How to Use Instagram in Your Job Search: 5 Smart Strategies

Tap the ultra-visual social media platform to research potential employers, reach out to influencers and present your best work

3 min read • Originally published May 9, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

When you think of using social media in your job search, the first thing that probably comes to mind is LinkedIn.

While your gut instinct is correct—LinkedIn is a powerful platform for job seekers—chances are you’re under-utilizing the power of Instagram to help you land a job that’s great for you.

Next time you’re about to pose for your latest selfie, take a beat to consider how you can leverage both your Instagram account, as well as any given brand’s IG page to get your next job.

Here are some of the ways you can use Instagram to in your job search:

1. Research

What’s one of the biggest complaints from hiring managers about job seekers? That they aren’t prepared when they walk into an interview.

Scanning the Internet for news about a company and searching through its website are both key ways of researching a brand, but scroll through a company’s Instagram page, and you’ll get real insight into the company culture.

Take note of who is working there, what the office space is like, how the teams collaborate, how successes are celebrated, and come into your interview understanding how a company is using its Instagram profile to share the company’s story with its audience.

Plus, many brands will share open positions on their social profiles before they even make it to a job board! Follow a brand you dream of working for and you might just beat the competition to the application.

2. Branding

Your Instagram profile should tell a story—your story! A candidate who has no digital footprint is a big red flag, so go ahead and make your profile public to share your personal story with your friends, family and recruiters alike.

Use your Instagram page as another professional platform, one that is less formal, and more personal. Employers love candidates who are passionate. Are you a total yogi? Start gramming your downward dog. Love entertaining? Share that latest pasta dish your friends were obsessed with.

What not to share on your IG? Avoid Instagramming sloppy Saturday nights, controversial opinions and pretty much anything else you wouldn’t want your mom (or prospective boss) to see.

3. Engage

Do you have a dream company you’d love to work for? Go ahead and click “follow” on its Instagram page!

Companies want to hire people who want to work for their brand, not just any company who will offer them a position. How can you show companies that theirs is the one you truly want to work for? Engage with their social media! Like their photos, participate in contests and integrate yourself into their social story.

Another way to engage with a brand: hashtags. Tag your relevant photos with hashtags brands use as a way to involve yourself in their social conversation and affiliate you and your IG profile with their industry.

4. Network

Many companies are brought to social media fame via their influencer employees. Is there a magazine you want to write for? Start following its editor in chief. Dying to join a designer’s social team? Start commenting on its marketing director’s #OOTD pics.

Walking into an interview familiar with the team you want to work for shows that you took the time to research not only what a brand does, but who produces the work you’re such a huge fan of. Plus, many influencers love to engage with their fans! Take their Instagram feed as a way to introduce yourself and communicate—in a professional way, not a stalker way—with your potential new boss.

5. Showcase

Is your creative side your best side? You should think of your Instagram profile as an extension of your portfolio. Upload that ad campaign you designed, or take a screenshot of that tweet you published that received over 100 retweets. You never know who will come across your profile, so put your best foot, and best work, out there for hiring managers to find!

Follow Mediabistro on Instagram for a daily dose of career inspiration, BTS, job search humor, and more.

Topics:

Get Hired, Job Search

Interview Tips

What to Wear to a Job Interview in Media and Creative Fields

Behold the all-important what-to-wear tips for your interview

By Celeste Mitchell

Celeste Mitchell is an editorial writer and editor with nearly 30 years of experience creating consumer lifestyle content for publications including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and SELF. She previously served as Deputy Editor at Cosmopolitan and taught journalism courses through Mediabistro.

4 min read • Originally published February 29, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Celeste Mitchell

Celeste Mitchell is an editorial writer and editor with nearly 30 years of experience creating consumer lifestyle content for publications including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and SELF. She previously served as Deputy Editor at Cosmopolitan and taught journalism courses through Mediabistro.

4 min read • Originally published February 29, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

So you landed that interview. Nice work! Now comes the big question: “What should I wear?”

It’s a good question, and one that’s constantly being asked. While jeans and heels won’t make a good impression on an interviewer, you also don’t want to show up looking too formal…especially in a creative field.

To get some answers, we turned to Ali Intres, SVP of talent for DigitasLBI and veteran media recruiter, to find out.

So how do you know how to dress for a media-biz job interview?

“It depends on the publication and the corporation,” says Intres, who has spent years interviewing candidates for jobs in marketing, sales, editorial and production

“Choose clothes that demonstrate an understanding of the reader and the company.” And, it’s important to remember, of the job itself. “For a sales job, you’re going to be more traditional and formal; for an editorial position, reveal more personality,” Intres says. “The bottom line is that you should look like you respect the seriousness of the meeting, and you should be prepared to have a serious conversation about your work history.”

Intres is quick to point out that she evaluates candidates based on skill and talent—not the color of their suit. “I would never turn anyone away because of personal style,” she says. But she acknowledges presentation is very important, and she offered these pointers to help you pick the right outfit for your next interview.

A suit?

For most of the creative positions, a suit is not required in the interview but is always a safe choice. Black is a standard color, and it probably goes with every shirt in your closet. “Wear a fun shirt underneath, a colorful scarf or interesting jewelry,” suggests Intres.

