Author: Paul Freed

A job search reminds us that we need each other. It’s all but impossible to land a good gig without some help along the way. Some resume feedback here. An inside connection there. A word of encouragement at just the right time.

Once you finally step onto that new job stage and accept your offer, don’t forget to follow up with the people who got you there. A simple expression of gratitude is an important final step in the job search process, for a number of reasons.

Keep in touch

Painful as it can be, a career transition is an excellent opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. It would be sad to lose these new connections after you arrive at your next destination.

Of course, once the new job begins, you’ll bid a fond farewell to the flexibility of unemployment and the extra time it allows for lunches, coffees, and phone calls. Maintain contact by looking for natural opportunities to stay in touch, starting with the post-offer thank you.

“Thank you” keeps relationships alive.

People care about you

Inviting others into your job search journey creates a natural interest in your story. Your friends and contacts encounter you in a moment of crisis and change—don’t leave them hanging!

Assume that people will be encouraged and excited, or at least pleased, to hear that you have found a job. It’s always nice to get good news, and it’s satisfying to hear that you’ve made a positive impact in someone else’s life. Sharing what you’ve learned along the way may impact them in ways you don’t realize, or benefit someone else they know.

“Thank you” is a gift to others.

Gratitude shapes attitude

Take a couple of seconds and think about all of the people who have influenced you and helped you get to where you are. Parents. Friends. Colleagues. Bosses. As you run through this mental list, it’s hard not to feel humble, moved, and grateful.

Reflecting on the fact that you’re not an island, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure everything out yourself, brings a sense of peace that permeates your life. Gratitude brings an empathetic desire to care for others in the same way that others have cared for you.

“Thank you” is good for the soul.

The right thing to do

There’s a difference between treating people as strategic pieces that benefit you in the game of life, and treating people as fellow travelers on the common journey of life.

If you need a job, don’t feel bad asking for help. But make an effort to use your job search to build relationships, even as you use those relationships to get a job. Approach these connections as a pleasant benefit to an otherwise difficult experience, rather than a means to an end.

A simple letter, email, Starbucks gift card, or phone call to say “thank you” to someone who has done you a favor is a great victory lap for your job search, and a way to celebrate together with the people who cheered you on.

“Thank you” makes us human.

 

For more helpful job search tips: Ultimate Job Search Guide: Recruiter Insider Tips

If you land a new job while currently employed, you need to break up with your current employer. I know this is uncomfortable, but don’t make it worse than it has to be. Give notice well, and the transition can be respectful and professional instead of feeling like an awkward, junior high break-up.

Whether you went out and found another job got recruited, make sure you have a plan to inform your current employer and leave a classy final impression.

Future employers will want to contact your past employers for references. The circumstances of your departure will color their memory, for good or bad. With that in mind, here’s a simple checklist for how to give notice well.

• Schedule a strategic time to talk in person. Find a time to meet one-on-one with your hiring manager, but don’t tell them the topic. The ideal time is toward the end of the day, so you can wrap-up and then leave. Toward the end of the week is also better, as the weekend allows time for the news to sink in and space to let your boss work through preliminary details and return on Monday with a game plan for communication and wrap-up.

 

• Organize your thoughts. Before the meeting, take the time to write down your thoughts. Practice your statement out loud at home. Giving notice can be emotional and stressful, and a little practice will help you stay on message and be more confident.

 

• State that your decision is final. Early in the conversation, let your boss know that the purpose of the meeting is to give official notice. “Be straight with them. No fluff. Just facts,” as Brad Pitt’s Billy Beane says in Moneyball. Let them know that your decision is final, and you’re not looking to entertain any counteroffers.

 

• Focus on primary issues, not secondary issues. The first question you will get is, “Why?” Proactively answer by volunteering the key issues (one or two) that drove your decision. There will likely be another 5-10 things that you didn’t like about the job, but just keep those to yourself. These additional reasons will confuse the conversation. Ideally, your main concerns were already discussed in the context of trying to fix your role, so your decision to leave should not be a complete surprise.

 

• Tell them what you are doing next. The next question will be, “Where are you going?” Your boss may be concerned about the competition, so it’s good to let them know if you are not joining a rival. In any case, it’s only a matter of time before they find out—either through company gossip or LinkedIn—so there is no benefit in withholding this information. You can mention how the new role addresses your key issues and goals.

 

Show modest excitement in the new job, but, out of respect, don’t go on about how much better it will be. Limit the detail to the company, title, and general role scope. I would not share any compensation data. If you’re asked, respond with something like, “They did offer more money, but details are not important and not my primary driver for making a change.”

 

• Project management handoff. The next concern your boss will have is how to handle your current workload. This allows you to shift the conversation from the departure to project management. Come prepared with a list of open projects and a game plan for setting your successor up for success. Be prepared to talk in detail, but realize they might not want to dive into specifics then and there.

 

• Show appreciation and thankfulness. Let your boss know you have appreciated the opportunity to work together. State several things you really enjoyed about the job and the company. Give an example of how you grew professionally, and how you will speak well of the company to others.

 

• Tell co-workers. Ask your boss when it would be appropriate to tell other people on the team, so that everyone is on the same page. Stay on message and share the same primary reasons with others, even as you’re tempted to divulge the “real reason” you decided to leave.

 

• Finish strong. After giving notice, you will be more excited about your new job than your current one, which is normal. But finish strong by working diligently on remaining projects. Work some extra hours if you have to. Speak well of the company and make them really miss you. This will help solidify the last impression and future good references.

