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How to Answer “What Can You Bring to The Company?” In a Job Interview

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As an interviewer, what is one way a candidate should respond to your interview question “What can you bring to the company?”

To help candidates respond to the interview question “What can you bring to the company?”, we asked recruiters and hiring managers this question for their best tips. From showing that you’ve done your research to providing examples of professional success, there are several responses that hiring professionals look for when asking  “What can you bring to the company?” in an interview.


Here are 13 tips for responding to “What can you bring to the company?” in an interview:

  • Show that You Have Done Your Research
  • Bring A New Perspective
  • Focus On Controllable Inputs
  • Be Yourself
  • Focus On Who You Are as a Team Player
  • Talk About Why You Love This Career Path
  • Show Your Coachability
  • Highlight Your Experiences That Uniquely Fit The Role
  • Show Preparation and Insight
  • Bring Diversity, New Knowledge, and Good Environment
  • Show a Passion to Improve Lives
  • Center Your Response Around the Company’s Objectives
  • Provide Specific Instances of Your Professional Success

Show that You Have Done Your Research

From my experience in HR, when interviewers ask candidates what they can bring to the company, they ate looking for more than just a list of skills and qualifications. In my experience, this question gives you the opportunity to show that you’ve done your research. For example, you might say something like, “I’ve read about your company’s commitment to sustainability, and I’m passionate about working for a company that is making a positive impact on the environment. I know I can contribute to your efforts by…” By indicating that you’re familiar with the company’s mission and values, you show that you’re a good fit for the team and leave an impression on the interviewer.

Antreas Koutis, Financer

Bring A New Perspective

While you may be tempted to take the same old route and talk about the strengths and expertise you bring to the table so that it aligns with the job description, it doesn’t help you stand out from the crowd. If you really want to leave a mark, talk about your unique and fresh perspective and how that can pave the way for new innovations and strategies. The fact that you can see things in a new light and offer suggestions on the way things already work makes you an asset to any organization that’s committed to growing and evolving.

Harry Morton, Lower Street

Focus On Controllable Inputs

A candidate can respond by saying they will bring a relentless drive to discover the key levers of success for the business and then apply them to grow the company. In isolating the controllable inputs that lead to success, the candidate can focus on what they can do to improve performance, demonstrate alignment with the company’s vision, and add value.

Matthew Ramirez, Paraphrase Tool

Be Yourself

The candidate should try to come up with something unique. If they give an answer that they believe the interviewer wants to hear, this will be obvious. The candidate should ultimately be honest about their strengths and how they can utilize these strengths to benefit the company. For example, even if the candidate is an introvert, they may be very organized. So, they can say that they can offer their keen attention to detail and organization to keep the company running smoothly. Being yourself when answering this question is essential.

Drew Sherman, RPM

Focus On Who You Are as a Team Player

Focus on who you are as a team player. The hiring manager wants to determine if you’re a good cultural fit along with your skill level. Are you always willing to help others complete projects on a tight deadline? Share an example of how you’ve done that in the past and how you intend to do it for the company. Not only will they be able to determine your work ethic, but who you are as a colleague as well.

Natália Sadowski, Nourishing Biologicals

Talk About Why You Love This Career Path

Talk about your dedication and goals. When I ask “What can you bring to the company?” during an interview, I’m always compelled by the candidates who respond with their personal connection to the role. For example, if they tell me a story about the first time they realized they wanted to be in fashion, and how our company plays a part in realizing their dreams – I want that person on our team. By sharing their goals and love for the job during the interview, I can see how they’ll be dedicated to the company and add great energy to the team.

Karim Hachem, Sunshine79

Show Your Coachability

When you start a new role with a new company, you will not know everything. However you need to be open, willing to listen and learn from others. You always need to have the ability to be coachable. Coachable employees are excited learners and they are willing to learn how to improve their performance. They are open to new perspectives and ideas from their peers. Coachability means employees have a level of self-awareness and the desire to achieve new heights within the organization.