For men, she suggests a crisp white cotton shirt for a hip yet responsible look. For jobs in public relations, marketing and sales, there’s less freedom to be funky. Because these positions require that you meet with clients, present yourself as someone who knows how to dress for the public: A well-pressed suit is a must.

How stylish?

This is probably one of the most confusing aspects of dressing to interview for creative jobs; it depends on the magazine or TV show or website you’re applying to.

“You want to show an understanding of the client,” Intres says, and in media the “client” is some combination of the reader (or viewer or user) and the parent company. “If you’re interviewing for a fashion book or a PR company with fashion clients, wear something unique, stylish and put-together,” Intres says.

“For a teen book, wear something hip. And for a serious news organization, wear something corporate.” As for funky personal accents, play it safe. Cover tattoos, multiple piercings and avoid blue hair and cleavage. Don’t wear too much perfume and, for God’s sake, don’t smell like you just smoked a cigarette! Guys, take out your earrings.

What about shoes?

Well, sneakers are out, obviously.

Beyond that, this is mostly an issue for the women. In winter, pumps, dress shoes and dress boots work well. Even cowboy boots demonstrate a certain sense of style without sacrificing seriousness. And what about in warmer months, when toes become a perplexing dilemma?

For job hunting in media sales, marketing and PR, play it safe and keep toes covered. For all other areas of the industry, exposing toes is acceptable. One caveat: Avoid flip-flops and summer sandals that look too laid-back and relaxed. And, remember, if you’re going to hang ten, be sure to schedule a pedicure before your meeting.

**But what if the office environment is very informal?**

“Even if you wouldn’t be wearing a suit in the job itself, that doesn’t mean you can wear jeans to the interview,” says Intres.

So how low-key can you go? Men should consider the standard khakis-and-blazer combo as the casual limit, although at some new-media or exclusively creative companies—you’ll know the ones—a more trendy, less prep-schooly look is appropriate.

For women, wearing a skirt without stockings is an acceptable (and commonplace) type of informal-chic for editorial positions. But bare legs are frowned upon in marketing, PR and sales. Think of it this way: “If you were in an interview and the CEO of the corporation happened to stop by,” asks Intres, “would you feel comfortable meeting her with bare legs?”

And don’t forget to scrub behind the ears.

It’s surprising how many people neglect basic personal hygiene before a job interview. So, listen: Clean yourself up! Comb your hair. Put on some makeup. Shave. Cut your nails. If you color your hair, get a touch up. (It’s tacky to show up with dark roots.) And splurge on a manicure.

Then, once you’re all spruced up, remember what Henry David Thoreau said: “Walk confidently in the direction of your dreams.”

Topics:

Get Hired, Interview Tips

Job Search

Back to Basics: 5 Job Search Fundamentals You Can’t Afford to Skip

In the weeds of your job search? Get back on track with these essentials

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

4 min read • Originally published September 28, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

4 min read • Originally published September 28, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

A job search always starts out strong with energy and good intentions to find the right role for you in no time flat. But as the search progresses, things tend to get a little muddled, and important elements of the search can fall to the wayside.

To get you back to basics, here are some job search fundamentals you can’t afford to ignore any longer.

1. Keep Learning

You may be spending the majority of your free time searching job listings, but it’s important you don’t forget to keep up on developing your media skills.

Ramping up your skills not only helps you keep focused and gives you a sense of purpose during those long periods of job searching, it also gives job-seekers a talking point to use during the interview.

Make a short list of required skills you’ve been seeing on job descriptions. Maybe your perspective roles require project management or social media analytics knowledge. Whatever the case, take this time to understand the skills needed and find a quick class to fill the skills gap and stay in-demand.

2. Track Your Progress

Remember that list you used when you kicked off your job hunt? Where is it now? In the depths of your Google Drive? Well, it’s time to pull it out, brush it off and get it back into your job search routine.

Michele Gibbons, the founder of Orlando-based recruiting firm Cinq Recruiting LLC, says keeping track of your job search will help you to gain a better perspective of your job search overall, allowing you to identify which types of roles and companies you’re leaning towards.

“It is also a way of staying organized and seeing your efforts and actions at the end of a week of searching,” adds Gibbons. And this is important because anything that helps keep you motivated and feeling accomplished during your job search is a good thing.

You can get this going by either pulling out your old list and bringing it back to life, or by starting fresh, using Mediabistro’s Ultimate Job Search Tracker.

3. Update Your Headshot

After your resume catches the eye of a hiring manager, the next thing they are most likely going to do is look at your LinkedIn profile (and other social channels). If you don’t have a professional photo, there’s a chance the hiring manager will move on to the next candidate.

And let’s say you land the interview, if your online photo completely misrepresents you, that can play against you as well. “Photos show that you are genuine and authentic,” says Nicole Williams, career expert and founder of WORKS by Nicole Williams. “If that photo is you from 5, 10, 15 years ago and then you show up looking like a completely different person—the trust is lost.”

