Tips to Position Yourself as a Top Candidate

In the past 96 hours, I’ve received 2,000+ applications for multiple roles we’re hiring for. Here are my 5 tips on how to move to the top 1% of a candidate pool: For context, I imagine that many candidates often feel like their resume just "goes into a stack" that may never be seen.  But this week, we read EVERY single one of the 2,000+ that came in. Here's what I learned: 👉🏼 How to move to the Top 50%: Including a message or cover letter in the job portal, immediately sends you to the top 50%. Yes, that means that the other half of applicants uploaded their resume WITHOUT any context as to why they are a great fit for the role. 👉🏼 How to move to the top 30%: For the message or cover letter, personalize it. This means the note is tailored to the hiring manager, company, and the role you are applying for. Show that you have done your research. Don't tell them why you are applying for a job. Tell them why you are applying for THIS job. 👉🏼 How to move to the top 20%: Sort your experience on the resume by relevance to the role (not date). Most recruiters spend 60 seconds per application. At the top of your resume, include the experience that will showcase why you would excel in this role. Dates are less relevant. You know how in cold outbounding, the email's opening hook is so important? Same is the case with your resume. 👉🏼 How to move to the top 10%: Let your personality shine through. A resume is a piece of paper. But it's not WHO you are. As much as skills and experience are important, a hiring manager wants to know if this is a person that would add to a company's culture, and be someone that the team would enjoy working with. It also sheds light on how you will let your personality shine through to a customer. 👉🏼 How to move to the top 5% Understand that finding a job is a… sales motion… an outbound motion. You are selling yourself. As we know with cold outreach, "mass blast" approaches don't work. Successful outbounding requires true personalization at scale. The best candidates apply their sales hunter mentality, skills, and creativity... when marketing themselves.  🔥 How to move to the top 1% Your LinkedIn profile. Are you an active member of the ecosystem, or a ghost? Do you let your personality shine thru, or do you let a piece of paper do the talking? What’s your personality like? How do you support others? What’s your POV? Is this a person that could be a brand ambassador for our org? A DIALED LinkedIn presence will answer all of this, and send you to the very top of a stack. That said… This process showed me how competitive this job market is right now. There is so much talent out there, with too few jobs to go around. But doing these 5 things can make all the difference, sending you to the top 1%of every applicant pool. Fast math in this case… It means you end up competing against 20 other applicants, not 2,000.

🎯 “The most overlooked part of interview prep? Mapping influence. Most candidates prep for questions. The smartest ones prep for decision dynamics as well. When I say “map the influence,” I don’t just mean Googling your interviewers. I mean understanding the hiring ecosystem - and tailoring your message for every player. Because here’s the truth: Even in a 4-round interview process, you’re not just being evaluated for skills. You’re navigating a web of stakeholders - each with different priorities, fears, and influence. Let’s break it down 👇 💡 The Hiring Manager 👉 What they care about: results, risk, ramp-up time 🔑 What to emphasize: how you solve their biggest problems 🎯 Pro tip: Use language they’ve used in the job description. Mirror their priorities. 💡 The Cross-Functional Peer 👉 What they care about: collaboration, communication, no ego 🔑 What to emphasize: how you work with others, stay proactive, and solve conflict 🎯 Pro tip: Tell stories that show you’ve worked across teams to drive progress. 💡 The Executive / VP 👉 What they care about: big picture, business impact, leadership potential 🔑 What to emphasize: outcomes, strategy, decision-making 🎯 Pro tip: Highlight how your work ties to revenue, customer retention, or scale. 💡 The Recruiter 👉 What they care about: clarity of fit, alignment to the role, your communication 🔑 What to emphasize: your motivation, expectations, and alignment 🎯 Pro tip: Be concise and clear in how you tell your story - make it easy to advocate for you. 🧭 Before your next interview loop, ask yourself: ✅ Who’s likely to be in the room? ✅ What does each one really care about? ✅ What strengths can I dial up - or clarify - to address their lens? You don’t have to become a different person. You just need to emphasize the right things to the right people. If you want to stand out in interviews - stop treating every round the same. Start mapping influence. That’s how you shift from “strong candidate” ��� “clear choice.” ✍ What’s one stakeholder you’ve found hardest to read in interviews?