TK Morgan, Tuesday At 1030

Highlight Your Experiences That Uniquely Fit The Role

When asked this question, the candidates more likely to get hired all answer with a similar structure. They highlight their work experience and then explain what makes them uniquely fit for the job.

Chances are, at this stage in the interview, the resume has already been discussed, so the highlighting of experience should be brief. The key is the explanation as to why they’d be the perfect candidate for the role. This explanation usually has the candidate mention skills and proficiencies, but always mention soft skills and how they’d fit into the company.

The candidates who do research into the company will mention how the company culture is a perfect fit for them as they’d be able to thrive in that environment. If a candidate is able to do all of that confidently and convincingly, they usually end up on the shortlist and are invited to a final interview, granted that they’re the type of person the company wants.

Iohan Chan, Clark Staff

Show Preparation and Insight

I regularly am active in the hiring process of our company whether it’s hiring for our lab, office, or marketing department. The one thing that always impresses me is when interviewees should that they took the time to research your company or position that they applied for.

I had over 40 college students apply for an internship in our marketing department and the ones that stood out right away were the ones that came with suggestions or a plan for the position. When asked “What can you bring to the company” they had real suggestions or knowledge of the company in discussing the answer. It’s clear to distinguish between those who are just pulling answers out of thin air versus those who looked at our website and social media channels and give real input. I had one interviewee show me a video that she prepared for an ad for us and discussed optimizing our TikTok channel. I was very impressed and she got the position. Give real suggestions!

Seth Newman, SportingSmiles

Bring Diversity, New Knowledge, and Good Environment

It’s never easy to answer some questions when we need to go to job interviews.
I already did a lot of job interviews and one of the questions that is always present is “What can you bring to the company?” Most of them answer this question with the same responses. They are fast learners, or they want to bring organization to the company.
The best way to answer this question is by saying that the person will bring diversity in working methods, new knowledge as a fresh mind and improve the great environment in the company. Bringing diversity is always a good idea, because companies are always improving and learning new things to be on the top. A person who can answer this question with this answer will be a great hire for the company.

Stanislav Baciu, BuzzLogic

Show a Passion to Improve Lives

While every company requires a candidate to be passionate about their jobs and careers, some companies require candidates to be passionate about the impact their roles create too. In the health and wellness industry, individual drive and dedication are the cornerstones of each position. Even if their positions are relegated to behind-the-scenes, without individual passion, no employee can contribute the extra effort that our company needs to impact lives. So the first thing we need from our candidates is a genuine passion to change and improve lives.

David Northup, InShapeMD

Center Your Response Around the Company’s Objectives

The answer should center around the company’s objectives and long-term goals. The interviewee should have researched the company through its website, projects, undertakings, etc. For example, if the company looks for team players, you can say that you will bring a sense of unity and oneness amongst the people working under you. If the company is research-oriented, you promise on focusing on getting government grants and good projects for the company. The answer should integrate your own as well as the company’s objectives.

Chris Heerdegen, OnDemand Painters Midwest

Provide Specific Instances of Your Professional Success

Answering this question, candidates generally need to relate how their skills, experience, and personal qualities will be an asset to the company, and a good fit for the organization’s values and goals. It is also important to be specific when responding to this question, and to avoid using generalities. In essence, a candidate should bring up actual instances where they’ve exhibited these desirable qualities in their professional life, without having to be prompted by the interviewer for these specifics.

This is a sure-fire way for the candidate to demonstrate to the interviewer that they know the dance. They can additionally show that they value the interviewer’s time; by relating the information straight away in the desired format. Practical demonstrations of skills and values, and relating the results of these real-life case studies, are always going to be more useful than just stating that you possess the desirable attributes, and hoping for belief from the interviewer.