For your headshot to work for you, make sure you have an updated, high-quality image that represents you in the best light possible. Either hire a professional or ask a friend who has some camera skills, just no selfies.

4. Find Out Who You Actually Want to Work For

You’re busy, we get it. But rather than sending out hundreds of applications to companies you’re half-interested in, it makes more sense to spend your time determining which companies you’d love to work for, and focusing your efforts there, writing compelling and from-the-heart messaging.

To get the ball rolling, conduct some research to figure out what companies you want to work for in your area, then create a list of top ten. After making your list, listing reasons why you want to work for those companies. These can be things like room for growth, a family-friendly office, great pay or whatever is most important to you.

5. Clean Up Your Resume

Day one of the job search, your resume always looks great. As the search progresses, and you continue to tweak it to catch a hiring manager’s eye, it can start looking less like a resume and more like a Frankenstein of media jargon.

Take some time to get that resume back into interview-landing shape. A few things to look for right off the bat: Avoiding buzzwords, double-check for spelling errors and—if you really want to shorten your job search—consider hiring a professional resume writer to help you up your game.

Topics:

Get Hired, Job Search

Job Search

Summer Job Search Tips: 5 Ways to Land a Job While Enjoying the Season

The hiring slowdown works in your favor if you know how to use it. Here's how to stay visible while still catching some rays.

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

4 min read • Originally published July 11, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

4 min read • Originally published July 11, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Last updated: January 2026

Summer doesn’t mean your job search has to stop. And staying active doesn’t mean missing out on the season, either.

With a few smart strategies, you can keep your search moving forward while still enjoying the weather. Career expert Alex Twersky shares how to make it happen.

1. Set Up Job Alerts

Companies do slow down hiring in the summer, but plenty of organizations still need to fill critical roles. Just take a look at our job board for proof.

Setting up job alerts lets you specify exactly what you’re looking for and receive emails when matching positions are posted.

“Job alerts can give you the best of both worlds: notification when something interesting pops up without being tethered to your computer and hunting for opportunities daily,” says Twersky.

2. Use the Smaller Candidate Pool to Your Advantage

With fewer companies actively hiring, it might be tempting to pause your search until fall. But staying active during the slower months gives you a real edge.

“By not dropping off the grid completely during the summer lull, you may be in a better position to apply for jobs because your competitive pool will be smaller,” says Twersky. “Smaller because some of them will literally be spending time by a pool when the temperatures rise.”

While other job seekers take time off, you can gain visibility in an otherwise crowded market.

3. Learn Something New

Think of summer as prep time for the fall hiring season. One of the best ways to use the extra breathing room is by learning something new related to your industry.

“Adding to your skill sets during the summer recruitment lull can position you better for landing the right job when the fall hiring season gains steam,” says Twersky.

How to identify skills worth learning:

Scan several job postings for positions you’d want
Note the required skills where you feel less confident
Bridge the gap with a targeted course or certification

Quick skill-building tip: Look for short, focused courses that teach specific industry skills. Even a few hours of learning can make a difference on your resume and in interviews.

4. Up Your Networking

Summer is the perfect time to strengthen your network or request informational interviews at companies you’ve been eyeing.

“People are usually in a more relaxed mood over the summer,” says Twersky. “That makes them more open to requests for informational interviews and the like.”

Take advantage of the good weather by suggesting a meeting at an outdoor cafe near their office. The casual setting can lead to more genuine conversations.

5. Get Some R&R

A job search is best executed with a fresh head, so carve out time to actually enjoy the summer.

“The worst thing you can do is be cooped up indoors while the sun is shining and all of your friends are taking time off for vacations or other seasonal entertainments, while you’re sitting indoors, AC blasting, in the glow of your LCD screen,” says Twersky.

Dedicate time to clearing your mind and focusing on what you want in your next role. “When you’ve done that,” says Twersky, “hit the GO button and apply all of the clarity, focus, and passion you have to find the job you want and start the fall off on a new career path.”

Ready to start your search? Browse open positions on the Mediabistro job board and set up a job alert to stay in the loop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is summer a good time to look for a job?

Yes. While hiring slows down slightly, many companies still fill critical roles during the summer months. The reduced competition can actually work in your favor since fewer candidates are actively applying.

Do companies hire during the summer?

Absolutely. Some hiring managers use the slower pace to focus on filling positions before the busy fall season. Companies with fiscal years ending in summer or fall often ramp up hiring during these months.

How can I search for a job without spending all day at my computer?

Set up job alerts to receive notifications when relevant positions are posted. This lets you stay informed without constantly checking job boards. Dedicate specific time blocks to applications and spend the rest of your time networking, building skills, or enjoying the season.

Should I take a break from job searching in the summer?

Brief breaks are fine and can help you recharge. However, completely pausing your search means missing opportunities and losing momentum. A balanced approach works best: stay active with alerts and occasional networking while still making time to relax.

Topics:

Get Hired, Job Search

Resumes & Cover Letters

How to Get Your Resume Noticed in 15 Seconds or Less

Make your resume stand out from the competition with these quick fixes

By Alisha Tillery

@Nicole8151

Alisha Tillery is a freelance journalist, essayist, and PR agency director whose work spans culture, lifestyle, business, and women's issues. She has written for ESPN, ESSENCE, EBONY, and AARP, and brings 15 years of storytelling experience to her work with small businesses, nonprofits, and education clients.