 

As you work through the checklist, be sure to avoid these two common mistakes:

Mistake #1: Be vague and try to keep everyone happy

Leaving a company can be tough, especially if you’ve been there for many years and enjoy friendships, shared experiences, trust, and a sense of family. Understandably, you want to make people feel good and leave on a good note.

That said, don’t sit down and tell your boss, “It was a hard decision, but I just felt the other role would be a good fit. I can’t totally explain it, and I may regret the decision, but I just feel it’s something I should do. It wasn’t anything you did, and everyone here is great. This just came up, and I decided to make the change.”

Can you see why your boss would think, “Huh?” Lack of specifics will not help your employer understand the situation. It actually makes them more concerned about the unspoken issues you are hiding. It also raises concerns about your decision-making process, if you can’t clearly articulate the change.

Ambiguity may also encourage your current employer to come up with a counteroffer. This draws out the process and, if the decision is truly final, you’ve just set yourself up for a second break up conversation. Ninety percent of people who accept counteroffers end up leaving in the next 12 months anyway. Trust has been broken, and the extra cash or title was likely not the underlying issue.

Mistake #2: Get specific and hurtful

The opposite overreaction is to take your exit as an opportunity to air grievances about all the things wrong with the company and the people you work with. Keep your professional filter on, and don’t unleash on your boss.

It may feel good in the moment, but emotion-induced verbal bombs won’t help your career goals.

Rather than go out with a bang, give notice and finish your job on a high note to preserve relationships and cultivate goodwill. Both are necessary components of a lifelong career journey.

 

For more helpful job search tips: Ultimate Job Search Guide: Recruiter Insider Tips

So let’s imagine being in an interview. You get asked a challenging, open-ended question, such as “What makes you different as a Financial Analyst?” Or, “On that product launch you just described, what did you learn?” How do you reply when you are not sure what to say next?

I’m going to share a fun communication tip that has worked well for me over the years. When you don’t have an instant answer at the ready, say, “That’s a great question. I’m glad you asked. There are 3 things…” This is a simple but proven technique, and I can explain why this secret trick works so well.

Examples of “3 Things” in action

Let’s go back to our hypothetical questions and as a practical example of how to use this technique.

Question #1: What makes you different as a Financial Analyst?

“3 Things” Example Response:
Great question. I appreciate you asking about what makes me different as a Financial Analyst. Three things come to mind:

First, I have experience working in a similar setting, at a midsize manufacturing company, so I know the types of issues that come up. I can get up to speed quickly.

Second, I’ve had experience with the same technology systems and processes you mentioned that you also use here.

Third, I am known for talking business first, and Financial Analyst second. What I mean by that is I listen to understand the business needs, and then work to produce reports in that language, based on what the leaders care about.

If you were the hiring manager, how would you feel after hearing that answer?

Question #2: On that product launch you just described, what did you learn from it?

That product launch was an amazing experience, and I definitely learned a lot that has helped me with future projects. Let me think for a moment. I’d say three things come to mind:

First, I learned to consider possible delays. I’m naturally an optimistic person and assumed our development vendor would deliver on time as promised, but they fell behind. While we still launched on time, everyone had a few late nights. Now I always check in on weekly progress and add in a few days of time to plan for the unexpected.

Second, I learned the power of marketing analytics. On this product launch we worked hard to develop key metrics and data tracking so when I had to present to my executive leaders on the project, I was ready and they were impressed with the numbers and presentation style, which I still use to this day.

Third, I learned how to be the “voice of the customer” by providing direct, specific customer feedback on issues we were having (it was a checkout issue in the shopping cart). While Engineering pushed back saying, “It works fine,” I had to demonstrate with customer feedback that the user experience was confusing. We developed a new system in a day. Developers were still skeptical, so we did an A/B test and overwhelmingly found that customers liked the new flow.

Another solid answer that will leave the interviewer nodding and writing.

Why “3 Things” works

If you liked these answers, you might be surprised why. Here’s a test: Without cheating, how many of the three reasons from the first example can you remember? Maybe one? Even if you can’t remember any details, however, you likely recall a general sense that it was a good answer to the question. Why?

Organized & Confident – People will remember that you seemed confident and organized. After all, if you had three points in your answer, you must know what you are talking about! It shows you are a good communicator and can organize your thoughts into a few key points. Sometimes, how you answer the question is just as important as what you say.

Take Notes – People love lists. That is why so many marketing articles and blog posts include things like the top 10 one-liners, the top 5 things to look for in buying a new car, 7 reasons to paint your house a new color, etc.

When we hear a list coming, we naturally want to write it down. The interviewer will pick up a pen and start writing down the number one and your answer. This creates organization and order in the recruiter’s notes, which gives a positive impression and engages the listener by signaling that something important is coming up.

Rule of Three – There are lots of studies about the number three being balanced and orderly. You see this ranging from the Trinity, to interior design, and trilogy series.

My favorite example is from the Marines. Apparently, in the heat of battle, even highly trained military personnel can only remember three key objectives at most, which makes sense. Sticking to the Rule of Three, forces combatants to focus on what is most important and not get caught by “mission creep” with too many objectives.

Bonus points if you noticed I have 3 main points to this article.

“3 Things”: How to use it

Trust it. I rarely know what I’m going to say next when I use this reply. Yes, that sounds scary and risky. But the mind can work quickly, and you’ll be surprised at how you can develop a clear answer in a few seconds.  

Buy yourself some valuable time by repeating the question or asking the interviewer to clarify.  That will give you a second to come up with the first answer. Think of a second while you answer the first, and then the third while answering the second.