Alex Ugarte, London Office Space

12 Tips To Help You Transition Industries in Your Career

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To help you best transition industries in your career, we asked career coaches and business leaders this question for their best advice. From creating a financial cushion for support to engaging with the right professionals on LinkedIn, there are several practical tips that may help you best maneuver your career change from one industry to another.

Here are 12 tips for transitioning industries in your career:

  • Create a Financial Cushion for Support
  • Consider Owning a Franchise
  • Don’t Be Ashamed of Switching Fields
  • Clarify and Focus on Where You Want to Be
  • Attend Industry Events
  • Subscribe To Industry Publications Or Websites
  • Uncover Milestones in Your New Field
  • Find a Mentor in The New Area To Guide You
  • Focus on Transferable Skills
  • Ask for Help From Friends
  • Get Ready To Double Your Efforts
  • Connect and Engage With Professionals on LinkedIn

Create a Financial Cushion for Support

It’s normal to feel anxious over making a career change, but you’re presumably doing it for the right reasons. Changing careers, on the other hand, sometimes means beginning from a position that is lower than your present one. As a result, the greatest professional advice I can give you is to create a financial “buffer” that you can tap into until things really take off in your new career.

Hector Ruiz, BBQ Grill Academy

Consider Owning a Franchise

Transitioning industries may seem like an impossible challenge to overcome. However, one path people can take is to consider owning a business through franchising. The best franchise models will provide full training and ongoing support to the franchisee, and so you don’t need to have industry experience. Of course, it’s important to do your research and see which industry and franchise might be right for you. Franchising is also a great way for military veterans to transition into business ownership.

Chris B., Minuteman Press International

Don’t Be Ashamed of Switching Fields

As someone who explored many careers in my early professional life (from law school to marketing to running a team building company), my best tip for transitioning industries is not to be ashamed of not fitting in the first field you try. Most professionals in the modern world cycle through multiple jobs, and few folks stay in one industry for the entirety of their careers. Having experience from other industries can give you a unique perspective and advantage in the job market and new roles. Not to mention, the topic can be a great conversation starter and a way to connect with new coworkers. Instead of hiding your earlier work, embrace it and find ways it can benefit you in your new working journey.

Michael Alexis, TeamBuilding

Clarify and Focus on Where You Want to Be

Do you know which industry, or sector, you want to go into? Figuring out your game plan is the key to successfully transitioning industries. For instance, where will your skills and experience be of the most use? More importantly, what do you really see yourself doing? Where do you think you can make a difference? Deciding all that first, will give you clarity and focus to drive your career transition. Good Luck!

Linda Scorzo, Hiring Indicators

Attend Industry Events

If you, like many others during this time, are considering a career transition, you should try to attend at least one industry event within the space you are looking to move into. At these events you can attend different talks that can give you a glimpse into what a typical workday will look like. You can also start to gain quality contacts that can give you their thoughts on how to best break into the industry as well as quality information on their experience working within that space. Who knows, these contacts can even become references that can help you land that first job.

Brandon Brown, GRIN

Subscribe to Industry Publications Or Websites

Learn the lingo and trends of the industry that you are considering by subscribing to industry publications, podcasts, websites, LinkedIn groups, etc. You will be able to demonstrate your understanding of the industry, including challenges and opportunities, and articulate how your previous experience is relevant during an interview. You will also gain a deeper understanding if the new industry is an area where you can be successful.

Scott Baker, Stage 3 Leadership

Uncover The Milestones in Your New Field

Beginner’s Syndrome or even Imposter’s Syndrome is nearly inevitable when you’re transitioning from one industry to another. A way to curb the fear of inadequacy is to take time to chat with peers and research the milestones you can expect to hit as you move forward. For instance, if you’re transitioning into educational technology, some of the early milestones might be to understand the prominent learning theories that instructional designers focus on. A more graduated milestone might be mastering a learning management system (LMS). If on day one you haven’t mastered the LMS, knowing that there are many stepping stones before you get there will make the transition less stressful.

