LinkedIn-Centered Strategy
If you've been applying to job boards and getting little traction for your job search, you should strongly consider switching to a LinkedIn-centered strategy.
How I define a LinkedIn-centered strategy:
1. Rewriting your LinkedIn profile so that it positions you for the jobs you want to pursue.
2. Networking with people you'd like to have as future colleagues, supervisors, and allies/advocates.
3. Talking about yourself and your abilities in LinkedIn posts.
4. Leaving comments on the posts of people who contribute to your target industry. (Thought leaders, vendors, and senior leaders.)
The idea is that every time you engage with someone on LinkedIn, you provide value. Value = sharing knowledge, giving useful advice, offering a new way to think about a problem, sharing stories from your career, etc.
After providing value, let the people you engage with know that you're on a job search, and ask them to keep an eye out for any opportunities for you.
This is what I do with my job seekers. It takes a lot of work and a lot of mental energy, and I almost always get pushback on pursuing a LinkedIn-centered strategy.
What's more, it's not enough to just "try" a LinkedIn-centered strategy. The job seekers who benefit the most from LinkedIn are the ones who commit to it.
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Hard work
One of the big frustrations that I hear from job seekers is that they've always been hard workers. They do the work that nobody else wants to do. They stay late or put in extra effort to complete critical tasks.
When it's time for them to start a job search, they feel lost - even cheated - because they don't know how to talk about why employers should hire them.
Their work didn't win them any awards. They received very little recognition for their efforts.
What's more, they feel like they won't be competitive in the job market, because employers won't see their value as hard workers.
"Work harder, not smarter."
"Hard work doesn't guarantee success."
"The reward for hard work isn't a promotion; it's more hard work."
I have a completely different take on the hard work conversation.
Working with job seekers - from all industries and all walks of life - has taught me that there's tremendous value to uncover from people who consider themselves to be hard workers.
1. Their hard work often saves a company from losing customers, dollars, or time.
2. Their hard work often creates new opportunities for their teams - new avenues to explore, or maybe new products or services.
3. Their hard work enables a company to earn more revenue than they would've earned if the extra effort hadn't been made.
What's your take on hard work? Does hard work have value in today's world?
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We made these 3 fixes to his CV
The first time I worked on a job search with a TED speaker, I was taken completely by surprise. During my pharma days, I would spend my lunch breaks watching TED talks with my coworkers. I had a tremendous respect for the organization and for the people who gave these talks.
It's 2019, and I log into my LinkedIn account to see a message from someone whose name I recognized. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I wondered if it might be a fake account, but it wasn't. Here was a TED speaker whom I deeply admired, and he was messaging me for guidance on his job search.
So, I did my best to set aside my star-struck mind, and I put on my career coaching hat, and we talked about what was going on with his search.
He was trying to land a job in California, where he could use his skills to serve product teams in the tech space. He'd applied to countless jobs, and gave each application plenty of time and care, but nobody was calling him.
He was a person who'd been given an award by the prime minister of his country. He had patents and accolades and a talk that was viewed by half a million people. You'd think someone as genuinely impressive as him would be able to land at least one interview, but that wasn't the case.
I asked him to give me his CV, and I studied his LinkedIn profile. These were the fixes that I recommended:
1. I asked him to change his address from the small island where he lived to San Francisco, the city where he wanted to relocate. I asked him if he was willing to move at the drop of a hat should he land his ideal job. He said yes - he had dual citizenship, he was authorized to work in the U.S. I had him change his address on both his CV and LinkedIn profile and specifically write, "Relocating to San Francisco, CA."
2. I asked him to make major changes to his CV and, even better, switch to a 2 or 3-page resume. He gave me pushback, because he was proud of his CV. (And understandably so!) On the first page, he listed every award he'd ever received, including the honor given to him by his prime minister. My argument was that as impressive as his accomplishments were, and as hard as he worked to obtain these accomplishments, they weren't serving him in the way he thought they were.
3. I asked him to take his experience in building products and platforms and place it all on page 1 of his resume. I wanted him to think like the teams he was hoping to work with. What exactly would these people care about? What skills, abilities, and knowledge did he have that would actually bring value to his future teams? These were all page 1 items. Everything else could go on subsequent pages.
The result? Not even 30 days after our Zoom call, he and his wife were packing their bags and moving to their new residence in Central California, signed job offer in hand.
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The Resume Writer Program
If you've been following me for some time, you know that I never planned on becoming a resume writer.
10 years ago, I wrote resumes as a small side-hustle while I worked as a bench scientist in the pharmaceutical industry. I had no idea where this work was going to take me.
