit. 

I have no software to sell. No promises. No templates. Just a few ideas to show people who you are. To show people what’s unforgettable about you.

1. Don’t Use This LinkedIn Headline (Use These 4): Looking for a job? Update your LinkedIn headline with these 4 impactful examples – and skip this critical mistake. It can help you get hired.
2. LinkedIn Profile Photos You Should Never Post: If you are going to spend time writing a LinkedIn profile, make sure you update the profile photo. Here are some profile photos you should never post.
3. Your LinkedIn Profile Will Get Results if You Fix These 4 Mistakes: Your LinkedIn profile should be written for a human, not a machine. Here are the 4 ways you can do that and stop making common mistakes.
4. How-To: Find Out Who’s Hiring Now: Use this job search tactic who’s hiring now on any job posting website. At a glance, you can also see what industries are still hiring.
5. Apply Anyway: The Truth On Requirements in Job Descriptions: Women often talk themselves out of jobs they could thrive in because of the listed requirements in job descriptions and I hate it. Apply anyway.
6. Job Seeker Bill of Rights: We could change the world of work by injecting humanity into our experiences. That’s why this job seeker bill of rights exists.
7. Four Questions That Will Move Your Career Forward After A Layoff: After a layoff, it’s hard to know what to do. This worked for me. These 4 questions helped me figure out what to do next in my career.
8. 4 Tips to Turn A Job Description Into Your Job Search Advantage: Turn the job description into your competitive advantage with these 4 lessons learned I learned after working with thousands of recruiters.
9. Culture Fit or Culture Add: Can You Fit In?: How do you fit in if you’re not like everyone else?
10. Cover Letter Hack: If I had to guess based on how much time a recruiter spends reading your resume,  your cover letter is most definitely doomed to the recycling bin.

recruiting Job Search Advice