Once you commit to this, you need to complete it. If that sounds like too much pressure, remember that it’s better to give mediocre answers inside a great framework than a polished, forgettable response. Say it with confidence, own the answer with your body language, and your listener will think you are more profound than you might think.

Practice it. The “3 Things” response is a skill that doesn’t come naturally for most people. It takes a little practicing to declare your three-part answer before you know what it is. Practice in social settings with friends and family to give yourself a personal challenge. If you get any open-ended question, like “How was your weekend?” or “What is new with the kids?,” start your answer with, “Well, three things come to mind. First…”

Don’t worry about having perfect answers, just push through and you will do better than you realize.

Save it. You can use this tactic more than once in an interview, but save it for the tough questions or the very open-ended ones. Don’t use it on every other answer, or it will seem repetitive and odd. You want all of your answers to feel conversational and natural.

 

For more helpful job search tips: Ultimate Job Search Guide: Recruiter Insider Tips

You may feel your cover letter is a beautiful thing with just the right words, tone, and customized message. I hate to break it to you, but it’s a waste of time.

The truth is, most recruiters ignore cover letters. Even if the cover letter is a relic of the past, however, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook entirely. Here’s what you should do instead.

A history of cover letters

People used to mail resumes. As in, put a stamp on it, put it in the mailbox, and get it opened by a company recruiter. The idea of an introductory cover letter was an extension of the means and more formal cultural norms of the time.

Companies also didn’t always receive many resumes each day. Real people actually had time to read through resume submissions. Today, resumes are much easier to send by email, which is easier for you.  But this means companies are overwhelmed by the volume of resumes in their inboxes and don’t have the time to read everything like they used to.

People skip right to the resume

On average, most recruiters look at a resume for just 6 seconds before deciding whether the candidate is a possible fit and worth further review. If the resume doesn’t work, a cover letter isn’t going to help. If the resume does work, the company will want to schedule a phone interview and the cover letter is irrelevant. Either way, the cover letter is a non-factor.

The purpose of the cover letter was to persuade a company to talk with you. Just take that same approach, and put the content in a resume instead.

Email is the new cover letter

The modern cover letter is the email you send with resume attached. How you email your resume is important. Some quick tips:

• * Less is more.

 

• * Include a one-sentence introduction that outlines the role you are interested in.

 

• * Reference any internal connection, if you have one (employee referral or insight from personal experience with the company).

 

• * List your 4–6 key sell points. If you follow the Top Third Rule on your resume, copy the Objective and Skill Summary sections, and paste them here. Include your name and contact info at the bottom of the message (email address, mobile number, and LinkedIn profile link).

 

• * In the subject line, write your name and the type of role you’re hoping to land.

 

Don’t forget to attach your resume before you hit send.

What if a cover letter is requested?

Some companies will request a cover letter. Presumably, this means someone actually wants to read them, or it could be a test to see if you can follow directions.

In this case, the good news is you can take exactly what you would include in an email, as described above, and just drop it in a Word doc or PDF.

 

For more helpful job search tips: Ultimate Job Search Guide: Recruiter Insider Tips

When a company asks for your references, it’s often the last step in the screening process before receiving an offer. As long as you verify with your contacts, and as long as you have been truthful in your resume and interviews, the reference check should be a non-event.

You are on the homestretch. This finish line is in sight, but you’re not there yet. Scrambling for references or fumbling this step can trip you up. Be proactive and prepared for this step, and you will be soon celebrating your new job. 

Before talking strategy, it’s good to understand what the employer likely is looking to learn from your references. A company reference check is the “trust but verify” stage prior to extending an offer. They are looking for a few key things in a quick 10-15 minute phone call:

• * Verification – At a basic level, does the role, dates, titles, and responsibilities you indicated on your resume match up with reality? They want to confirm that you did what you said you did. Any fudging of the truth is a big red flag.

 

• * Work performance – What were your strongest attributes in your last role? What key results did you deliver? How did you stand out from your peers?

 

• * Team & culture fit –How did you resolve conflict and communicate your ideas? How did you build and mentor your team?
  
  
• * Growth areas – What areas could you improve in order to get to the next level? What struggles or areas were you being coached through? What is the greatest misperception of you on the team? No one is perfect, so a reference that cannot cite any areas for growth may be enough to invalidate their perspective.

 

• * Motivation/drive – What drives you and inspires you? What advice would you give to a future manager on how to best lead you? This is more of an onboarding question, but it leads to an interesting insight.

 

• * Reason for departure – Why did you leave? Was it a “mutual parting,” or something unstated? Not all companies and roles are an ideal fit, but if the stories don’t line up with what you stated in interviews, you’ll get yourself in trouble.

 

• * Recommendation – Would your former employer recommend hiring you? The question should yield a “yes” or “no” response, and hopefully, it’s a foregone conclusion by the end of the interview.

 

• * The unspoken message – The interviewer will be listening for enthusiasm or hesitation in the voice of your reference. When a company hears very robotic, HR-approved answers, this raises concerns something is being hidden.

 

With the perspective of your potential employer in mind, here are three key things you can do to proactively prepare for the reference check request, and ultimately increase your chances of closing the deal:

1. Build your roster for ideal references.

Companies like to see references across your last 2–3 employers. The ideal mix includes your direct manager(s), peers/co-workers, and direct reports (if relevant) for each company. You’ll probably only need 3–4 of these folks, but it’s good to have a broad list ready.