Carla Andre-Brown, Mailbird

Find a Mentor in The New Area To Guide You

Think about getting a mentor. Finding a mentor in your area is helpful since they have already been in your shoes and have the expertise necessary to provide you with the most effective advice to become successful. Keep in mind that the shift into a new job or sector can be difficult at first; finding people to connect with and the skills you need can be a scary process. Working with a mentor can help you get started on the correct path. Mentors can also recognize your existing talents and areas for improvement. Mentors also have important connections in the sector, which might help you along your path.

Ryan Warner, 1AND1 Life

Focus on Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are those that can easily be leveraged across industries and sectors. Professionals who are pursuing a career transition should focus on identifying and then amplifying the skills they have that are value additive across industry and sector. They should think broadly about the skills they’ve gained in different job roles, community engagement, leadership initiatives, degree programs, and even within the home. 

You can assess transferable skills by assessing the skills you leverage that are equally as beneficial to a specific role. While the skill may have been used in one way within one sector, that same skill could be reengineered to support another sector. An example might be: critical thinking. The skill could have been used to improve operational processes within the tech industry but be reengineered to support special projects in the transportation industry. The same mindset and competencies can provide value and steer innovation within a new space or place.

Chelsea C. Williams, Reimagine Talent Co.

Ask for Help From Friends

Remember your classmates. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you went to college with that may be able to help with a referral. Put yourself in your college friend’s shoes. If you could help her you would, right? A referral from someone within the company is worth more than almost any amount of experience! Scroll your alumni Facebook page!

Erin Banta, Pepper

Get Ready To Double Your Efforts

Transitioning industries, even when it is a well-thought-out move, requires extra work. For starters, you have to acknowledge that people who work the same job positions in different industries handle very different tasks and responsibilities. For example, even a generic position like that of a personal assistant will have a very different profile from one industry to another. So get ready to double your efforts and know that despite the experience you may have in your position, shifting industries would mean learning just about everything from scratch.

Kris Harris, Nootka Saunas

Connect and Engage With Professionals on LinkedIn

As you’re considering a transition, start connecting with people on LinkedIn who hold positions you’d like to have. Pay attention to what they’re posting and engage with their posts. Once you’ve formed an online rapport with them, ask them if they would be open to a phone call for some career advice. Most people want to be helpful especially if you’ve demonstrated that you’re sincerely interested in what they do.

Susan Siravo, Susan Siravo Media
Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published.

9 Tips to Help You Move into a New Career

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What is one tip you have for someone looking to launch into a new career?

To help you launch into a new career, we asked career coaches and successful entrepreneurs this question for their best insights. From finding your transferable skills to talking to those who know you, there are several tips that may help you break into a new profession.

Here are nine tips to help you move into a new career:

  • Find Your Transferable Skills
  • Don’t “Fake it Until You Make it”
  • Turn “What I’ve Done” Into “What I can do for You”
  • Start Building Your Network Early
  • Write Down Your Then, Now, and Next
  • Research, Listen, and Network
  • Upskill to Prepare to Launch a New Career
  • Ask for Help
  • Talk to Those Who Know You

Find Your Transferable Skills

It doesn’t matter if you are going from a pastry chef to an astronaut, every job, every volunteer experience, every class taken, has provided you with a skill that you can bring to another sector of your life. Find those skills from your past experiences and highlight them on your resume and cover letter. If you are having trouble finding these transferable skills, try reviewing job posts you are interested in and see what skills are listed on the job posting that you have. A lot of the time a little creativity is all you need.

Bryor Mosley, Southern New Hampshire University

Don’t “Fake it Until You Make it”

One strategy that a lot of people employ when wading into a totally new area is to fake it until they make it. In other words, they pretend to know a lot more about the industry and role than they do in reality. In my opinion, this is a terrible technique for breaking into a new vertical and gaining the trust of new team members. It is a much smarter play to own your lack of expertise and show some humility, while at the same time expressing your passion to learn and gain experience.

