The 2016 presidential election is certainly a crazy one. Whether you hate both candidates or love one of them, everyone is discussing about politics online.
However, if you’re currently looking for a job, is it really a good idea to publish your political opinions online?
Next time you’re about to comment on an article or post a rant about a candidate’s campaign, check your words against these tips to make sure your social presence won’t get in the way of you landing your next job.
We’re not pointing any fingers, but even US House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan is suggesting that a certain presidential candidate clean up his social media behavior.
It’s very easy to lash out when you get in a comment war with an internet troll, but before you respond with a choice four-letter words ask yourself: Would a hiring manager want to see this? Take the high road, there are more job opportunities up there.
It’s almost impossible to find an article covering the presidential campaign that is 100% unbiased. However, if you’re going to put your name out there publicly, try and stick to the facts.
Want to post on Facebook about a recent debate? Use actual quotes to reference what a candidate said. Writing a blog post about your candidate of choice? Write about their policies.
It’s a free country and you’re allowed to say whatever you want, but that doesn’t mean you have to pen an offensive or aggressive blog post to feel like your voice is heard.
Knowledge is power, as the expression goes. Don’t go on a Twitter rant unless you actually know what you’re talking about.
You wouldn’t go into an interview without researching a company, would you? (The answer is “no.”) Don’t post about the campaign unless you’ve done your research. This means using reliable sources, reading multiple articles, and truly having an understanding on the topic before publishing your opinion online.
We’ll make this one short: Don’t post about politics on LinkedIn. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. are all personal platforms designed for you to share your life with the community.
LinkedIn is strictly a professional network. If you wouldn’t say it in a job interview or in a cover letter, don’t post it on LinkedIn.
We get it: You want your voice to be heard. Reading comments and articles that go against your political views can be frustrating, even infuriating. but that doesn’t mean you always have to respond.
Sometimes the best way to discuss politics is to do it all offline. Wait until you’re with friends or family that understand who you are and where you’re coming from in case the conversation gets a little too heated.
Hiring managers know nothing about you besides the information they’re given. Next time you want to voice your opinion online ask yourself: Is it really worth it to risk your job just to prove a point on Facebook?
Getting your foot in the door and climbing the ladder in media can be a challenge: The industry is always changing, career paths can be ambiguous and social media never sleeps.
To help you find your way, and learn by example, we’re talking to real, live media pros with a few years under their belts. Our Advice from the Pros series will give you real-world insights and advice you can apply to your job search, job interview, and, when you land your next gig, on the job too.
When you’re ready to take a look at what the current media landscape has for you, check out our job board.
Though you may not know Nefertiti Anderson, if you’re a regular Mediabistro user, you know her work. A native New Yorker, Anderson, is Mediabistro’s marketing coordinator, a job she’s held for a year; she’s charged not only with keeping our marketing department running with clock-like precision, but also bringing creativity and energy to our social media campaigns.
Anderson is also a brand strategist and video correspondent who spends her downtime interviewing young, accomplished professionals in creative fields. She started her Path Less Traveled Series, which she posts on YouTube, in 2014 after being laid off; within a year, the series netted a radio deal offer, syndication on a career website, and press coverage.
How’d she get in her current position, and how’s she getting herself ready for the next stage of her career? Read on. (And look for her on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.)
What was your first job? And your first real job?
My first job was at an elementary school, where I was a custodial aid. My first real job was at my alma mater, Adelphi University, where I worked as a social media correspondent. It was a position that didn’t exist before; as a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in communications, I couldn’t find a job in my field, so instead of waiting for someone to give me an opportunity, I created my own and pitched the idea of this new role. My responsibilities included on-site reporting, filming and editing of major career- related events and programs at the university, as well as social media management.
What did you do to stand out when applying for your current job?
One of my unique selling points is that I’m already an established brand, and the primary demo of my audience just so happens to be the demo that Mediabistro’s trying to reach (millennials). An untapped opportunity that I communicated and have now resolved is the company’s presence on Instagram. The vision for my five-year trajectory in this role includes implementation of a brand ambassador program so people in high school and college can learn about our services in the early stages of their career planning.
Is this where you always thought you’d end up?
My career has had its share of curveballs but I live by the motto “everything that happens to you happens for you.” Ultimately, I would like to have my own nationally syndicated talk show. Everything that I go through, planned or not, gives me the tools I need to reach that goal and have career longevity.
What made you want to pursue this role?