Who your past job references are carries as much weight as what they say. Providing a company with the contact info for your last three managers communicates transparency and confidence. If your list is limited to personal friends and your mom, that sends up a red flag!

When you provide a prospective employer with references, you’ll want to include  the following information for each:

• * Name
•  
• * Current job title and employer
•  
• * Email and cell phone
•  
• * Relationship context

 

When describing relationship context, mention what title/role the reference held while working with you. Include 1-2 sentences regarding the types of projects you worked on together, and any specific areas where they would be helpful for comment. By doing this, you steer the conversation toward the points you feel would be best for the reference to share.

2. Ask permission and prep your references

For each job opportunity, select references that might be the best fit in terms of personality or background. Then, ask if they would consider serving as a reference.

Make the ask in a phone call for a personal touch, and to connect with them faster than over email. Most will agree, but never list a reference without their OK first. It doesn’t look good if they are surprised when your prospective employer calls.

After getting the OK, set up your references for success. They want to help you, but they are also busy so make their job easier and prep them. It shows respect, helps them focus and will increase the quality of the reference.

Send an email (so they can refer to it later) including:

• * Job description of the role for which you are a finalist.

 

• * Explain why this role and company are exciting and a good potential fit with your skills, interests, and career plan.

 

• * Guide them on a few particular project stories or culture areas you expect the company to ask about.

 

• * Prep them on the person who will be calling—job title, company, LinkedIn profile.

 

• * Confirm details. Send your reference the same contact info and context you plan to provide the company in order to double-check for accuracy, and so that they know what the company has received.

 

3. Thank them.

Say “thank you” to your references with a personal note. They are busy, and being a reference requires an investment of time. Consider including a $10 Starbucks card. Do not overuse the reference, if possible.

Keep engaged with them during the search process, and let them know if you landed the job. If they gave a reference, they will be curious about the outcome, and likely want to celebrate a positive result.

Job Reference FAQ

Should I include personal references?
From the employer’s perspective, personal references are not usually useful or respected since they have not seen your work performance. One exception might be if you’re applying for your first job, but even then you should first try to cull references from internships, volunteer efforts, or college work-studies.

My prior company has a “no reference check” policy. What should I do?
Unfortunately, some companies prohibit references under the guise of legal concerns. But I wonder if this is actually a selfish way to prevent managers from getting distracted with reference calls. Provide any contact you can, even if it’s only HR staff.

One way to get around this is to find a former employee not bound by the gag rule. Or you could request a recommendation on LinkedIn rather than a formal reference phone call.

Should I ask my references to post a recommendation on my LinkedIn profile too?
Yes. If possible, when requesting a reference, ask if they would be willing to post a quick recommendation on your LinkedIn profile. Employers see this as a proactive effort, which boosts your credibility, and they may even decide a reference phone call isn’t necessary in addition.

If I’m currently employed, how do I provide a reference for my current employer without raising suspicion?
A prospective new employer should respect the situation and not require a current employer reference, but they won’t want to go in blind either. A common approach is to provide the names of the references, but ask that they not be called until you have a written offer that is mutually agreeable, pending positive reference checks. You can also consider finding a co-worker you really trust to serve as a confidential reference. Or find a former co-worker who is no longer with the company.

Should I add references to my resume?
No. You don’t want your references called unless you know it’s going to happen. Some recruiters will harvest reference contact information to call for unrelated roles, which you don’t want.

If a job application asks for references, should I provide them?
A job application of this nature is often an HR form you are completing. Companies like this simple process, and people just fill things out without thinking about it. I would recommend not filling this out until you understand what happens with this information. Instead, you can write, “Full references provided, assuming mutual interest.”

If they still press for references, you could provide the minimum amount of information and request that they refrain from contacting anyone until a mutually agreed-upon point later in the selection process (toward the offer stage). If they check your references before interviewing, I would walk away. It’s not wise to the risk of overloading references with a job you are not sure about, and the company is not respecting this courtesy, which is not a good sign.

What if I’m concerned that I might not get a good reference?
If you’re not sure about what a reference might say, consider paying a reference checking service. I haven’t used one personally, but there are many online to help confirm your concerns or remove doubt.

If your last job didn’t end well, it’s good to be upfront about what happened, what you learned from it, and how the job you are applying for is a much better fit in terms of role, company, or culture. Then, if they call your reference and hear similar things, you are on the same page. The strategy, in this case, is to minimize surprises.

 

 

For more helpful job search tips: Ultimate Job Search Guide: Recruiter Insider Tips

Bull’s eye! I have a dartboard in my man-cave where my buddies and I play. In darts, sometimes you need to hit the bull’s eye to win, but occasionally it’s the next ring out, like #17 or #19. It’s helpful to think about your job search the same way, as you decide which roles to aim for.

“A man who chases two rabbits catches neither.” So goes the Chinese proverb, an apt description of the folks who let fly hundreds of resumes without aiming in any particular direction.

Vocationally speaking, you can point your resume at three targets. Where you aim may depend on your situation, just like darts, but you need to set your sites on one rather than trying to hit all three at once.

Target #1 – Bull’s Eye: Same role AND same industry

When first looking at a job change, most of us begin aiming for a similar job (such as sales) in the same industry (such as tech). Effectively, you are doing the same thing but with a different logo.

I consider this the bull’s eye because it is your strongest leverage with companies and recruiters. You are a “specialist.” You will receive a better response rate and higher compensation because you can make an immediate impact with your proven track record in that similar industry.