I talked with Tim Paradis at Business Insider about how people can stand out even in a tough job market, and his piece has great data and ideas. You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gBiNXMyc We talked about our recent Chief of Staff search at Rising Team, and what helped the top candidates move forward. My top tips: 1) Send something that stands out: This was the main point of the article—for the jobs I've hired for, the people who send something extra, beyond what is required, always stand out. It could be a video, slides, a prototype, anything that shows you care enough to put in extra effort. It should be specific to the company, not just about you, to show that you did your research and understand the specific role and the company. This is a strategy very few people use and can work for anyone, even without connections or without the exact experience of doing the role before. 2) Be thoughtful about how you use AI: We all know that AI can help us write faster, and often better and more clearly than we do on our own. It can also help people apply rapidly to many jobs. The challenge is that it can also make us all sound the same. In fact ~100 of the 800 applicants for this role started their responses to our questions with the same 2 sentences. If you want to use AI, make sure to start with a more creative prompt (not just the direct question that was asked) and do significant editing to make it sound like you. 3) Network: It's still a good idea to use the tried and true strategy of leveraging connections. If you have relationships at the company, reach out to try to get an interview, an introduction, or a recommendation. Even if you don't have a direct relationship, it's worth looking at your 2nd degree connections to see if you know someone who can introduce you or put in a good word. While networking has always been a helpful strategy, it's harder now that so many people are applying to each job, and many people are using this strategy. The good news is that the other strategies above work for people who don't have any connections. One more tip, that I didn't mention in the article—practice your resilience. Job hunting in a tough market is a lot like fundraising (which I've also done a lot of). You will likely get a lot of nos before you get a yes. As long as you can bounce back and keep at it, I believe the right fit is out there for everyone. #hiring #interviewing #jobsearch

Many open jobs are getting 1,000s of applications now. It’s rough out there! And getting your resume to stand out is super difficult. I should know — I've reviewed 25,000+. Put these 8 rare things on your resume to be in the top 1% of candidates: 👇 1/ You were recruited by former coworkers to another job. A sign they think you’re a badass. They know you from real work experience… which is better than any interview. 2/ Show what you made happen. Define each role with a narrative like this: • Challenge: “We had NPS of 0.” • Activity: “I built a cust sat team and deployed best practices.” • Results: “NPS went to 80.” 3/ Say clearly what you want. Many resumes say, “OBJECTIVE: Any job.” That’s too vague. And looks lazy. Great candidates say what they want. 4/ Up and to the right. Your career grows with greater impact at each step. You’re taking on more. Asking for new challenges. And building on successes. When faced with adversity/bad bosses/etc., you’ve made changes. And kept grinding. 5/ Known & trusted referral. This is a tough one. It ONLY works if these two things are true: • The referring party has worked with you AND… • The hiring manager knows they are a badass. Otherwise, some rando calling on your behalf is not as helpful as they say. 6/ You were promoted. Did you get promoted at your company? Quickly? Did it happen multiple times? A good sign you’re making things happen on the job. 7/ You avoid basic mistakes. Too many people are winners – but blow it by screwing up the basics. Don’t: • Multi-page resumes • Education listed at the top (unless you’re a fresh grad) • Too many words • Omit contact information • Misspellings/grammar errors 8/ It all makes sense. You did appropriate tours of duty (not jumping around too quickly). You left jobs for good reasons. You looked for win-wins with bosses/you/employers. It all lines up to show you move mountains. Finally: Not every resume can or will have these things. These are uncommon for a reason. And factors like privilege, situation, and luck contribute to you having any at all. But if you can include them or plan your career for them, they will set you apart. tl;dr: Include these 8 things in your resume (if you can) to stand out: 1. Recruited by former coworkers 2. Resume shows impact 3. Say what you want 4. Up and to the right 5. Trusted Referral 6. Promoted Internally 7. Avoid common mistakes 8. It makes sense What do you think? Reply below.

I've hired for hundreds of roles at Waffle House. The top 1% of candidates? You all have this in common (and it's not what you think) ↓ It's not your resume. It's not your experience. It's not even your skills. The top 1% of candidates have a well-thought-out strategy. Here's what I mean: These elite candidates don't just apply to every job they see. They focus on companies they're truly passionate about. Their approach is comprehensive: 1. They start at the company website, applying directly. 2. They leverage LinkedIn connections to find referrals within the company. 3. Their resumes are tailored specifically to the job they're applying for. 4. They prepare extensively for interviews, studying the company and role. 5. After interviews, they send thoughtful thank-you notes to recruiters and hiring managers. This strategy sets them apart in several ways: - It demonstrates genuine interest in the company - It shows initiative and resourcefulness - It highlights their attention to detail - It proves they go above and beyond The result? These candidates stand out from the crowd. They're not just another resume in the pile. They're memorable, prepared, and impressive. This approach takes more time and effort. But it dramatically increases your chances of landing the job. Want to be in the top 1% of candidates? Transform your job search with a targeted, comprehensive strategy for each application. Quality over quantity wins every time. Elevate your job search strategy today.

I have interviewed 100s of people for management consulting and policy roles. (Here's what nobody tells you..) It's not the MOST qualified candidate who gets the job. It's the one who's best prepared for the #interview that day. And here's how you should prepare to be in the top 1% candidate pile- 1. Research the 3 skills they are going to test. - Practice atleast 50 mock interviews with high quality candidates and someone who can give you honest feedback. 2. Research the company like you already work there. - Know the top leadership, their projects and any challenges. Personalize your answers. 3. Prepare 2 personal specific stories that will make you stand out. - Remember to become the most memorable candidate you need to tie your personal stories to your professional goals. **** Questions to ask in the end. 95% candidates ask such generic questions (or worse they don't even ask). Be curious and don't waste this golden opportunity to impress. Here are my top 3- 1. "What made YOU decide to join this company, and what keeps you at it" ? 2. "What differentiates your top performers from the rest" ? 3. "What does success look like in the first 60 days" ? This way you get to show you are not the right candidate but also the best candidate for this role because you are planning 2 steps ahead. Always remember- interviews are not a MONOLOGUE by you. It's a two way #tango. While you both dance to the beat- You're also evaluating them just as much as they are you. We spend 1,00,000 hours of our life at work. So choose a company and boss that aligns with your values and plans. Your career will thank you forever ❤️ .

