Forget about uploading cold resumes and standard cover letters. You have to do investigative work to find people who get you past the gatekeepers. You need direct contact with the top decision-makers. Do more homework than any other candidate before the first interview. Pack the cover letter with more specifics about the company and what you bring to the job now; don’t just summarize your resume.

We take every client through a three-step process to identify and pursue their true North Star. Life is too short to be wasted on the wrong path. The job you want in your heart is yours—if you possess the right superpowers to meet the requirements – and if you have enough evidence to prove you have the experience.

You’ve got to make your pitch less about your past and more about the present and future needs of the company you pursue. Drop all the standard robotic language about your “proven track record of success” and your “dedicated history of excellence.”
Replace these typical mistakes with specific insights and responses that address the requirements in the job description. Instead of letting the company know you’re “thrilled” and “excited about the opportunity,” offer bold ideas to make sure you stand out.

Great oral and written communication skills are a given. Instead of stating the obvious, make sure your valuable resume real estate and LinkedIn profile shine brighter. Replace old fashioned blah blah with concise, specific achievements listed under each job. Position yourself clearly, with a career title that leaves no doubt what job you would fill. This North Star on top of your resume and LinkedIn profile is much more important than
your street address.

The first step to getting the next, best job is to heal your pain with purpose. Sudden unemployment can create dangerous emotional and psychological suffering without critical survival tools. I recommend committing to a daily full schedule on your calendar to stay on track. Don’t go it alone. Deputize people you trust to boost confidence, banish doubt, get your endorphins flowing, and cultivate the A-list contacts you need now.

The only person stopping you from successfully selling your best professional brand is you. Define your career title. Claim your North Star. During a job search, replace all personal posting with professional content that boosts your brand and builds your network.

It’s highly likely that your next boss will be a human being. Therefore, it’s equally likely that this person is on social media today—just like you. Imagine you have direct access and act accordingly. Be relevant, smart, experienced, timely, interactive, professional, engaging and concise. Don’t be weird, angry, boastful, petty, political, or all over the road. Stay in your lane and build a reliable professional voice.

We’ve all experienced our fair share of isolation during COVID. Even in the best of times, a job search can become a painfully lonely place. Find a group of like-minded pros committed to regular weekly check-ins where you trade meaningful leads and contacts, refine each other’s pitches, commit to staying sane, and socializing to stay human.

We teach our clients to be ghost killers by getting past the gatekeepers into direct contact with the ultimate decision-makers. Hiring managers listen most to people they trust. Avoid the ice-cold chill of being ghosted. Replace the time you spend uploading cold resumes with making every direct connection possible with the boss: on social media, through mutual contacts, and with short unique emails containing valuable content. Don’t ask for informational interviews. Wait until there’s a real job posted, then pounce. Finally, create leverage with credible alternatives and ask for a response within a specific time frame.