The challenge with bull’s eye roles, however, is that they are more limited. If you’ve pursued this target without results, you might need to alter your aim. Or perhaps you feel that your last role was not really a great fit, or maybe you want to change industries to find a new challenge or work that’s more inspiring.

How do you look beyond the bull’s eye without losing focus? How do you target your search outside the ring of obvious positions? There is a strategy to expand your pool of options while remaining competitive as an applicant.

Target #2 – One Ring Out: Different role OR different industry

Aim one ring outside of the bull’s eye by looking at different roles within your current industry or similar roles in different industries. Change one, but not both at the same time.

For example, if you are a sales associate working in retail, you could focus on a sales role at a technology company. Same job (sales), but a different industry (technology vs. retail). Or, you could stay in the retail industry but try to land a marketing position. Different job (marketing vs. sales), but still the same industry (retail). Make sense?

Either scenario is one ring outside of the bull’s eye, but in both cases, the candidate brings related qualifications (role or industry) to a new employer who would value that experience. To use another gaming analogy, it’s like a basketball player who plants one foot and pivots the other to find a better shot.

When people are feeling stuck in their job transition, I’ve found that the most successful career moves are one ring out. This broadens the field to hundreds of relevant options without compromising your competitive edge.

Target #3 –Two Rings Out: Different role AND different industry

Target #3 represents the most drastic change. It requires aiming outside of your core job experience to search for a different role in a different industry. You are now competing with everyone—from the people with qualified work experience to the people without any relevant experience—without any advantage.

For example, if an accountant in the manufacturing industry decides to apply for a sales job in real estate, that’s a different job (sales vs. accounting) AND a different industry (real estate vs. manufacturing). A big change!

This strategy means hitting reset on your career and moving back to an entry-level role. Pursuing a job that’s two rings out is very hard because you’re among the least qualified of applicants, most of whom likely bring at least some relevant experience to the table.

Despite the perils, aiming “two rings out” is a mistake I see all too often. When bull’s eye jobs are scarce or slow in coming, job seekers panic and start applying for any job anywhere, hoping that a higher volume of activity might lead to results. But these widespread options yield a much lower positive response rate, which only fuels internal fear and doubt.

To make matters worse, if you do land a job two rings out, chances are the learning curve will be very steep and the work will be a struggle—for you and for your new employer—jeopardizing your shot at future success. You may also end up typecast based on your new job, which is not where you intended to be which makes the next job search harder too.

As a general rule, avoid targeting jobs or industries unrelated to your previous work. The only thing you’ll likely find is wasted time and frustration. Instead, focus your energy on the bull’s eye or one ring out. In retrospect, you will realize your prior experience gave you valuable skills and insight that prepared you for future roles which make a logical link.

The Career Two-Step

What if you want to make a change in both your job and industry?

It’s possible, but I recommend a two-step process, rather than trying to make the big leap all at once. Aim for two one-ring moves back-to-back as you map out your career journey and anticipate your next couple of jobs.

For example, let’s say our marketing person in the manufacturing industry really wants to make that jump into a sales role in the technology industry. I would recommend starting with a marketing job in tech or a sales job in manufacturing. 

In summary:

	Same Role	Different Role
Same Industry	Bull’s Eye	Good strategy
Different Industry	Good strategy	Risky, consider two steps

 

 

For more helpful job search tips: Ultimate Job Search Guide: Recruiter Insider Tips

A resume is supposed to be a career highlight reel, but most sound boring. Inject some life into your resume by peppering it with a variety of active words.

Variety is a key component of dynamic content. Don’t use the same verb more than once to describe your accomplishments. This can be tricky, so for inspiration, here is a list of 100 action words for your resume:

1. Accelerated
2. Accomplished
3. Achieved
4. Analyzed
5. Attained
6. Authored
7. Awarded
8. Began
9. Boosted
10. Brokered
11. Built
12. Cataloged
13. Centralized
14. Coached
15. Composed
16. Conducted
17. Contracted
18. Contributed
19. Convinced
20. Coordinated
21. Corrected
22. Counseled
23. Created
24. Customized
25. Delegated
26. Demonstrated
27. Designed
28. Developed
29. Distributed
30. Drafted
31. Earned
32. Edited
33. Eliminated
34. Encouraged
35. Engineered
36. Established
37. Expanded
38. Fixed
39. Formulated
40. Founded
41. Generated
42. Guided
43. Hired
44. Implemented
45. Improved
46. Increased
47. Influenced
48. Inspired
49. Installed
50. Instituted
51. Invented
52. Joined
53. Launched
54. Learned
55. Led
56. Made
57. Managed
58. Marketed
59. Measured
60. Motivated
61. Negotiated
62. Netted
63. Obtained
64. Operated
65. Organized
66. Oversaw
67. Performed
68. Persuaded
69. Planned
70. Presented
71. Produced
72. Programmed
73. Proposed
74. Quantified
75. Raised
76. Recognized
77. Recommended
78. Redesigned
79. Reduced
80. Released
81. Resolved
82. Restructured
83. Revised
84. Saved
85. Served
86. Simplified
87. Spoke
88. Sold
89. Solved
90. Started
91. Supervised
92. Surpassed
93. Taught
94. Trained
95. Transformed
96. Utilized
97. Verified
98. Volunteered
99. Wrote
100. Exceeded

 

Of course, an exciting resume is more than just action words. You’ll want to include compelling stories, not just facts. Show your personality. Make the most of every inch – especially the Top Third.