Today, I'm a full-time, fully self-employed resume writer. I serve new graduates to senior leaders across all major industries. My job seekers come to me from North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. My clients have included city council representatives, TED/TEDx speakers, Chiefs of Party, and C-level executives.
I have a big question that I want to ask you:
Have you ever wanted to become a resume writer?
- Maybe you completed a professional resume writer certification course (PARW/CC, NRWA), but you stopped pursuing your goal after finishing the test.
- Or maybe you have a background in hiring or recruiting, and you want to leverage your expertise to help job seekers on their journeys.
- Or maybe you just love working on job searches. They're challenging, and often frustrating, but cracking the code is what you enjoy doing more than anything.
NEW: The Resume Writer Program
I'm taking applications for a 3-month container to help new resume writers build a profitable and reliable business from the ground up.
Every day for 90 days, we'll work together to build a business that's custom, specific, and intentionally designed for the job seekers you want to serve.
I'm giving you my entire framework to make it happen, to build out your website, products/services, LinkedIn profile, and marketing.
I will be there as you land your first group of premium clients.
2025 Application Link: gabrielleturmelle.com/the-resume-writer-program
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Don’t dismiss your human voice
I don't think I'll ever be able to recommend using AI for job searches.
One of my newest customers gave me two copies of his resume: one from last year that he wrote from scratch, and one he designed using ChatGPT.
The resume from last year was actually pretty solid. I could hear my customer's voice as I read the document. I could get a sense of his expertise - his critical thinking skills, his ability to break down situations and troubleshoot at each stage. His content was data-rich with metrics I'd expect to see from a CAD engineer. My only heartache was that the resume was messy, and very much needed to be organized, with a few sections rewritten for easier understanding.
The second resume was upsetting. ChatGPT took a resume with character and substance and turned it into something bland and confusing. All the original logic was gone.
I could easily see a hiring decision-maker reading this version and scratching their head, asking, "Is this guy a real engineer, or is he a bot?"
What's more upsetting is that he'd been using this resume almost exclusively. He'd applied to just a few positions with his original resume before deciding that it wasn't any good, so he fed it to ChatGPT.
My takeaway for job seekers?
1. Don't dismiss your human voice and your human reasoning skills.
2. Avoid the AI bandwagon if your job search isn't gaining immediate traction.
3. Instead of thinking there's something wrong with you/your resume, ask if something else is going on.
(E.g., looking disorganized, lacking clarity/focus, discounting networking/low-hanging fruit, having no online presence, writing "see resume" on applications, etc.)
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Stretching the truth on a resume
This might sound like common sense, but when you go to write your resume, make sure that each sentence you write is true.
True means accurate and defendable. If you spoke the sentence out loud, you could do so confidently, without wavering.
If you try to stretch the truth on a resume, it's likely that a hiring decision-maker will spot the stretch, especially if they've been working in the industry for a long time.
If you get caught stretching the truth during a job interview, it could cost you the job.
I'm sure this isn't a fun post to read, especially if you're a job seeker.
I've worked with many job seekers who have felt pressured to stretch the truth on their resumes.
And I fully understand why they felt the need to do so, without judgment. This is a tough job market, and the pressure to stand out is tremendous.
But as you read this post, I want my message to sink in as deeply as possible:
If you stretch the truth, and if the reader of your resume suspects that you're stretching the truth, you won't be granted an interview.
If you can't speak about your resume's content confidently and unwaveringly during the interview, you won't land the job.
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I wrote today's post with the full blessing of one of my newest clients. I'm genuinely thankful that she feels comfortable with me writing about this topic, because it's not an easy thing to dig into.
My client has been stretching the truth on her resumes and applications, and she's been doing it for a long time. Last week, she got caught during a panel interview. The interviewers' feedback was so strong that she finally felt compelled to reach out for help.
This week, we're going to work together on fully rewriting her resume. Every line will be accurate and defendable.
If you're in a similar situation to my client's, and if you need help rewriting your resume, send me a message today.
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The best resumes are tactical and inspirational
There are so many resources available on how to write a resume. But very few teach you how to move a reader to take action.
When I write resumes, I keep these 3 goals at the forefront of my mind:
- I want to guide the reader's eye across the page, so they stay engaged with my client's career story.
- I want to dig into the reader's mind and heart, so that my client becomes the most memorable candidate.
- I want to get the reader excited about responding back - with a phone call, an email, or a LinkedIn message.
The best resumes are tactical and inspirational. They highlight our highest achievements. And they make the reader covet those achievements for their own organization.
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I chat with my job seekers daily
Every day, I chat with my job seekers in the DMs.
They send me job postings they want to apply to and ask me to look them over.