4 min read • Originally published December 15, 2015 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Alisha Tillery

@Nicole8151

Alisha Tillery is a freelance journalist, essayist, and PR agency director whose work spans culture, lifestyle, business, and women's issues. She has written for ESPN, ESSENCE, EBONY, and AARP, and brings 15 years of storytelling experience to her work with small businesses, nonprofits, and education clients.

4 min read • Originally published December 15, 2015 / Updated March 19, 2026

You may spend hours (or days) writing and agonizing over your resume, but once it gets in front of a recruiter, HR staffer or hiring manager, each will spend just 15 seconds deciding whether to pass on or pursue you as a candidate.

Since your CV will get attention for less time than it takes to order a cup of coffee, it’s essential that the document include the key components to boost your chances of getting called in for an interview. Before you apply for another job, retool your resume to do the following:

1. Emphasize Relevant Experience

Too often, an applicant will give equal space every position he has held, even those that don’t relate to the job on the table. “The person reading your resume needs to know what you do, where have you been and how you got there,” advises David Gaspin, senior director of talent and human resources for tech consulting firm InRhythm.

It’s a point that’s particularly valid for career changers looking to break into media, or media professionals looking for a change. “If you’ve had three different careers in your lifetime, and you’re applying for a job that matches one of them, highlight that one,” says Gaspin. “I’m not interested in your nursing career if you’re trying to be an editor.”

2. Focus on Results

Founder and chief talent officer of .comRecruiting, Jane Turkewitz, says that effectively communicating accomplishments in past positions is a major struggle for some applicants. “The biggest thing people need to do when they write their resumes,” says Turkewitz, “is figure out how to tell the story on paper that shows that they’re better than the guy next door.”

Don’t describe your previous job duties; show what you did with them, using metrics that matter. “If you just say, ‘I write merchandising proposals, I do promotions, I create events,’ it doesn’t mean anything,” says Turkewitz. “What I want to see when I’m hiring somebody is ‘I created an event program for this client that brought in an extra $2 million of business.’”

3. Use Keywords and a “Screener-Friendly” Qualifications Summary

Many large companies rely on applicant tracking systems to pre-filter resumes. Others task screeners, real people who quickly sift through resumes, to find those that best match job specifications. Either way, if your resume doesn’t include the words these systems are scanning for—say, “social media manager” or “content producer”—it may get overlooked.

A well-written qualifications summary at the top of your resume, a few brief sentences outlining why you are the best person for the job, can catapult your resume to the top of the pile. “This is an opportunity to showcase your accomplishments,” says Sharlyn Lauby, author and publisher at the HR Bartender.

Also avoid repeating the same skills in every position you’ve held. If you managed the Twitter account at more than one company, only list it at the most recent position where you worked. “Err on the side of listing a few things of pure awesomeness,” says Lauby. “In an interview, you will get asked about them and you can knock the socks off a recruiter.”

4. Be Creative—Especially If It’s a Job Requirement

For many media positions, such as those in graphic design or fashion editorial, you’ll likely use the right side of brain more than your left. Why not give your future boss a preview of your mad creative skills with your resume itself?

Gaspin recalls a memorable resume with headings renamed to fit a design position. “Instead of ‘Experience’ and ‘Education’, his headings were ‘Making,’ ‘Thinking’ and ‘Learning,’” he says. “He thought about how he was actually putting himself across.”

Before you get too liberal with your resume, research the company as well as the position itself to gauge whether a form-breaking CV might go over well. And no matter how unorthodox you decide to make your resume, it should always remain appealing to the eye.

5. Cut the Fluff

You only have so much space on your resume to fill with your work experience and accomplishments, so don’t waste it on irrelevant information—high school jobs, college club memberships, the meaningless phrase “references upon request”—that won’t help you stand out from the competition!

If you’d like your resume to stand out even more, consider getting the help of a pro. Mediabistro’s Career Services offer everything from a quick resume edit to several sessions of career counseling to tackle your CV, networking skills, career transition and more.

Topics:

Be Inspired, Get a Media Job, Get Hired, Productivity, Resumes & Cover Letters

Skills & Expertise

Best Career and Media Books to Boost Your Job Search and Skills

Hone your inner bookworm this holiday season to get inspired about the biz

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

4 min read • Originally published June 29, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

4 min read • Originally published June 29, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

There’s no better way to spend holiday downtime than by picking up a book that’ll inspire you to up your skills or your search for that perfect job. So go on, grab a book off the list and fill your brain with industry knowledge and top career advice.

Career

1. Knock ‘Em Dead 2016: The Ultimate Job Search Guide, by Martin Yate

To land the job you’ve been vying for, and manage the twists and turns that come with a long and successful career, turn to this job search guide. Yate’s to-the-point style of writing gets to the heart of what you actually need to do to get noticed, including maximizing your social networks to land more interviews, crushing the interview itself and negotiating your salary.

2. Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It in Your Career. Rock Social Media., by Aliza Licht

This global fashion communications exec—and former Twitter phenom—tells her story of the business as she shares secrets, advice and real talk to help you leave your mark on the industry. In her book, Aliza confronts the issue of today’s working world, where personal and professional lines can often get blurred, emphasizing the importance of a strong sense of self.

3. Now What, Grad?: Your Path to Success After College, by Chris Palmer

If you’re a soon-to-be or recent graduate, chances are you’re filled with worries about landing a job, paying off student loans and navigating the workplace. Rather than sit there and stew in your anxieties—think Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate—you could just pick up Palmer’s book that acts as a guide map for succeeding in the real world.

4. Welcome to the Real World: Finding Your Place, Perfecting Your Work, and Turning Your Job into Your Dream Career, by Lauren Berger

If you’re just breaking into the industry, consider this a must-read. Lauren Berger, self-proclaimed Intern Queen, writes about the new workplace (and the one your parents can’t offer advice on, since everything’s changed!). Use this as a handbook to help guide you through your first on-the-job experiences.

Media

5. Contagious: Why Things Catch On, by Jonah Berger

Sure, we can’t exactly predict when a video’s going to go viral, but we can look at the science behind why things take off. Here, Jonah Berger looks at what makes things wildly popular, and shares techniques for helping information spread. If you work in media, this might spark ideas about how to design messaging, ads and shareable content—or, at the very least, can give you a fresh perspective.

6. Growth Hacker Marketing: A Primer on the Future of PR, Marketing, and Advertising, by Ryan Holiday

Now more than ever, companies are moving away from traditional marketing and into a new frontier of growth hacking, or using multiple platforms and channels to expand your business while figuring out on the fly which works best. You or your company may already use some of these practices, but this book can give you a fuller picture of why building and engaging your audience in various ways is so effective and how you can fully adopt it in your office, or for your own personal ventures.

7. Content Inc.: How Entrepreneurs Use Content to Build Massive Audiences and Create Radically Successful Businesses, by Joe Pulizzi

From the founder of the Content Marketing Institute, this book explains a new model of marketing in which the product is second to building audience using awesome content. If you work in marketing and are looking to gain an even more in-depth idea of the power of content, you’ve got to check out this read.

8. Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content, by Ann Handley

In Ann Handley’s opinion, we’re all writers. And it’s true if you think about it: If you have a site, you’re a publisher, and if you post on social, you’re a marketer. Of course, this doesn’t mean we’re all out-of-the-box amazing writers equipped for the needs of a content-driven market. And that’s where this book comes in, giving you expert guidance into the process of content creation, so you can thrive in this digital world.

9. #AskGaryVee: One Entrepreneur’s Take on Leadership, Social Media, and Self-Awareness, by Gary Vaynerchuk

The social media star Gary Vaynerchuk just rolled out his latest book that tackles the most useful and interesting questions he’s addressed on his YouTube show, #AskGaryVee. If you work in digital media, or are just doing your own freelance hustle, check out this book and others written by Vaynerchuk, like Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

Interview Tips

How to Sell Your Soft Skills During a Job Interview

Your abilities to lead, collaborate and listen to others can set you apart from the rest of the pack

By Dan Schawbel

4 min read • Originally published August 23, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Dan Schawbel

4 min read • Originally published August 23, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

How to Sell Your Soft Skills During Interviews was originally published by the American Marketing Association.

Soft skills—those personal qualities that allow you to work well with and get along with others—can help you in an interview if the other candidates have the same basic skill set for the job. This is especially true if you can relate your soft skills to the company and the position you are applying for.

During the interview process, many candidates feel pressured to only focus on their hard skills. While it’s important to highlight these skills, it’s even more impressive when you can explain to the interviewer your soft skills and strengths that relate to the position.

Want even more help on your interview preparation? The counselors with Mediabistro’s Career Services can help you refine your interview skills in a one-on-one session.

Soft skills are the qualities that can set you apart from other candidates when applying for a job. Although it’s necessary to have the desired knowledge and experience in order to qualify for the position, the manner in which you apply your experience in the workplace is what makes you stand out.

Hiring managers want to know if you have the ability to lead, collaborate and listen to others. Essentially, they want to be positive you are truly the right fit for their company.

If you’re wondering how you can sell your soft skills during your next interview, check out these helpful tips:

Select Your Best Skills

To prove you have the right soft skills for the position, you must carefully select the best ones you possess. Choose three or four skills you believe define your work ethic and focus on them during your interview. It’s also important to relate these skills to the position you’re applying for, the company’s needs, and the culture of the company.

For example, if you’re applying for a position where the majority of your work will take place in a group setting, you’ll want to emphasize your ability to collaborate with others, communicate effectively, and resolve conflict if necessary. Once you select the soft skills that best describe your work ethic, then you can support them with examples from your experience.

Back Them Up

Now that you’ve selected your best skills for the position, it’s time to support them with real experience. Remember, you want to sell your soft skills in a way that will catch the hiring manager’s attention. Many people overlook the power of soft skills, so if you can use examples from your experience to support them, it will make you a much stronger candidate for the position.