I like to help others bridge the gap between setting goals and reaching them. My position allows me to do that, not just within the company, but also with its social media audience.
What about your job gets you excited to jump out of bed every morning? What about the job makes you want to hide under the sheets?
I’ve loved the opportunity to conceive and spearhead company firsts, including our #MBJobChat Twitter chat and Instagram presence. I do not love it when everything becomes a “priority.”
What’s your favorite thing about working at your company?
Besides the benefits and office space? I really love the team bonding, such as trips to the U.S. Open, happy hour on the water at Pier 66 and themed parties in our big office kitchen.
How do you stay on top of trends in your field?
I’m always on social media so naturally, that’s the first place that I get my news. Some of the accounts that I follow to stay inspired and in the know are @heragenda, @emmeliedelacruz, @mattieologie and @balleralert. I get my industry news using Feedly, a news aggregator app. Some of my favorite outlets/publications to read are Fast Company, Inc., Entrepreneur, The Buffer Blog, Mashable and the Hollywood Reporter.
What are you reading and/or watching right now?
I’m reading Make Yourself Marketable by Emmelie De La Cruz, and I watch everything Shonda Rhimes makes—besides Grey’s Anatomy.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about marketing and social media?
The biggest misconception that people have about marketing is that social media is optional, both as a platform and as a skill. You can’t just put your head down, do your work and succeed. Marketing is a very social role. Digital and people skills are required.
What skills should a job seeker have when applying for a marketing or social media role?
You have to know how to measure social analytics and write really good copy. And it helps to have project management skills too.
What advice would you give to someone looking to break into this field?
Do the job that you wish to get in the future, today. You no longer need to wait for others to give you an opportunity. Do what you can, with what you have. It shows initiative, it will help you hone your skills, and by the time you get the opportunity you’ve been hoping for, you’ll be ready for it.
What tips do you have for those seeking mentorships?
Get your feet wet first. Clarity comes from movement. Your mentors can only help you as much as you’re willing to help yourself. Have an idea of what you want to do, why you want to do it, and how they can help.
Check out our job board for openings in digital media, marketing and social media.
You leave your interview thinking you really brought it home. You even catch happy hour to celebrate. Then, you get the email stating the company has moved on with their search… even though you were a ‘strong candidate.’
You wonder, “what went wrong?” The truth is, you may never know. Sometimes there was an internal candidate all along, and other times you did something seemingly small that immediately killed your chances of landing the gig.
Without being too hard on yourself, take a look at these things that may have cost you the job. Then buck up and get back to the job boards.
You may have crushed the interview, but your online presence could be the thing that caused you to get passed over.
Hiring managers are known for running backdoor reference checks—Google searches, scanning your LinkedIn, and more—to thoroughly vet a candidate, says David Blacker, managing principal of digital marketing agency Venerate Media Group.
And while a few online pics of you partying is one way to lose credibility, Blacker says another thing to look out for is being overly obnoxious on your social chanels.
“We’ve empowered a society of digital engagements, which is great because it gives everyone a voice,” says Blacker. “But it’s also bad because the younger generation isn’t cognizant of what may result from their digital actions.”
For next time: Make sure your social channels are not only clean of party pictures and anything else risqué, but that your online conversations and political or social views don’t turn people away—especially hiring managers.
2. You Sounded Too Rehearsed
This one’s a little tough to hear, but sometimes relying too much on your pre-planned responses can work against you.
Repeating rehearsed answers can make it sound like you’re simply going through the motions, says Amy Medieros, marketing manager at internet tech startup BroadbandSearch.net: “You aren’t expressing your personality or giving yourself the opportunity to adapt to the environment and the interviewer’s personality.”
Ray Beharry, head of marketing at Pollfish, agrees: “[N]o one wants to be fed a line in an interview, any more than they would want to hear a ‘pickup line’ at a bar.”
For next time: In order to keep the interview authentic and unscripted, draw from past experiences, speaking from the heart about your values as they relate to the company’s mission.
In every interview, you want to appear confident. But sometimes too much confidence can come off as arrogance. And nobody likes a show-off.
“Arrogance can be spotted from a mile away,” says Beharry. “Arrogant people come in with an attitude, don’t show any active listening skills and want to lecture or preach to show their seniority to the interviewer or another candidate.”
For next time: Remember to be confident, yet humble. Maintain self-awareness, humility and Beharry says, “suggest wisdom that can help the interviewer ascertain your true value and potential impact to the organization.”