They have me revise their resumes and cover letters to align with the job postings.
They have interviews lined up for the following week. They ask for my tips and advice.
This level of access and customized support is why my job seekers choose to work with me.
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The way you market yourself
The way you market yourself should always be top of mind during a job search.
A big aspect of marketing is showcasing yourself as a solution: to the companies you’re targeting, to their hiring teams, and to your future supervisor.
When you begin brainstorming ways on how to be seen as a solution, start by thinking about your specific profession.
If you understand your profession's pain points, and if you can speak to how you personally solve those pain points, the hiring world will pay attention.
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Before we start a new project
Before we start a new project, I tell my job seekers to choose the resume package that aligns best with their needs:
- Do they just need a resume?
- Do they need a cover letter as well, or LinkedIn profile editing?
- How about interview practice sessions? Do they need full access to my calendar?
Every resume package in my store includes:
- Unlimited resume revisions for 30 days.
- Guidance for interviews and salary negotiations.
- Messaging access to me for any questions throughout the duration of the job search.
I have strong beliefs about giving my clients everything they need to have an outstanding job search.
I take care of my clients. 💪
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The same problem
I work with new graduates to senior leaders across all major industries.
Many of my clients come to me with an impressive list of achievements.
They’ve worked at leading companies in their respective industries.
They’ve built products and led programs that have changed the market landscape.
Some of my clients have held prestigious titles. They were city council representatives, TED/TEDx speakers, Chiefs of Party, or C-level executives.
All of them had the same problem:
They didn’t know how to market themselves on their resumes.
If you don’t know how to write about yourself or your achievements on a resume, you’re far from being alone.
This is a common and perfectly normal problem that even the world’s highest performers experience.
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I choose not to use AI
I choose not to use AI with anything I write, especially with my resumes and cover letters.
I didn't make this choice out of a dislike of AI. I'm also not worried about AI "coming to take my job" - actually, I think the opposite.
I'm convinced that down the road, my choice to never use AI will become my greatest strength in the marketplace.
The job seekers I work with now already value my resumes for being custom-made and highly specific to their needs.
Every resume I create is strategic. From the very first sentence, I craft each document intentionally, in full alignment with my job seeker’s desired outcomes.
The skills I offer can't be duplicated by AI, no matter how intelligent the software. 💪
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Don’t give away your power
Salary negotiations begin long before you receive your offer letter.
Your job application, followed closely by your resume, sets the foundation for the salary you’ll be offered by hiring decision-makers.
Your interview, and the way you present yourself, will tell hiring decision-makers where to shift that salary in the range.
Complacency, cautiousness, and self-deprecation will prevent you from earning the higher salaries you dream about.
Giving away your power and downplaying your achievements will hurt your ability to negotiate for better.
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Never write “see resume” on your job application
I strongly advise that you never write "see resume" in any area of your job application.
Hiring team members have been known to reject applications that use "see resume" without reviewing them.
Even if you're an outstanding candidate and check off every box on the job posting, you could lose out on your chance to interview.
Don't throw away your opportunities by writing "see resume" instead of answering your application questions.
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Examples of posts that job seekers can write on LinkedIn
Posting on LinkedIn can be a little intimidating if you're a job seeker.
It's not always easy to put yourself out there, in front of your network, and talk about yourself.
If this is your first time posting, a tip that I like to recommend is writing about the topics you'd typically cover in an interview.
Day 1: Introduce yourself.
- "Hello to my new connections! I'm Gabby, a scientist and project manager. I've been working in the pharmaceutical industry for over 7 years."
- Add a photo or headshot to the post. (Optional step, but highly encouraged!)
Day 2: Talk about your strengths.
- Intermix your strengths with an accomplishment that goes with them.
- "I've worked on award-winning marketing campaigns for the Fortune 500. I was invited to speak at Social Media Marketing World in 2024."
Day 3: Why should companies hire you?
- "As a member of your organization, I can..."
- What problems could you solve for the companies that hire you? What do you bring to the table?
Day 4: Q&A
- Invite your network to interact with you. Let them give you your next set of post topics.
- "Hello, network! I'm creating a mini-Q&A. What questions do you have for me? What can I tell you about myself?"
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The job market is too saturated
Saying that the job market is too saturated is the most disempowering statement a job seeker can make.
I can guarantee that you bring value that no other professional can bring to the industry you serve.
You hold unique insights and distinctive achievements that could easily set you apart in the job market.
You have a story that nobody else can tell.
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Having a tough job search? Use this list to troubleshoot
Below, I've made a list of 20 things I look for when a job seeker is having a tough job search.
If you want to stand out to your future employers, save this list.
20 things I look for:
A well-organized resume with a clear structure, pattern, and flow.