People, especially managers, will respect you more for being humble and genuine than feigning expertise. Most people are smart enough to be able to see right through a phony. Plus, when you try the “fake it till you make it” approach, it just takes one tough question or misstatement to expose you. Don’t run the risk – just own your inexperience and be cool about it.

John Ross, Test Prep Insight

Turn “What I’ve Done” Into “What I can do for You”

A good starting point is your resume. Rewrite it as a skills-based document instead of a chronological listing of your previous experience. Consider a personal website where you introduce yourself with a YouTube video. Create short video case studies highlighting your problem-solving prowess that will help you succeed in your new profession.

Your goal is to reinforce the fact you have the skills to succeed in a new career and previous job titles aren’t significant. Finally, mentally prepare yourself to be looked at like you’re applying for your first “real” job because that’s how many prospective employers will see you.

Joshua Chin, Chronos

Start Building Your Network Early

Having a professional network in your new industry before you make the transition will give you access to more opportunities when you’re ready to make the switch, and your resume is likely to get more serious consideration from hiring managers if you’re referred or recommended by someone connected to the company. This is often a big hurdle for those switching careers since they don’t have experience in the industry, which can make it a challenge to compete with applicants who are already established in the field. You can kill two birds with one stone by attending workshops, conferences, trade fairs, or certification courses that help you gain the skills and knowledge you’ll need in the new industry while making connections with other professionals.

Archie Payne, Caltek Staffing

Write Down Your Then, Now, and Next

The space in time when you are on the brink of launching into a new career is incredibly special. It is a pivotal point where you have this rare view of where you’ve been, where you are now and can see a wide view of what could be next. You have both the benefit of hindsight (to learn from), the benefit of aversion (to understand what isn’t working), and the benefit of motivation (to understand what drives you and what you really value).
This window is temporary, and it’s unlikely that you’ll remember it all when you make a decision and are 1 year into your new career. 

So, write it all down. Write down answers to why you did what you’ve done already, what worked, what didn’t, and what you learned. Write down how you feel right now, what sensations arise for you when you think of change, and what feels important to do differently. Write down what you want to take with you for your next chapter and what outcomes you’d love to achieve. Take stock, and enjoy reflecting on your journey in a year!

Hannah Ray, TAKE Coaching Amsterdam

Research, Listen, and Network

Launching into a new career is an exciting endeavor! Some folks are prone to jumping headfirst into unknown territory while others refrain from making impulsive decisions. Know ‘why’ you’re desiring to pursue a new career. Map out questions you have pertaining to this transition and the type of work you expect to be performing in the future. Conduct your own research. Do not blindly rely upon third-party resources from people to companies painting a picture of your desired career. 

Engage actively in this learning process by engaging in online and offline forums, network with people in those respective career paths, talk to headhunters representing roles in that respective career sector, weigh the pros & cons of this career choice, connect with institutions (academic & professional) that can share more information; etc.  Remember we live in a world where the majority of the population is in “sales mode”. It’s important that you exercise sensible judgment when making this important decision.

Sasha Laghonh, Sasha Talks

Upskill to Prepare to Launch a New Career

Upskilling offers a significant advantage in the modern labor market. Launching a new career is hard. The barrier to entry is often difficult to overcome and this is especially true for individuals who have spent a considerable amount of time in a career they would like to leave behind. These individuals could have plenty of experience but it may not be relevant to another industry.

Employers are mostly considered by this fact. Individuals should want to obtain new skills before they enter a new career for a better chance of success. Getting more formal education can be expensive, but other methods are available. Bootcamps are available for a variety of information economy skill sets such as marketing, coding, sales and graphic design. Upskilling presents a significant advantage for individuals who are looking to enter a new career.