 

For more helpful job search tips, check out: Ultimate Job Search Guide: Recruiter Insider Tips

A successful job search begins before you ever start looking for work. Time is a precious commodity during career transition, but you can’t afford not to dedicate at least one day to get your head, heart, and health in a
good place.

Going through a job change can trigger all kinds of difficult emotions. Anxiety, fear, shame, anger, frustration, confusion. Add shock to the mix, if the situation involves a layoff notice, termination, or company office closure.

The first step in the job search process is to clear your head and get recharged. Unfortunately, this critical step is often neglected in our “always on” world. Since it can be hard to rest, ironically we need to work to rest.

Don’t worry. Taking 24 hours will not cause you to miss any job opportunities. More likely, it will help you shorten your job search process by equipping you with a recharged mind.

Here are 24 ways to get recharged in 24 hours. Pick and choose from this list of practical ideas based on whatever gives you rest, energy, or inspiration:

1. Create an ideal daily routine

For mental health, if we sleep in and don’t have a schedule we can drift into reading the news or other distractions. It’s important to balance healthy routines such as reading, working out, “office hours” at your computer and social breaks. Creating an ideal routine keeps you moving forward in a healthy cadence as we seek structure and “normal flow”. Creating a balanced calendar of work and rest is a healthy foundation for your job search.

2. Drink eight glasses of water

Most of us don’t drink enough water. Water helps flush out toxins and is critical for health. For a healthy job search, add daily habits that involve putting good things in—and flushing out the bad.

3. Read and pray/meditate

Read an inspirational book. Focus on important truths in life and fill your mind with positive inputs to offset. Whether you pray or meditate – look for a foundation for hope and joy. Slow down, close your eyes, focus on truth, release worries you can’t control, and be more present in the moment. A job search can be hard for many of us because we derive too much value, meaning and worth from a job.  When our work is in jeopardy, our identity is compromised. I encourage you to not define yourself, your purpose, and your life in terms of just your job.

4. Go for a run (or long walk)

When stressed out, it is a great time to go for a long walk or run. Getting outside in fresh air, getting the blood moving and reducing stress is good for the body and soul. It also helps create mental clarity and focus. A job search is a marathon, not a sprint. Prepare an endurance mindset and enjoy what you might see and learn on the journey.

5. Turn off your phone and computer

Technology is great for keeping us connected, but makes it difficult to unwind. I find myself getting stressed out if I don’t have my smart phone with me for even just a few hours. Take a “fast” from technology for a day. You won’t miss anything important, and it will help you reset your mind and avoid irrelevant distractions. As helpful as it can be, technology can also distract you during a job search. Set aside blocks of time when you are not checking your phone or email (or Facebook/Instragram/News) so you can get things done and focus on what is actually important.

6. Eat healthy food and snacks

Plan out healthy food and snacks for the day. Our bodies are highly complex and integrated machines. Good fuel for your body and mind will keep you alert, more emotionally stable, and less likely to crash from lack of energy. Ironically, comfort food will only make you uncomfortable later. A job search likely means you’ll be working from home when you are not used to it. You will be tempted to snack more than normal. Think ahead. Keep healthy snacks and food at hand to help keep you at top performance.

7. Eat one awesome dessert treat at dinner

I believe it’s good to eat healthy 90 percent of the time, but it’s also fun to celebrate with great desserts. When treats are occasional and rare, you will appreciate them more. On a job search, it’s OK to set rewards for yourself and celebrate wins along the way.

8. Reconnect with a good friend

Sometimes we get busy at work and with life and forget to connect with certain friends. Think of a close friend you haven’t seen for a while, and meet up for coffee, lunch or video chat. Friends can often make a connection or introduction to someone you wouldn’t know otherwise, which is obviously helpful during a job search.

9. Write down 20 things you are grateful for

Get a pen and paper (since you are fasting from technology). Write down 20 things you are grateful for. Don’t overthink this or worry about prioritizing the list, just write things down as they come to you. Include the simple stuff and the profound.  A heart of gratitude and thankfulness is good for a job search, as it’s easy to fixate on things that are not right rather than appreciating the many blessing you already have in your life. Practicing this mindset will also help this attitude come across in the way that you talk about past jobs and employers.

10. Honestly reflect on three things you could have done better in your last job

Any job is like a relationship. When it ends, no one is ever 100 percent to blame. Take responsibility and assess a few key things you could have done better. What can you learn from that experience, and how can you do things differently in the future? Part of a successful job search is the ability to look back, learn from the past, and make a game plan going forward. Honest self-awareness and a desire to improve will come across as authentic and attractive in interviews as well.

11. Say “I’m sorry” to someone you need to

Think of just one person you need to apologize to. Maybe it’s your spouse, your kid, a parent, a co-worker, or a friend. Simply share a heartfelt “I’m sorry.” It will be good for both of you. When we don’t apologize for stuff we should, it’s like carrying a bag of boulders. When we apologize, we can shed the burden and drop that extra weight. The weight of unresolved conflict will burden your job search. Strained relationships cause us to look back and not forward.

12. Clean your desk

Take 30 minutes and clean off your desk area. Shelve your books. File your bills. Put things in drawers that are piling up. Get folders and get organized. It’s a small win, but it will feel good. A cluttered workspace will increase distractions on a job search.

13. Watch a funny and/or motivational movie

What movie really makes you laugh or feel inspired? Make plans to watch it tonight.  Just like healthy food aid your body, a regular flow of positive mental inputs is good for your soul on the job search.