A resume with an intentional design - something that draws my eye across the page.
An attractive resume - a document that looks inviting, something I'd actually want to read.
A resume that gives me a clear picture of who you are, from just the top 1/3 of the page.
A resume that makes me want to keep reading after scanning the top 1/3 of the page.
A value proposition that's desirable: a strong and valid reason why a team would want you as a member.
A value proposition that both a technical and non-technical person can understand with little effort.
Keywords that make sense for the job you're after.
Keywords that don't overpower the page, i.e. keyword stuffing.
A work experience section with accomplishments, achievements, value-adds, and metrics.
Work experience that makes me envious - I want to think, "How can I get this person to do these exact same things for my own company?"
An education or education-equivalent section that makes sense for the job you're after.
Additional qualifications that add to your resume - nothing that's distracting.
Any areas across your resume where I'm scratching my head and asking, "Why is this here?"
A resume that tells your story so well that a cover letter shouldn’t be necessary.
Cover letters that serve as deep-dives - they give detail/clarification if a reader wanted to learn more.
Cover letters that harmonize with the resume - again, nothing that's distracting.
An online presence and/or LinkedIn profile that harmonizes with the resume - consistency is key if we want to build trust.
A job search strategy that makes sense: if you've applied to 300 jobs, and nobody has called you, then your strategy needs to evolve.
Proof that you've invested in your career path: networks, connections, affiliations, certifications. How are you tied to the profession/industry that you'd like to join? Where is evidence that you've invested in the profession/industry?
Bonus 21. Any evidence of AI being used.
As a strict rule, I never use AI-generated content on my resumes, cover letters, or LinkedIn profiles. Hiring decision-makers don’t like to read AI. They continually express on LinkedIn that they don’t like job seekers using AI in any area of their job application.
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Do hiring decision-makers see you as a safe bet?
A couple of things that have been on my mind today:
1. Hiring decision-makers often check a potential candidate's LinkedIn profile before extending an interview.
They'll almost always look at your photo first, headline second, summary third, and work history at the bottom of the page. Then they'll look at the types of posts you've written.
2. It's always worthwhile to make sure that your job applications and resumes harmonize with your LinkedIn profile. But it's also worthwhile to look through your posts, comments, and reshares.
Are you confrontational on the feed? Hiring decision-makers can see your comment history and the way you engage with others.
Are you bringing a strong political lean to your posts? The companies you're applying to might heavily discourage any politics at work, and your posts could be sending up a red flag.
Are you positive, friendly, and/or neutral? Do you display emotional intelligence in your writing?
Will hiring decision-makers see you as a safe bet? Or are you coming across as a risk that's not worth pursuing?
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What I’ve been up to
I remember writing my last post to you all in March. And then a year went by.
Everything is still going well! I had a very busy 2022. It's looking like 2023 will be the same.
What I've been up to:
- I'm still a full-time resume writer and career coach. I spend half of my time with clients on LinkedIn. The other half is spent with clients on Fiverr Pro.
- I've been working away in my "cave" for the past year. I'm writing a book and working on an online course. I'm mentoring other resume writers and career coaches.
- I was invited to work with the Fiverr Business platform, and very recently, I was invited to work with Stoke Talent (acquired by Fiverr). This opens up my services to a wider audience - these are exciting times!
I'm still loving Florida. There are mornings when I wake up, look at the palm trees outside my window, and can't believe that I live here.
I don't leave the house as often as I'd like, but I'm working on that!
I hope you all have been doing well!
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Become a beacon
If you've been going through a particularly tough job search - and you just aren't seeing the results that you know you should see with your background and expertise - it might be time to change up how you're playing the game.
I'm the person job seekers go to when they've tried everything in their power to land an interview: applying to hundreds of jobs, making every strategic edit possible on their resume, and yet being rejected constantly by hiring managers and recruiters without ever knowing why.
If you feel like you have a relatively good grasp on your job search, and you just need a resume writer to polish up your document, then I might not be the right choice for you. ;)
While I can polish a resume as well as any resume writer, my talents are in helping job seekers actually land their desired job roles - and with companies that will pay them exactly what they should be making.
How do we make this happen?
- Rather than just positioning you as the best person for the job, we take it one step further.
- We make you highly desirable to hiring managers and recruiters - appealing to their biggest needs and private wants from a job candidate - which often isn't explicitly asked for in the job posting.
- Now, you're not just standing out from the crowd - you've become a beacon, and you're attracting hiring decision-makers to you.
Job seekers: what are you doing to make yourself highly desirable to hiring managers and recruiters?
What could you bring to the table that would alleviate their pain points?
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