Sean Doherty, Box Genie

Ask for Help

There’s going to be a lot to learn as you begin your journey into a new career. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a manager, coworker, or anyone else. Reach out to other professionals in your desired career on LinkedIn and other business networking platforms—be sure to briefly explain why you’re looking to make a transition and ask well thought out questions—it shows that you are proactive, resourceful, and an effective communicator.

Dan Gray, Kotn Supply

Talk to Those Who Know You

With many companies making layoffs right now, the time is perfect to launch into a new career. Daunting, scary, and something you’ve always wanted to do. The best ideas during times of RIF and redundancy have come out of layoffs. Explore what you are passionate about and where your knowledge is or what you want to learn about. Engage with that space. Contribute and learn. Ask questions and network. 

Talk to those who know you well. Family, friends, and colleagues from past and present. Ask them what your strengths are, and what you are great at. Don’t ask what they think about you – just what they feel your strongest self is. Know what you ‘want to be famous for’.  Follow it with energy and passion. The rest will follow.

Duncan Evemy, DE Talent Consulting

Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published. 

12 Creative Ways To Stand Out On LinkedIn

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What is your best tip for a creative way to stand out on LinkedIn?

To help you stand out on LinkedIn, we asked CEOs and social media managers this question for their best ideas. From correlating your banner picture to your profile picture to being your unique self, there are several creative tactics you can try to help you stand out on LinkedIn. 

Here are 12 creative ways to stand out on LinkedIn:

  • Correlate Your Banner Picture To Your Profile Picture
  • Complete The Summary Section
  • Keep Work History and Role Descriptions Easy To Follow
  • Ask for Recommendations
  • Promote Others’ Content
  • Add Industry Terminology
  • Post Regularly in The Feed To Boost Visibility
  • Tell a Unique Story in Your Bio
  • Use Visuals
  • Be Creative With a Concise and Commanding Headline
  • Create a Personal URL
  • Be Your Unique Self

Correlate Your Banner Picture To Your Profile Picture

Many people understand the importance of having a professional profile picture, however, when one clicks on their profile their banner picture generally does not correlate to the profile picture. This is often a missed opportunity to really get your LinkedIn profile recognized. Make sure the Banner Picture matches in terms of color schemes with your profile picture, to provide a unified overall feel. This really makes you stand out from the crowd.

Mogale Modisane, Power Tools Blog

Complete The Summary Section

I have noticed that many people skip the summary area, but it’s a terrific place for you to tell your own story, so don’t use it to simply list work responsibilities. Your summary should be brief and to the point, describing your previous experiences and present job responsibilities. Highlight specific accomplishments that you are proud of that indicate your abilities or progress toward your goals. It’s best to think of it as your elevator pitch. You just have 30 seconds to get your main points across. You may also show off your personality more on LinkedIn, so don’t be concerned about it being too official.

Gerrid Smith, Joy Organics

Keep Work History and Role Descriptions Easy To Follow

A strong resume is one that shows the strength of one’s career, such as how long you’ve stayed at companies, your list of duties for each job, etc. LinkedIn should work like a strong resume and a strong social media profile, showing strength of a resume in a clear format. Recruiters and potential bosses want to be able to look through at a glance and know who you are and how effective you’ll be. A messy profile suggests a messy work ethic, so keep it clean, and be concise when describing your roles to make them easy to follow.

Brett Estep, Insured Nomads

Ask for Recommendations

Ask your connections for recommendations to strengthen your profile. These recommendations from colleagues allow hiring managers to understand who you are as a worker, and your team members can vouch for you. It helps them determine if the skills and experience is a good fit for any open positions, and they’ll be eager to reach out and get in contact after seeing the messages. Team members can highlight your leadership or communication skills, for example. Not only does this strengthen your profile, but also leaders recruiters to your page and move forward with next steps.