To illustrate your soft skills, you want to use a situation from your experience to support your abilities. You could also select an accomplishment story to serve as an example, too. First, you want to make sure you describe the situation or event where you had to utilize your soft skills. Explain to the interviewer the specific skills you used and how you had to implement them. After you describe the scenario, explain the positive outcome of the event. This way, the hiring manager will know exactly what you have to offer and how your soft skills and strengths can make a positive impact on their company.

Explain Why

After highlighting your best skills and illustrating them to the hiring manager, you must explain how they make you the best candidate for the position. Soft skills are transferable abilities many people have to offer. For example, if your strengths happen to be adaptability and teamwork, then you must explain how the employer will benefit from your abilities. It’s important to keep in mind that soft skills are the qualities that will help you land the job.

Being able to highlight your soft skills during an interview will definitely set you apart from other the candidates applying for the position. Through using anecdotes and success stories from your experience, you will be able to sell your soft skills in a memorable way that will help you land the job.

Dan Schawbel is the author of Personal Branding Blog.

The American Marketing Association is the pre-eminent force in marketing for best and next practices, thought leadership and valued relationships, across the entire discipline of marketing. Its online publications include posts on industry trends, career advice and more.

Topics:

Get Hired, Interview Tips

Interviews

Talk Too Much During Interviews? Here’s How to Fix It

Cut the rambling—and improve your performance

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

4 min read • Originally published October 4, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

4 min read • Originally published October 4, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Think back on your last interview. Did you talk to the point where the hiring manager’s eyes glazed over?

If so, you probably rambled on a little too long.

Here, we’re talking with media pros to learn why over-talking can ruin your chances of landing the job, as well as a few steps you can take to make sure you never do it again.

Talking Too Much Hurts Your Chances

Sure, it’s not the worst thing you could do in an interview, but it can hurt your chances of getting the gig. Nicole Williams, career expert and founder of WORKS by Nicole Williams points to a quote from Pauline Phillips (creator of the Dear Abby column): “The more you talk, the less you are listened to.”

“Interviewers are of course looking to learn about you and get a sense of your personality,” says Williams. “However, what they really want is someone who is succinct, articulate and pensive.”

Another thing to consider is the interviewer’s schedule. Dan Auerbach, operations director at Intuitive Digital, says the interviewer often schedules back-to-back interviews with several candidates. So, if you ramble over your allotted time, you risk disrupting the interviewer’s entire schedule.

Be Prepared

If you enter an interview without fully preparing for questions, you’ll be sure to ramble. To fix this, Williams suggests conducting a mock interview with a friend and recording the interview. In review, you can tell where you stumble, where you’re a little too verbose, and what responses can be polished.

“Being comfortable with what you are saying and how you structure your sentences is very important when it comes to interviews,” says Williams. “You don’t want to give one-word answers and you certainly don’t want to dive into a five-minute spiel.”

Polish your interview skills, impress the hiring manager and dramatically increase your odds of landing the job with a mock interview.

Deal with Silences

One of the oldest tricks in the book is the interviewer waiting longer than usual to respond after you’ve answered their question. Sometimes, the interviewer is simply taking notes; other times, he or she sees how you’ll fill the void.

“People typically see this as they didn’t answer the question properly and would fill that space with more information, typically stuff that may hurt their chances,” says David Blacker, managing principal of digital marketing agency Venerate Media Group.

Rather than continuing to answer the question, Blacker recommends asking, “Did that answer your question, or were you looking for more clarity?”

FAQs: Enhancing Interview Skills and Managing Over-Talking

Q: Why can talking too much during an interview be detrimental?

A: Talking excessively can hinder your chances because it might lead to less engagement from the interviewer, indicating a lack of brevity and thoughtfulness. It also risks overrunning the allocated time, potentially disrupting the interviewer’s schedule.

Q: What steps can be taken to prepare for an interview?

A: Prepare by conducting mock interviews with a friend and recording them to identify and polish areas where your responses may be too long or lack clarity. This helps you structure your answers more effectively and avoid rambling.

Q: How can one ensure they are not over-talking in an interview?

A: Be concise and articulate in your responses, delivering clear and relevant information without unnecessary details. Practice structuring your answers to questions in an informative yet concise way.

Q: What should you do when faced with silence after answering a question in an interview?

A: Embrace the silence as a normal part of the interview process. If you feel compelled to fill the void, ask the interviewer if your answer was sufficient or if they need further clarification instead of continuing to talk.

Q: How does being overly verbose affect the interviewer’s perception?

A: Over-talking can make you seem less articulate and possibly less confident in your answers. Interviewers appreciate candidates who can express themselves clearly and efficiently, reflecting good communication skills and respecting the interviewer’s time.

Q: What role does preparation play in avoiding over-talking?

A: Adequate preparation allows you to answer questions more confidently and concisely, reducing the likelihood of rambling. It helps you anticipate questions and structure your thoughts ahead of time.

Q: How can mock interviews help in reducing over-talking?

A: Mock interviews provide a safe environment to practice your responses, helping you identify when you’re prone to over-talking. They allow you to refine your answers and improve your ability to communicate effectively and concisely.