“No one comes back from an interview thinking ‘That candidate has impressive credentials, but man were they arrogant! I think we should hire them anyway,’” Beharry adds.
You could be the smartest person on your trivia team, and even the brightest candidate in the running, but a few missteps in your phrasing can completely work against your perceived intelligence.
The way you speak in an interview is a good indication of how you communicate in business overall. “You don’t want a candidate that is going to say ‘like’ and ‘um’ to clients,” says Medieros.
And while this may be a tough pill to swallow—since it’s an interview and you’re just nervous, c’mon!—it’s how many hiring managers roll.
For next time: Interviewers want to see how you can represent their brand to clients; take your time speaking clearly and concisely, without the “likes” and “ums.”
And if these filler words are a big problem for you, consider enlisting a friend to run a mock interview, counting the number of times you use those trouble words. For a full list of trouble phrases, check out this piece on words that make you sound less smart.
You nailed every interview question and asked incredible follow-ups, but think about it: Were you and the hiring manager just not clicking? If so, this difference in personalities may have been your reason for getting passed over.
Incompatibility is out of your control, and can be a blessing. After all, you two would be working together at least 40 hours a week, and, as Blacker says, “you don’t want to have an ‘oil and water’ mixture that is toxic.”
For next time: Keep being you. Don’t diminish your personality or act the part just to get the job. Of course, it’s important to remain professional and confident in an interview, but if you and the company’s culture are polar opposites, it’s better to know sooner than later.
Don’t get down. There are many jobs on the board. Keep at it and you’ll be sure to find something that sticks.
What is half analytical, half creative and all digital? A digital sales planner! If this sounds like something you want to do (we know it does), check out what an expert has to say about digital sales planner jobs—and then get ready to hit the job board and say hello to your new career.
A digital sales planner manages all phases of the pre- and post-sale digital campaign process, including creating media plans, gathering campaign assets and optimizing campaigns.
Responsibilities include responding to requests for proposals and managing proposal development; recommending ad placements and content channels based on client’s campaign objectives; researching user data and audience metrics; analyzing market trends; and working with the sales team to manage and pursue new business opportunities.
Amanda McLernon, digital strategy director at Bauserman Group, an advertising agency, breaks down her job into three main parts: First, she meets with clients to determine their objectives and decides if a digital marketing campaign will work.
Then she works with media buyers to put together a plan that maximizes the client’s budget and meets campaign objectives. Finally, once the campaign goes live, she monitors and analyzes the digital placements to determine if the campaign is performing well and meets regularly with the client to ensure satisfaction.
Her day-to-day to-do list usually includes, among other things, going over Google Analytics data to show clients the impact of a campaign and meeting with media buyers to review click-through rates, landing pages and other campaign metrics.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to dissect raw data, are a must. You should be able to draw conclusions from the data and provide recommendations.
“If you don’t understand how to analyze data, you’ll never be able to make strategic digital plans,” says McLernon. “Although the media buyer is making the placements, in most cases, it is still the digital sales planner’s job to ensure that the overall plan is effective.”
Digital marketing is constantly changing, so the ability to research something and learn about it quickly is essential. You have to be able to stay ahead of the curve in terms of trends, says McLernon.
You also need good communication skills to work with a broad range of clients as well as internal team members to ensure everyone understands the expectations. You should be able to clearly convey to your colleagues what the client wants and communicate to the client what your agency can deliver.
This varies according to company size and structure. A digital sales planner may report directly to the owner at a smaller organization and to a sales or marketing executive at a larger organization.
You need a firm grasp of the digital landscape, including what platforms work best for certain goals, says McLernon. You won’t stand out if you don’t really understand how the dots connect. (Well, you might, but probably for the wrong reasons.)
Strong computer skills, especially Microsoft Access and Excel, familiarity with customer relationship management software such as Salesforce and the ability to set and manage client expectations will also help you knock this job out the park.
Get a degree in business, marketing or advertising and intern at an advertising agency or any company that manages digital media, says McLernon.
You can also find a company that will let you manage its advertising on social media. Reach out to a small company or a startup and make an offer it can’t refuse: pro bono work to benefit it, and you.
You’re at the part in the interview process where it’s time to talk money.
While salary negotiations are never fun, they are important to know how to do well: You only talk money for a new job once, and when it’s set, there’s nothing much you can do until your next review period.
To find out how to land on a number that makes you happy, we looked to Quora to see what the business pros had to say.