14. Do a fun new activity

Try something new you’ve been wanting to do. It doesn’t need to be expensive, just new and different. A job search will be full of new people, companies, and experiences. You’ll be stretched outside your comfort zone. Learn to see these activities as fun new adventures and opportunities to learn.

15. Stretch

Take 15 minutes to stretch, or a little longer for a yoga class. Many of us sit at a desk all day and our bodies are wound up too tight. We all know stretching is a good idea, but we often don’t do it until something hurts and we are forced to. You want to be loose and not uptight for the job search.

16. Buy a new shirt

A little “shopping therapy” never hurts. Wearing a new shirt makes you feel good, boosts confidence, and represents a small investment in yourself. First impressions matter in interviews, so consider investing in some new clothes before you set out on the job search.

17. Wash or clean out the car

Taking care of your car is a practical way to demonstrate gratitude for the vehicle you have, and to make the most of it. We may not have the perfect career background or impressive accessories, but you can polish what you got to make a positive impression during your job search.

18. Throw something away

Look through your garage/shed/closet, find something that is taking up unnecessary space in your life, and get rid of it. Tossing excess is a small but important gesture. We sometimes carry baggage from past jobs and co-workers. Throw it away and move on.

19. Do a random act of generosity

Buy coffee or groceries for someone behind you in line. It will be a blessing to both of you. Generosity demonstrates a heart of caring for people and a desire to give back to the community. It’s a practical way to demonstrate that it’s not all about you. A successful job search might depend on the timely generosity of a few people, so model this yourself now.

20. Write down 10 new “firsts” you’d like to accomplish in the next year

We settle into routines in life. What are a few new things you could do this year that would be fun? Ideas might include travel or visiting a new place in your neighborhood. Developing a longer-term view and a vision for the future aligns well with your job search season because it compels you to think about where you want to go next and what inspires you.

21. Pick up trash and pull some weeds

Walk around a neighborhood or local park and make a difference. Trash and weeds won’t clean up themselves, and you can make a small impact in 15 minutes. Though it’s easy to ignore and step over trash and weeds, getting rid of small negative things and habits can build positive momentum in life and your job search.

22. Listen to your favorite song and sing out loud

Music you love gets your body moving, and singing makes you feel silly and alive at the same time. Listen to your favorite song on the way to an interview. If you feel silly at times during interview questions and situations, just roll with it and have fun.

23. Visit a new store or restaurant

Go to that place you’ve been meaning to check out in your neighborhood. Or try a random new spot. You will learn something new about your neighborhood (good or bad) that you didn’t know when you woke up. On the job search, you’ll be checking out all kinds of companies in your city that you didn’t know about before. You will be more educated and interesting after this process.

24. Date night “in”

Make dinner (or order takeout), light a candle, get a rose, turn on some music, and have a fun dinner in with your significant other. Say thank you and show appreciation for what they mean to you. Share specific examples of things that were special in recent months. Remember the people who are important in your life. Think about how your next job can honor them and make them an even greater priority.

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For more helpful job search tips: Ultimate Job Search Guide: Recruiter Insider Tips

Is anything holding you back before you begin your job search? The time will come for networking, sending in applications, and scheduling interviews. But first, take time to evaluate these seven critical personal dashboard indicators.

Last year, we hit the road to visit family in Oregon. At one point along the way, I started the car and saw that mysterious “check engine” red light turn on. Not good. The timing wasn’t great, but I knew it made sense to put our driving plans on hold for the day and call the local mechanic.

Red lights on your car dashboard warn of serious trouble. Likewise, life comes with its own indicators that signal whether we’re OK to proceed, or if we need to stop for some maintenance. Ignore the flashing red lights in your life, and you won’t get very far or arrive at your ideal job destination.

A job transition can force us to stop and think about life. Absent the full calendar and mental clutter that accompany steady work, we are forced to slow down. It is a great time to stop and ask, “What should I be learning right now?” If you just rush to update your resume, you may miss a bigger opportunity for new growth and insight that could positively impact your life.

Is your dashboard green, yellow, or red?

As you read through the following seven job search dashboard indicators, conduct a quick self-analysis. Consider the question at the end of each section and assign yourself a status: red, yellow, or green:

• Green: This area is fine and healthy
• Yellow: This issue could use some work, but it’s not critical
• Red: This reveals something unhealthy that is really impacting you.

After you complete the exercise, I would encourage you to focus your energies on addressing the red indicators, since these tenuous areas could negatively impact your job search and your life.

In working through this material with hundreds of people, I’ve found that most people have at least one red indicator holding them back on the job search. If you encounter hard truth, I encourage you to lean in, be honest with yourself, and use this quick personal assessment as a chance to get healthy and correct your course.

1. IDENTITY: A sense of personal meaning, value, and worth

When someone asks, “What do you do?,” how do you answer? When you talk about your job, do you feel overly proud or especially bummed out? Do you worry about what others think of you based on your job?

We spend so much time at work, it’s no wonder that our job tends to define us as a person. Paying the bills, commuting, getting ready for the day, and being at the office—all of these contribute to the feeling that our jobs rule our lives. But if we let work rule over us in this way, like some kind of god, we become miserable, depressed, exhausted, lonely, and stressed.

A job is a really good thing, but it’s not the ultimate thing. I encourage you to find a sense of identity and meaning in something bigger and more important than work, something that gives you strength and peace of mind with or without a job.

Check your dashboard: Do you find identity, meaning, and worth outside of your job?

2. TRUST: A source of hope and assurance

When life is running fine, it’s easy to believe we can handle pretty much anything on our own. We like to be self-sufficient and in control. We don’t think we need anyone else in our life, as if independence were a sign of strength.

