Quick Fixes That Will Significantly Improve Your Job Search

Quick Fixes That Will Significantly Improve Your Job Search By Nick Kossovan "The devil is in the details" is an idiom highlighting how small details can significantly affect the outcome of something and that attention to detail is the difference between something good and something great. This phrase captures the essence of job search success. A misplaced decimal point on a financial spreadsheet will result in inaccurate reporting. It only takes a minor design flaw to cause a costly recall or safety issues. In personal interactions, eye contact and smiling shape perception. Colour scheme drastically influences the mood of a room or whether you make a fashion statement. Job seekers who meticulously craft their resume, LinkedIn profile, applications, and interview presence will have an edge over those they're competing against. If your resume and LinkedIn profile are full of typos or your voicemail isn't set up, you aren't doing yourself any favours. Misaddressing your interviewer or failing to turn on your camera during a Zoom interview can cost you the job opportunity. When competing against other job seekers just as qualified as you are, some more so, as you are in the current job market, not paying attention to details or your actions will hurt your job search. The most common details overlooked by job seekers: Title your resume file "First Name_Last Name_Resume_Year" [Nick_Kossovan_Resume_2025] This format ensures that your resume is easily recognizable by recruiters and easily searchable in the recruiter's or employer's database, which, I'd ballpark, contains something like 1,689,355 resumes. Save your resume as a PDF file. Saving your resume as a PDF preserves its formatting across all devices, ensuring it appears as you intended, with no changes to margins or layout. Include a link to your LinkedIn profile. Along with your resume prominently displaying your phone number and email address, include a link to your LinkedIn profile.(https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickkossovan/) Make it easy for hiring managers to contact you and to view your LinkedIn profile. The easier you make it for a hiring manager, the more likely they'll consider your candidacy. Proofread relentlessly! Ensure your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile are free of typos and grammatical errors. These documents and your online footprint create your first impression; errors can diminish your credibility and chances of being selected for an interview. Adjust the privacy settings on your social media. Employers will Google you to determine if you're interview-worthy. If you're hired, your new colleagues will also Google you and look you up on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc. To avoid having your social media activity being misconstrued, except for LinkedIn, your privacy settings so only your followers can see your activity. Always dress to impress. You never know who you might encounter when you're out and about, and you only get one chance to make a good first impression. Whether you like it or not, we live in a world where we judge a book by its cover—we assess visual cues—we always have and always will. I've missed out on many possible opportunities because I left my house not looking my best. One time, I was waiting in line at a coffee shop dressed "comfortably" when a friend sitting in a booth called out to introduce me to the COO of a national transportation company he was meeting with. Although the COO was friendly, the introduction didn't lead anywhere; I believe it was due to my lack of credible appearance. Dressing well not only boosts your confidence but also earns you respect. Always carry a pen, a small notebook, and copies of your resume. As I mentioned, you never know who you might meet or whether you'll want to share your contact information or take notes. Having a pen and paper on hand demonstrates that you're prepared (read: on top of your game) and professional. A further step to "being prepared" is always having a few copies of your resume. A few years ago, during an intermission at a community theatre production, I struck up a conversation with a man who, it turned out, was looking for a workforce manager position. Although I didn't have an opening, I knew someone who did. He went to his car, retrieved a copy of his resume, and handed it to me, which I passed along to the person I knew who was searching for a workforce manager. Yes, he got the job. Carefully consider the questions you ask. Voltaire said, "Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers." Your questions during an interview reveal a great deal about you. Steer clear of asking irrelevant or self-serving questions, such as, "How many sick days do you offer?" or, "When will my benefits start?" Instead, inquire about the specific responsibilities, challenges, and goals of the role. Ask questions that demonstrate genuine interest in how you can contribute to the team's success. Lastly, never ask for an expectation! Questions such as "I understand this position requires me to work in the office every day. Is it possible to work from home on Thursdays and Fridays?" will eliminate you from consideration. Succeeding in today's highly competitive job market requires paying close attention to details and your actions. ___________________________________________________________________ Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com