“In terms of negotiation strategies, I would encourage you to think about what you want, but perhaps more importantly, why you think you deserve it.” —Andy Barton
Understanding your value and what you can bring to the company are huge points of leverage. The company is looking for a solid investment; make sure they understand how you’d help them see returns.
“Ask—and then stop talking. While it may be stressful to wait for an answer after you’ve made your pitch for a higher salary, staying quiet and confident as you wait can be more effective than nervously chattering on or following up too soon.” —Pooja Parikh
One of the biggest mistakes inexperienced negotiators make is they don’t welcome the silence in the room—or in the email. If you conducted your salary research and presented your value, then the only thing to do is wait.
Don’t follow up on that email after no response for a day or two, and if you’re in the room or on the phone with the hiring manager, don’t jump in with a lower offer after a moment of silence. There’s an old saying: He who speaks first loses.
“Plan, prepare, persist and be patient. Otherwise you could be leaving money on the table…” —Chrissie Mayes
In order to get the most out of a salary negotiation, planning and preparation are key. Before you talk money, be familiar with the salaries in your field and your geographical location in order to bring the most objective information to the deal.
After an offer arises, persist with the negotiations until you’re satisfied (within reason). And, again, be patient! Don’t let any radio silence from hiring managers throw you off your game.
“Never start negotiating salary until they say they want you, and then don’t be afraid to ask high! If they have gone through their procedure and want to hire you, they are not going to dump you on the spot for asking high. At worst, you can negotiate.” —Joshua Fox
Once they say they want you, the ball’s in your court. With any offer you throw out, HR is more than likely going to come back with a counter-offer. Give a number high enough to fall into your acceptable range after the counter: If $50K is the lowest you’ll take, ask for $55K.
“Make yourself indispensable. Like in Godfather, make the recruiter ‘an offer he/she can’t refuse.’” —Deepak Mehta
Chances are you have a strong—some might say indispensable—skillset; you just need to learn how to market it. If you do a good job expressing what makes you uniquely qualified to fill the role, you’ll have more leverage when the time comes to talk money.
One great way to become indispensable and up your value? Gain in-demand knowledge in skills like Web Analytics and Project Management Methodologies.
You’ve got a great story. But is it personal essay material, the kind editors might actually pay you money to publish? Editors from top outlets weigh in on what it takes to get your essay out of their inbox and into print. Here are the essential elements:
A static story is a boring story, and that’s the opposite of what editors want to see in your pitch or your final draft. “An essay has to have movement in it,” Owen Thomas, editor of The Christian Science Monitor’s The Home Forum, says. “It has to go somewhere; there has to be a journey of some kind. It cannot be mere nostalgia or mere description.”
If you’re stuck on the plot, try asking yourself what kind of personal change your experience effected for you, advises Jennifer Bleyer, who selects pieces for Psychology Today‘s Two-Minute Memoir section. She wants to see a well-structured transformation, complete with a beginning, a middle and an end.
Our editors are unanimous in this. They want something they haven’t seen before, but also something that gels with the work they’ve already published.
“Most of the submissions I get seem to be from women,” says Bleyer, who seeks out writers with a different point of view—people of color, non-Americans, LGBT writers, elderly writers and men.
The ideal story, though, is something you can’t put a finger on but that comes from a writer’s unique perspective. “I’m always looking for the piece that surprises me, the one I didn’t know to ask for,” says Thomas who is particularly interested in hearing from young adults and writers from different racial backgrounds.
In your personal essay, a goal should be to present a new take on what everyone’s already talking about.
“I am always excited to publish essays that show an unexplored aspect of a topic that’s been discussed a lot,” says Narratively features editor Lilly O’Donnell, who points to a recent piece by a writer who had worked as a stripper and a topless housecleaner and enjoyed herself while doing it.
“It totally turned the idea of sex-worker-as-victim on its head,” says O’Donnell. “It was a fun, lighthearted read, and added some new depth to the conversation.”
When you’re developing a personal essay idea, everyday occurrences can be a great place to start. Why? Because everyone knows what it feels like to ride in awkward silence in an elevator or to get trapped in conversation with a cashier when all you want to do is grab your bag of Krispy Kreme donuts and book it.
Stories told and points made through universal experiences are engaging, relevant and memorable—everything editors want your piece to be. “Any situation that’s explored with empathy, intelligence, humor and humility can make for a great essay, no matter how small the moment,” says Daniel Jones, editor of The New York Times’ Modern Love column.