Sara Adam Slywka, Nestig

Promote Others’ Content

Share your connections’ content while including a thoughtful response in the post to acknowledge what others are putting out into the world. Shifting the focus from ‘me’ to ‘we’ helps to open others up to more meaningful conversations; most people want to feel seen so tipping the proverbial hat publicly often has a greater impact than if solely sharing about oneself on Linkedin. Posts from your network about achievements, new roles, articles, interviews, and the like are simple examples of what is already being shown in your feed that you can easily reflect on and share, tagging the original poster or connections you feel the content may benefit. Social media is made for fostering connection, so taking the opportunity to spotlight others’ work and commentary helps validate their unique take while naturally allowing you to stand out as a supportive, engaged connection.

Tommy Chang, Homelister

Add Industry Terminology

Add industry terminology to your intro. According to LinkedIn data, listing industry information leads to up to 9% more profile views and can help you get discovered up to 38% more in recruiter searches. Making the best out of your LinkedIn is much easier when you know who you are trying to attract. Know your industry and know what types of jobs you want to attract. That way you can craft your header and about me section with Keywords that match your industry.

John Cheng, Baotris

Post Regularly in The Feed To Boost Visibility

Posting engaging content in the feed is a great way to gain exposure for your business or personal LinkedIn. If your posts are truly interesting, your connections will like and comment, which will increase the chances of your content being viewed by more users. Even if it just means sharing progress about a current or future project, every little bit helps.

Gerald Lombardo, The Word Counter

Tell a Unique Story in Your Bio

You really stand out from the crowd if you take advantage of your bio section and have fun with it. Tell a story that sets you apart from the others, that gives you a unique point of view of the work or of life, that shares your sense of humor or creativity. Your resume is already listed on LinkedIn, so make your bio be the place where your personality and uniqueness shine

Staci Brinkman, Sips by

Use Visuals

Why not use visuals? Honestly, when I’m drawn to a LinkedIn page it’s because there are compelling visuals. When someone adds photos to their work experience or summary section they’re creating a more in-depth and unique introduction for themselves. They automatically stand out with visual components because it adds another aspect to their profile. And, as a potential employer, I’m able to see how they might be a good fit for our team both energetically and skillset-wise. Take advantage of the visual component of LinkedIn to stand out, and don’t underestimate how powerful it is to combine images with the written word.

Tony Staehelin, Benable

Be Creative With a Concise and Commanding Headline

Take advantage of the headline. The headline’s right below the headshot and it’s the perfect way to draw in a potential employer. It’s what I immediately look at. To me, a headline is your chance to be creative, concise, and commanding. It tells me if you’d be a good member of our team, what your personality is like, and what skills you have – all in one little sentence. Don’t be afraid to use your headline to show off and attract attention, its whole point is to intrigue someone to read further… so have fun with it!

Karim Hachem, Sunshine79

Create a Personal URL

Create a personal URL! A lot of people don’t think about it when they are editing their profile, but your URL is the first thing a recruiter sees on your LinkedIn when you attach it to your CV. A personal URL with your name on it instead of a series of random letters and numbers is a quick and easy way to seem more professional. It also tells people you care about details. A personal URL is easier to share, recognize and find. If you are in a creative industry you can even add some flare to it. It’s really easy and it has a ton of advantages.

Soji James, 1AND1 Life

Be Your Unique Self

Be yourself. It’s easier said than done. How can we stand out if everyone is trying to stand out? Aren’t we all the same? The straightforward answer is: Nope. You are unique. There hasn’t been anyone quite like you and there won’t ever be anyone quite like you, so use it for your advantage. Have you ever asked yourself, “How can I be successful even though [fill in the blank]?” Even though I’m a woman, even though I’m younger than others, or even though I am queer? I’ll treat you to a little secret. 

Let’s flip this question and replace your “even though” with a juicy “because”: “How can I be successful because [fill in the blank]?” Because I’m not a native English speaker, because I am Asian, or because I’m new to this industry? All of a sudden your story becomes your superpower and your authenticity becomes the fuel of your brand.
Find your “even-thoughs”. Flip them to a juicy “because”. Watch your personal brand unfold, as unique and powerful as you are.