Topics:

Get Hired, Interview Tips

Hot Jobs

Freelance and Contract Media Jobs Are Quietly Reshaping the Market

By Mediabistro

The Mediabistro editorial team draws on 25 years of media industry expertise to cover jobs, careers, and trends shaping the industry.

4 min read • Originally published March 5, 2026 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Mediabistro

The Mediabistro editorial team draws on 25 years of media industry expertise to cover jobs, careers, and trends shaping the industry.

4 min read • Originally published March 5, 2026 / Updated March 19, 2026

The Gig Economy Grew Up

Something worth watching is unfolding across today’s job board. A significant share of the most interesting new postings aren’t full-time positions at all. They’re contract, freelance, and part-time roles that demand senior-level experience and offer real creative ownership in return. These are structured engagements with clear deliverables, defined compensation, and the kind of autonomy that used to require starting your own shop.

The shift is especially visible in production and content roles, where companies are building lean teams of experienced specialists rather than staffing up with generalists. Several of today’s featured employers are small, fast-moving organizations that have designed their workflows around distributed talent from the start. For freelancers and contractors, that distinction matters: you’re joining an operation built for remote collaboration, not retrofitting a cubicle job into a Slack channel.

If you’ve been building a freelance career or considering the leap from full-time, today’s listings offer a useful snapshot of how the market values contract expertise right now. If you’re exploring that transition, our guide on leaving a job without burning bridges is a solid starting point.

Today’s Hot Jobs

AI Content Editor, Fiction and Creative at Research on Point

Why this role is worth your attention: The AI editorial pipeline is producing a new category of specialist, and this listing spells out exactly what that looks like. You’ll serve as the final quality gate on AI-generated drafts, rewriting passages that read flat or generic and ensuring tonal consistency across creative and fiction content. The $25–$35/hour rate is competitive for freelance editing work, and the fact that the company has already built a functioning human-AI workflow signals stability rather than experimentation.

What they need from you:

Experienced writer/editor comfortable performing substantive “w-editing,” not just proofreading
Ability to compare AI drafts against original human-crafted inputs for accuracy and completeness
Skill at rewriting passages that feel repetitive, generic, or tonally inconsistent
U.S.-based candidates only; fully remote and contract

Apply for the AI Content Editor position

Paid Social and Digital Advertising Manager at How To Academy

The draw here: How To Academy is a premium cultural events brand expanding its U.S. programming, and they need someone to build and run paid social campaigns that drive ticket sales across multiple cities. This is a contract retainer role, which means ongoing work with strategic depth rather than a one-off campaign. You’ll own full-funnel campaign structures across Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and more, working closely with programming and marketing teams to scale audience acquisition while protecting a carefully cultivated brand voice.

Key qualifications:

Deep expertise in paid social strategy across Meta platforms, with additional channel experience a plus
Proven ability to build full-funnel campaigns from awareness through conversion
Analytical rigor combined with the agility to manage campaigns across different markets simultaneously
Experience aligning paid social with broader marketing efforts including email and organic content

Apply for the Paid Social Manager role

Social Media Producer (Travel Required) at Showplace

What makes this one different: Showplace designs and launches high-performing Airbnb and short-term rental properties, and they want a social media producer who will physically travel to installs and job sites to capture content in the field. At $35/hour with all travel expenses covered, this part-time role (20–30 flexible hours per week) offers a rare combination: creative ownership, real-world production work, and the freedom to manage your own schedule. You’ll own the full content lifecycle from on-location shooting through publishing.

The must-haves:

Ability to shoot and produce short-form vertical video for Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and LinkedIn
Comfort being on camera and filming yourself during production
Experience managing social platforms with strategic intent, not just posting
Willingness to travel to project sites and events across the country

Apply for the Social Media Producer position

Producer and Showrunner, Sports Video Series at Mustard Squad HQ

The opportunity in a nutshell: This is a ground-floor role building a sports video series from scratch, structured as a three-month proof of concept at $2,500/month with a clear path to $4,500/month full-time plus performance bonuses if the format succeeds. You’ll research stadiums, write 10–12 minute scripts blending education and comedy, coordinate freelance hosts and videographers, and manage production end-to-end. The founder is looking for someone who can operate as a COO, making 90% of decisions independently in an async-first environment.

Ideal background:

5+ years of media production experience with a portfolio of content you’ve produced and managed
Track record managing teams and freelancers with minimal oversight
Strong written communication skills suited to an async-first workflow
Sports knowledge preferred, especially baseball, though not required

Apply for the Producer/Showrunner role

Professional Takeaways

The contract and freelance market is rewarding specificity right now. Each of today’s featured roles targets a narrow, well-defined skill set: AI-assisted editing, full-funnel paid social, on-location content production, independent show management. Generalist pitches won’t land these gigs.

If you’re pursuing contract work, tailor your portfolio and outreach to highlight the exact capability each employer is buying. Show them finished work that mirrors their workflow, reference tools and platforms they mention by name, and make it easy for a hiring manager to picture you slotting into their operation on day one. And keep your LinkedIn profile current, because contract hiring managers move fast and often start their search there.