A job search can shake us up by challenging our source of strength, wisdom, purpose, and answers. We need more help than we realized before. During seasons of change and uncertainty, it’s helpful to focus on what you know to be true and trustworthy. Who or what can you count on? Your family? Your friends? Your faith? Other blessings in your life? Such reminders can reset your resolve and provide a solid foundation for the stormy job search ahead on what is most important.

Check your dashboard: Are you leaning on the foundational truths in your life for strength and encouragement?

3. PEACE: A feeling of calm over anxiety

A job change impacts every aspect of life, especially if you have a family who depends on you. Do you feel worried and anxious about the job search? If so, you are not alone. Many people feel unsettled during career transition.

Worry and anxiety, however, can destroy your job search by provoking short-term, reactionary thinking. Interviewers can sense when someone is anxious and not at peace, which can come across as desperate and insecure.

When you feel fear and anxiety cropping up, I encourage you to:

• Remember that FEAR stands for a Frantic Effort to Avoid Responsibility. Is there something you should take responsibility for and do right now?

 

• Recall the things you trust in, and feel gratitude for the things going well in your life.

 

• Realize that you cannot control everything in the world and in your life, but some things you do have the power to control. Small wins in these areas can quickly build momentum.

 

• Revisit things that have given you peace of mind, joy, and rest in the past, and do what you know works.

A season between jobs can actually be a great time to look back and make a plan for a better life. Many people have told me they were grateful for a change because it freed them up for something better. Try to look at this time as a gift, and a “personal retreat” to invest in yourself and your future.

Check your dashboard: Do you feel a sense of peace in the journey ahead?

4. MONEY: A necessary and often stressful part of life

Money is the primary reason most of us go to work. Even if you love your job, you’d probably stop showing up as much if you didn’t get paid.

Money is a great tool, too, to get things we need and want. But when we place too much emphasis on money, it can lead to painful problems for us and those we care about. Obsessing over money clouds our ability to think clearly, which can lead to reactionary career decisions, such as taking the first job that comes up. Living month-to-month with no savings and high debt can cause this sort of job search panic.

Our spending habits and perspective on money reveal a lot about what we value and care about most. Almost half of all Americans can’t afford to miss a paycheck, and consumer debt seems to hit an all-time high each year. Struggling with personal finance is a national pastime. As difficult as it is to cultivate a healthy perspective on money, this essential discipline will alleviate much stress.

A job search reveals our financial health and views of money. Obviously it will help financially once you land the next job, but this could reveal the need for added discipline in spending, budgeting, and maintaining a healthier view of money. With financial discipline, you can also bless people around you with generosity. Money can rent happiness, but it can’t buy true joy in our lives.

Check your dashboard: Do you have a budget and spend less than you make? Do you view money in a healthy way?

5. COMMUNITY: People you can go to for help, encouragement, discussion, and friendship

During a job search, people tend to retreat from friends and others who care about them most. There are a few internal lies and negative self-talk that can happen when it comes to having other people help you during this time. Any of these statements sound familiar?

• “I need to be self-sufficient. I don’t want to be (or feel like) a burden on others.”
• “People will judge me or think less of me because I don’t have a job.”
• “My friends are busy. They probably don’t have time to help me right now, and I don’t want to bug them”

True friends and family love you and care for you because of who you are, not because of the job you have. They care about you and would love to help out, but you may need to tell them how.  

A job search is a great time to ask for help, seek encouragement, and reconnect with people you have not seen for awhile. It’s a good search strategy to engage a broader network of people, but it’s also good for the soul.

Check your dashboard: Have you reconnected with friends to ask for their help and encouragement?

6. HEALTH: Energy level and physical fitness habits

A successful job search is a marathon that requires your full health and energy. Are you taking care of your health? You know the drill: Eat healthy food, move more, get more sleep, drink more water, and take your daily vitamins.

You wouldn’t pour sand into your car gas tank, right? Our bodies are finely tuned machines that respond positively or negatively to how we treat them. A job search is a great opportunity to hit “reset” and get back to healthy habits that you can hopefully continue after landing the new job.

Likewise, focus on energy management, which is a balance of physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Some things drain you and some things fill you back up. You need enough positive inputs to balance things out.

When you are healthy, you’ll feel better. This vitality will be evident in the interview. You’ll make a better first impression, and you’ll be mentally sharper, which can make a big difference for a competitive role.

Check your dashboard: Do your current health habits and energy management strategy support your job search?

7. ORGANIZATION: Order in chaos

Some people have the natural gift of organization. For the rest of us, getting organized is more of a challenge that we need to work at.

Take responsibility, plan ahead, prepare to track your job search, and you’ll experience less stress and better results. Things can get busy and confusing quickly if you don’t have a system and if your desk and computer are cluttered.

Being disorganized can hurt. You don’t gain a competitive advantage when you forget appointments, neglect to next steps, fail to follow-up on referrals from friends, or arrive late to your interview without your prep notes. Healthy organizational habits will make your job search ordered and manageable.

Check your dashboard: When you look at your desk, computer, and job search tools, is it organized like you want?

Congrats, your diagnostic is complete! Some sections will be easy and some may challenge you. Hopefully, this quick self-assessment gets you to stop and think about a few important matters, and triggers some ideas of things to work on. As yourself, “What should I be learning through this experience?”

 

For more helpful job search tips: Ultimate Job Search Guide: Recruiter Insider Tips