Last month, I interviewed 5 candidates, and this is how I made my decision about most of them within 5 mins of our conversation. I remember giving my first interview vividly. I was so focused on memorising my qualifications that I forgot to showcase my personality. But now, as a business leader who's conducted countless interviews, I've seen candidates with average resumes get selected over those with brilliant resumes. The difference? It all boils down to how they present themselves. If you are looking to get hired, here are 7 tips that will instantly set you apart in your next interview: 1. Carry a notebook: It shows you're prepared, organised, and ready to take notes. Even if you don't use it, just having it there sends the right message. 2. Smile: A genuine smile can light up the room and make you memorable. It shows enthusiasm and positivity—traits every employer values. 3. Dress to impress: Dressing professionally for that one hour shows respect and commitment. 4. Focus on job requirements: Tailor your responses to the specific needs of the role. Use the exact words from the job description—it shows you've done your homework. 5. Research the company: Know the leadership, understand the business model, and familiarise yourself with the company's mission. 6. Have a compelling answer to "Why us?": Generic answers scream lack of preparation. Be specific about why you want to work for this particular company. 7. Be honest about your weaknesses: Please don't say you "care too much" or that you're "a perfectionist". We all have real weaknesses. I once hired someone based solely on their answer to the weakness question. Their honesty and self-reflection impressed me more than any perfectly polished response could have. What is the most memorable interview experience you've had, either as a candidate or an interviewer, and what did you learn from it? #InterviewTips #CareerAdvice

If I wanted to apply for an internal position and I didn’t know the hiring manager, this is what I would do to stand out. Step 1: Identify the hiring manager using the internal job portal system. Step 2: Calendar a 30 minute meeting directly. Step 3: Position the conversation as a learning opportunity to see if you’d be a good fit before applying. Come prepared with key points about what makes you special to weave into the conversation. Step 4: Orchestrate a strategic conversation so that you can identify their needs and sprinkle in relevant tidbits about yourself. Ask directly for feedback on your experience and fit for the role. Step 5: If interested in the role, wrap up your conversation by letting them know you’ll be applying. If not, then you’ve expanded your network for future opportunities, and it only cost 30 minutes of your time. Win-Win. Why This Works: 1. You’ve cut through the administrative vetting process and put your application on the top of the pile. 2. Hiring managers love initiative and a discovery call is the perfect way to informally interview for a role. 3. Take the insider info you gathered and craft a professional story that elevates your candidacy. Tailor your resume and experiences to meet their needs. 4. You’ve established a line of communication directly. Once you’ve formally applied, send a thank you note with your resume. Repetition allows you to stay top of mind.

🌟 Stand Out in Your Job Search 🌟 As a recruiter, I've had the pleasure of engaging with numerous talented professionals in claims and customer service. I am passionate about helping individuals enhance their interview skills and refine their resumes. Today, I'm excited to share some valuable tips to help you stand out in your job search and leave a lasting impression: 1️⃣ Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume for each job application. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the job description. A targeted resume can make all the difference! 2️⃣ Leverage LinkedIn: Optimize your LinkedIn profile with a professional photo, a strong headline, and detailed descriptions of your experiences. Engage with industry content and connect with professionals in your field. 3️⃣ Prepare for Interviews: Dive deep into researching the company and the specific role you're applying for. Familiarize yourself with common interview questions and craft insightful questions to pose to the interviewer. Anticipate behavioral interview questions and practice responding using the STAR method to effectively showcase your experiences. Demonstrate your enthusiasm and eagerness to make a meaningful contribution. 4️⃣ Network Effectively: Attend industry events, webinars, and networking sessions. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities and provide valuable insights into your desired field. 5️⃣ Follow Up: Send a thank-you email to express your gratitude and reaffirm your interest in the position. A well-crafted follow-up can create a lasting positive impression. If you don't have the interviewer's email address and feel comfortable, consider asking them directly for it. Alternatively, you can request the recruiter to forward your email on your behalf. 6️⃣ Stay Positive and Persistent: Job searching can be challenging, but perseverance pays off. Stay motivated, keep refining your approach, and remember that each step brings you closer to your goal. Remember, your dream job is out there, and with the right strategy, you can make it yours. Wishing you all the best in your job search journey! What are your top job search tips? Share them in the comments below! 👇 #JobSearchTips #CareerAdvice #InterviewPreparation #Networking #ResumeWriting