Tips for a Job Application Refresh

Fall is the perfect opportunity to hit reset and take a fresh approach to your professional materials and job applications. Even if you aren't job searching, wouldn't it be nice to have a set of ready-to-send materials the next time someone asked for information about your background?

If you’re looking to say goodbye to your go-to cover letter, rethink your communication style, or revamp your resume and website, here’s how you can get started. 

Audit your professional materials

Let's start with auditing your materials. Gather your most recent resume, cover letter template, portfolio link, and LinkedIn profile. We'll review each of these in turn depending on the current state of your career.

Resume

Take a look at your resume. What stands out as incorrect, or what simply doesn't matter anymore? It's possible that you wrote certain responsibilities according to the job you once wanted (and maybe now have?), as opposed to the job you currently want. If that's the case, adjust the wording so that your professional growth is clear.

The resume advice your college career services office gave you as a student may have been applicable at that time; as your career progresses, however, your resume can be longer and should focus less on the education section and more on your professional achievements.

If your career path has changed or you want to stress certain aspects of your resume more than others, consider alternatives to a chronological resume. The most recent work you did isn’t necessarily what you want to stand out. 

Have you started managing a direct report? Have you stopped doing a task, or adjusted your role's responsibilities? I find it's helpful to physically print a copy of your resume and take a red pen to paper—scratch out what's wrong, tweak the wording, and make changes online. Voila! A new resume in hand.

Cover letter template

When you’re firing out lots of cover letters, it can be tempting to rely on a handy template that you tweak, just a bit, for every job. But even when you think you’re tailoring each letter, it’s probably not as targeted as you may think.

If you’d like to truly refresh your cover letter, here are a few things to try:

• Try starting a cover letter from scratch without referring to your template. Does what you came up with sound more relevant and authentic? You may also find that your new letter is shorter and more to the point. 
• In my opinion, the top two most important aspects of cover letters are specific examples of how a candidate’s experience relates to a position and commitment to an organization’s mission. Make sure that you specifically relate your achievements to the role for which you’re applying and demonstrate your passion for the organization’s mission.
• Avoid taking too many cues from sample cover letters found online. You may be following outdated styles, often suited to the wrong industry. 

Online presence

Now is also a good time to think about and refine your digital identity. What does your professional image say about who you are as a person, an employee, and a future job candidate? I hope I don't have to remind you that the internet has a long memory, so please be mindful of what you choose to put online.

When reviewing your online portfolio and LinkedIn profile, consider what your goal is for these platforms. Do you want to attract traffic to your blog or professional website, build community on social media, or something else? Plan to create or share content that will support your goal, and remember to keep your sites and profiles fresh with active links and current contact information. 

Swap out older content with projects you completed this year, or review your three-sentence professional summary to make it up to date with who you are now.

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It’s easy to get stuck in old habits and routines, and that can also be the case with the job application process. Plus, it's just a good habit to refresh your professional materials even if you aren't looking for a new role. You may find that taking a fresh approach not only makes the process less tedious, but results in a better response as well.