Jones points to a story called “Finding Forgiveness in a Ziploc,” by Jane Hamilton. “She mined a moment at a TSA checkpoint, where her husband’s fussing was irritating her, into an essay for Modern Love that explored everything that is awful and wonderful about marriage,” For Jones, that was an easy one to greenlight.
Any common experience can be an exciting and pivotal moment in a personal essay if the writer does the work of tying it into the bigger picture. “Go ahead and write a detailed scene about mowing your lawn,” says O’Donnell, “if you were mowing your lawn when you realized your marriage was falling apart.”
Editors can easily name topics they’ve seen a zillion times… and aren’t keen to see again unless you’re bringing something new and different to the table. How awful your job was? How awesome your first dog was? It’s been done.
“There are certain experiences that are at once extremely difficult, and even traumatic, and very, very common,” Bleyer says, referring to such life-changing and painful events as a parent’s death or a partner’s infidelity. “It really takes a lot to make an essay about any of these subjects stand out.”
While your essay might be meaningful to you, you have to step into the shoes of the average reader and consider what will make him care about your thousand-word story. “The key question to ask about every idea you have,” says O’Donnell, is ‘So what?’”
“The average reader doesn’t care about you or whatever crazy thing that happened to you,” says O’Donnell. Rather, readers want that crazy thing that happened to you to “illuminate something about their own life.”
Finding the point of a piece—particularly a deeply personal one—is a high-wire act in humanity. “We published a beautiful piece recently by a woman whose husband died, discussing the secret language of inside jokes and references that died with him,” O’Donnell says. “The writer made the piece not just about her and her husband, but about this bigger idea of the language shared by two people who are close, and how that’s just one more thing to miss when a loved one dies.”
With these elements in mind, you’ll be better prepared to pitch your personal essay—and see it shared with a mass audience.
Brittany Taylor is a freelance writer. Find her on the Web at brittanymtaylor.com.
The 2016 Rio Olympics are here. And since a job search sometimes feels like it could be an Olympic sport in itself, now’s the time to see if your job seeking skills are medal-worthy.
Looking for a job takes the all-around mastery of a decathlete, the endurance of a marathoner, the follow-through of a tennis star, the agility of a gymnast and the ability to keep going, even when the competition seems too tough.
And while there’s no official medal ceremony, winning at the job search means getting the best prize of all: a new gig that’s just the one for you.
So let the games begin: Take our quiz below and see what you’ll take home. Will you land the gold? The silver? The bronze?
There’s only one way to find out: Ready, set, go!
We know your weekends are for rest and relaxation, but your time off is also the best time to set your career goals back on track.
Take some time this weekend to read the career content you may have missed during your busy work week so you can stay on top of all you want to accomplish for yourself and your job this year.
15 Go-To Ways to Describe Yourself in a Job Interview: Because you know your next interview will involve the question How would you describe yourself? here is a handful of reliable ways to do it.
What Does a Digital Sales Planner Do?: Bone up on your research and analysis skills, and your ability to spot promising opportunities, to score this in-demand role.
Get the Salary You Deserve With These Smart Tips: So you’ve gotten the job offer, and now it’s all about money. Land on a number that makes you happy with this expert advice.
What Editors Want in Your Personal Essay: Think you can get your first-person piece published? Here’s what editors want to see in your pitch.
Managing Editor Jobs to Apply to Right Now: With these brand-new managing editor jobs available on our job board, the time is right to make your move into a new ME job.
10 Digital Skills Every Media Pro Needs to Master: Whether you’re looking for a new job or looking to up your game in your current gig, you’ll want to hone up on the top digital skills of the moment.
How I Turned an Internship Into My First Full-Time Editorial Gig: Adweek web editor Aneya Fernando gives tips on proving your value during internships to climb the ladder of your career.
Attract Better Candidates By Making the Job Listing All About Them: Want to get those qualified candidates flooding you with applications? Here’s how to do it: by telling prospective employees what’s in it for them.
Watch Out for These Too-Easy Interview Mistakes: Look out for these faux-pas that can scuttle your chances of getting an offer.
Are You a Gold-Medal Job Seeker?: To mark the Rio games, here’s your chance to test your job-search mettle.
Public Relations Jobs to Apply to Right Now: Hey, PR pros: Now’s the time to move up to the next level of your career with one of these public relations job openings, available right now on our job board.