Manuel Schlothauer, HeyManuel.com

Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published. 

How To Write A Red Hot Resume

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Landing your dream role begins with writing an irresistible resume, although for some job seekers this can be easier said than done. Writing a resume can take hours, even a couple of days, and a lot of brain power to “sell yourself” to prospective employers.

At Career Connectors our mission is to help you successfully achieve the role you’ve been dreaming of, so we have broken down the overwhelming task of writing your resume into an easy to follow step-by-step process. Let’s get started! 

STEP 1: Prepare 

Resume writing can be a overwhelming and mentally draining task, so set yourself up for success by collecting all the information you need before you sit down to write. 

Create a checklist using the following points and tick each off as you gather the relevant information:

  • Previous job titles, including the date you started and left your role 
  • List of major accomplishments achieved within your positions
  • Your education history
  • Any training you have completed 
  • Any certificates you have achieved 
  • A list of the key skills you have gained from previous roles 
  • Volunteering work 

STEP 2: Design

While the information you provide is what will ultimately land you your dream role, a well designed resume helps you process through quickly as a top level candidate.

Stand out from the competition with an easy to read resume design:

  • Include plenty of white space on the page to avoid overwhelming the reader
  • Swap sentences for bullet points where necessary, such as beneath each role 
  • Format your resume chronologically with your most recent work history at the top of the page.
  • Choose one easy to read font for your cover letter and resume, such as Arial or Times New Roman.
  • Use font size and type intentionally. Make your name and section titles stand out by using bold and larger text. 

STEP 3: Execute

Now it’s time to get to work. 

We recommend keeping the information you share relevant, short and to the point. Your potential employer does not need to know about the retail job you had at 15 if you are applying for a tech role. Most resumes have about 1-2 pages of content. 

Starting from the top of the page, a job-winning resume will include the following:

  1. Heading: Your name, email address, contact number 
  2. Profile: Dedicate this section to what you have to offer the role in relation to what the hiring manager is looking for, this should be specific to each application.
  3. Qualifications: Skills, abilities, experience qualifications related to the role you are applying for.
  4. Work experience: Work history, including your job title, where you worked, the date you started and ended each role. Stating your accomplishments are essential in this section – do not list just responsibilities, list what you did with those responsibilities. Each sentence should provide a brief synopsis of your strongest accomplishments in the position.
  5. Volunteer experience (optional) If you have volunteer work that relates to the role you are applying for, include it beneath work experience. 
  6. Education history: List your highest education accomplishment first, with the name of the school, degree and graduation date.
  7. Certifications, Awards and Accomplishments: If you have achieved any certifications, awards and accomplishments that are relevant to the role you are applying for, list them beneath education history.

STEP 6: Edit

This is a valuable step that can mean the difference between a basic resume and a job-winning resume. 

When it comes to editing, we recommend the following two strategies:

Proofread your own work: Cut out long sentences and unnecessary words, and fix spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Make sure all previous jobs use past tense and your current role uses present tense. A hiring manager won’t be impressed by your valuable qualifications if they have trouble reading your resume. 

Seek helpful feedback: Ask a resume expert to review your resume and offer feedback on how you can improve it. Everyone has a strong opinion on resumes so make sure you are getting guidance from the right people – those that can help your resume get through the applicant tracking system!

Once you have a strong resume foundation, you can change specific words that align with the different companies you are applying for. You can also cut out irrelevant jobs and skills that are not related to the specific role you are applying for. Now that the hard work is done it will be alot easier to keep your resume up to date as you gain more skills and qualifications and work experience. 

Once you have completed your job-winning resume, come along to one of our bi-monthly events for job seekers! This is an engaging and interactive experience where you can network with hiring companies, interview with prospective employers, and learn powerful techniques for landing your dream role from industry experts. 
Learn about our upcoming events here: https://careerconnectors.org/event-schedule