Change is Hard

Do you remember the time when cassette players started being phased out of cars, and all you could get was a CD player? I do. Because at the time, I was working at American Honda Motor Company — we received a freight train of calls and letters complaining about it. We faced quite a rant about eliminating cassette players, not to mention removing window moldings around windshields and rear windows, embedding antenna stalks in the rear window, or making manual windows no longer available (believe it or not, people actually complained about that too). What’s the takeaway? Times change, and the most successful companies anticipate that change. They make tough, future-minded decisions, even when they might seem unpopular at present.

The same holds for today's job hunt. We've come a long way from submitting job applications by mail or in person (a 2000s norm), to where a drop-off would now earn you kudos for "thinking outside the box." Today's job search scene is categorically different. Thanks to remote work options, you're not only competing with a modest talent pool from your local town of 100,000 but also grappling with millions of global contenders from every corner of the earth.

So let me offer my top two recommendations when it comes to job hunting in today’s world:

1. Modernize Your Resume:
   Nix the outdated objective statements and references (yes, even the 'available upon request' kind). Opt for contemporary font styles (step aside, Times New Roman), and apply just a single space after a period (not two). These are small steps you can take to keep your resume looking fresh and current. But, before getting into the nitty-gritty, be sure to define a clear, intentional job target. Remember, your personal brand – your uniqueness and your storied career path – gets you hired. Let this personal brand narrative pervade your resume; include your past jobs and companies, your achievements, your education, and your expertise in your field.

2. Revamp Your Job Search Tactics:
   If you're spending the bulk of your day job hunting with no tangible results, it's time to change gears. Hot tip: It's not your resume! Many job seekers treat the process like a numbers game — it’s all about how many resumes they can disperse in a day. This often leads to unfit applications, frustrated recruiters, and ultimately, a frazzled job seeker. Yes, most hiring happens through online applications, but so do most rejections. So while I'm not suggesting you stop applying online, I am urging you to apply with a guiding purpose and take additional steps to stand out.

Incorporate these strategies to lift your game:

Tip 1: Do your homework on the company and their employees before applying. A bit of LinkedIn sleuthing can serve you up a list of potential contacts within the organization. Craft a compelling outreach message that spurs a conversation. For instance, if you're unsure whether to apply for multiple roles, go ahead and ask a recruiter there. You have nothing to lose, and at best, they might check out your LinkedIn profile and ask you for an interview!

Tip 2: Design tailored cover letters that directly address the company's needs and demonstrate how you can ameliorate a specific issue. Generic cover letters from Google won't cut it. You could even use AI tools such as ChatGPT to automate part of this; simply upload your resume, job description, and website or articles links. Once AI has done the heavy lifting, go over the generated cover letter and tweak it to suit your writing style to ensure authenticity.

Tip 3: Make slight modifications to your resume for each application to better align with the job description. No need to rewrite your resume for each job, especially if you've already modernized your resume as suggested. But, if there’s a specific skill or achievement listed in the job description that resonates with your experiences, consider tweaking your resume language to tell that story.

An outdated 2023 personal brand lingering on cassette player vibes does not cut it anymore. Employers have evolved and are on the lookout for candidates who are more akin to Apple’s CarPlay. Change is a fundamental part of life, and how you adapt to it can make all the difference in your job search. So upgrade your job-hunting toolkit and embrace the opportunities that await in this ever-evolving job landscape!