7 Social Media Skills Every Media Pro Needs to Master: Whether you’re a social media professional, a job-seeker searching for a social media job or a media professional looking to leverage social, here’s what you need to know to get ahead.
Study the Job Listing to Get—and Ace—the Interview: Here’s how to scan the job description for details to help you personalize your resume, write an on-point cover letter and kill it in the interview.
If you’re in full job search mode, you may be freaking out about how to present yourself to an employer in a cover letter or email query, let alone the interview. But the biggest clue about what a hiring manager wants is right in front of you: The job listing.
That’s right. The job description is filled with details that can help you personalize your resume, craft a killer cover letter and slay the interview. Here’s what to look for:
The job title itself is often enough to inspire ways to make your resume stand out. For example, if you’re seeking a role as a video producer, what better way to showcase those video skills than by developing a video resume or cover letter. The key is to make the video more than a simple recitation of your skills. Can you say boring?
According to Lisa Copeland, a workplace expert at The Culture Works specializing in culture, engagement, leadership and teamwork, a simple one-minute video explaining your excitement to be considered to work for the company, is sure to make a positive impression.
“In video form, it’s much easier to talk about why you are the perfect candidate and why you want to join the team,” says Copeland.
The responsibilities section is usually a bulleted itemization of what your day-to-day will look like. So here’s your chance to show the employer you’ve mastered similar duties.
“Consider how you can show on your resume that you will be able to take on the tasks and responsibilities that are being described,” says James Reed, author of 101 Job Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again and chairman of Reed, a UK-based recruitment service. “Pull out adjectives and phrases you can echo in the skills section of your resume—avoid copying them verbatim, though, as this can be too obvious.”
It’s also important to use your cover letter or interview to tell a story about an instance where you did such-and-such.
If one of the job responsibilities is to “collaborate with sales, planning and marketing leaders on events,” describe a time when you did exactly that successfully.
Copeland gives this example: “Our client’s big event was the next day, and our PR lead was on vacation, our social media manager was out sick, and the boss was handling multiple other projects. I gathered the other members of our team and helped delegate the responsibilities with the little staff we had. In the end, we pulled off a very successful event.”
These are the skills your employer requires you to have to feel confident you can get the job done without a whole lot of on-the-job training.
If you’ve passed the on-paper portion of the hiring process, and are getting ready for the interview, know that “interviewers are looking for a specific skillset,” says Copeland. “Wasting someone’s time if you’re not a fit is the first kiss of death.”
“Be specific as to how you are qualified for that job and what you will bring to the table,” stresses Copeland.
“If you’re lacking relevant experience, push the discussion toward whether or not you can do that job by highlighting transferable skills,” suggests Reed.
Bruce Serbin, founder and CEO of Serbin Media, Inc., who worked in TV news for six years before making a career move to public relations, says, “In every cover letter I wrote [for a PR job] and in every job interview I had, I stressed how working in television news made me a better candidate.”
“I made it clear that I could write and pitch a compelling story that got approved by the newsroom gatekeeper, because I was the gatekeeper. Being able to showcase my former experience and how it could be an asset in the current position definitely made a difference and made me look more favorable in the eyes of the employer,” he explains.
That said, you’ll have to own up to specific knowledge gaps. Let’s say you’re applying for a position that requires strong graphic design skills, but you have limited knowledge in that field.
“Focus on what you know best and make it clear you are a quick learner, but never exaggerate or make things up,” cautions Copeland.
Finally, Reed suggests reviewing the job description again on the day you’re meeting with a hiring manager as part of your interview preparation.
Usually appearing at the end of a job posting, the “About Us” section is similar to a company’s About page, containing a couple of lines on the company history, honors and mission. But with a closer look, you can glean more than that.
For example, you can get a hint at a flexible, laidback office culture if you read, “We offer our employees the option of telecommuting” or “We have happy hours in our employee lounge every Friday.”
This is important because “many companies now have a defined culture and are looking for good cultural fits,” explains Copeland. So they are looking for candidates that get what’s important to them, and you can easily allude to these points in your resume or cover letter.
Say the company mentions its philanthropic affiliations, and you have personal experience with the nonprofit the company supports because you were a longtime volunteer for the local chapter. You can say in your cover, “I know that your agency frequently partners with Dress for Success, and I’ve seen first-hand how that organization can help develop leaders in low-income communities.”
In addition, “when working on the cover letter, look for similar affinities, possibly clients in common,” adds Copeland. Work them into your application to let the recruiter or hiring manager know you didn’t gloss over the job description.