Browse more openings on our Writing and Editing jobs board for additional opportunities posted today.

Topics:

Hot Jobs

Advice From the Pros

5 Reasons to Start Your Career at an Advertising Agency

You have your degree—now what?

By Ayana Young

Ayana Young is a communications and PR strategist with 15+ years of experience spanning media relations, lifestyle brands, professional sports, and publishing.

4 min read • Originally published July 17, 2017 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Ayana Young

Ayana Young is a communications and PR strategist with 15+ years of experience spanning media relations, lifestyle brands, professional sports, and publishing.

4 min read • Originally published July 17, 2017 / Updated March 19, 2026

For a young professional just entering the business world, an advertising agency can be an attractive fit. They are commonly known for having great culture, cool office spaces and exciting work, but also come with frequent late nights and a lot of hard work. While the hours could be better, they’re an incredible place to develop in your early career.

If you’re not sure whether an agency is right for you, here are a few great benefits to consider.

1. It will be easier to find a job

Advertising agencies go out of their way to hire, train, develop and retain young talent. They recognize the fact that young people are, to some extent, “shaping” the digital landscape, and for that reason they want their perspectives and minds in-house at their agencies. With the sea of options for young graduates, you will see that agencies will be more receptive to hiring somebody with little experience because they are highly valuing your mindset, creativity and potential for innovative ideas.

2. It will help you find what you like about business

When I first started out in marketing full-time, I had no idea what department or aspect of marketing would interest me the most. College courses give you a brief introduction to what an ad agency will be like, and what other marketing jobs are available, but you don’t truly know until you get out in the workforce.

For instance, I thought I would want to be in Account Management, managing people, relationships and process—but I quickly found that I loved digital media and doing the actual implementation. I didn’t know until I got into the workforce how addicting spreadsheets and data analytics can be. Ad agencies give you the ability to work with multiple departments, see what other individuals do and allow you to just take in what all goes into driving business results.

3. It will make you better at time management

Working at an advertising agency as a young professional will form you into an incredibly well-organized, time-management machine. It will be stressful and you will have to meet multiple deadlines in one week (or day!) but give it a few years and you’ll see that those stressful times helped mold you into a more efficient employee.

Although they have a reputation of being fun with pool tables and ping-pong, ad agency employees are some of the most hard-working people I’ve ever met. Luckily most do embrace the work-hard, play-hard attitude, so you will be rewarded for those stressful days. Either way, I’ve taken prioritization and time management learnings from my days in agency life and I now apply them universally to the rest of my life, and it’s invaluable.

4. It makes you a better sales person

Ad agency work is challenging—not only because of tight deadlines and volume of work, but also because of the need to sell the value of the work once it’s done. Meetings with clients are always sales meetings to an extent, because with the average client switching agencies every three to five years, you need to let them know you’re providing consistent value.

Additionally, you learn to sell yourself and your own value, not just the agency’s value as a whole. Personally, in regards to digital media management, I often track optimizations that I make and calculate their potential dollar value effect on the company. That’s something I learned to do by working at an advertising agency because you can tell a client, “had we not done x, you would have missed out on x amount of dollars.” As a young professional, you’re going to need to sell your value and sell your company’s value, and an agency will give you the opportunity to practice that while you are still developing in your career.

5. It lets you see all angles and perspectives

Whether you’re working as a freelancer, at an agency or in-house, it’s easy to forget that there are other perspectives and ideas out there. You think that your way of looking at things is THE way. However, when you are able to find common ground and understand other people, it makes you a better professional in whatever field you’re in.

Working at an advertising agency allows you to see their side of the marketing world, which in turn makes you a more understanding employee on the other side. Nothing is more frustrating when you work at an agency and the client just “doesn’t get it”— it’s hard to sell through ideas and it’s hard to make them realize certain things are just not possible because of timelines or other logistical constraints. When you can understand and relate, it makes everybody more efficient.

Was that convincing enough?

Hopefully it gets you to at least consider it! If I could go back in time and choose again, I would renew the “work at an agency” option over and over again. Although there are pros and cons to any career path, I think it gives you the most flexibility to learn, understand and develop at a young age. As a result, employers in the future will see you as more valuable, and your future colleagues will be blown away by your effectiveness.

Grow your knowledge in everything from influencer marketing to social media marketing with one of our self-guided online Marketing and Communications courses.

Topics:

Advice From the Pros, Be Inspired

1. Research

2. Branding

3. Engage

4. Network

5. Showcase

So you landed that interview. Nice work! Now comes the big question: “What should I wear?”

So how do you know how to dress for a media-biz job interview?

A suit?

How stylish?

What about shoes?

But what if the office environment is very informal?

And don’t forget to scrub behind the ears.

1. Keep Learning

2. Track Your Progress

3. Update Your Headshot

4. Find Out Who You Actually Want to Work For

5. Clean Up Your Resume

1. Set Up Job Alerts

2. Use the Smaller Candidate Pool to Your Advantage

3. Learn Something New

4. Up Your Networking

5. Get Some R&R

Frequently Asked Questions

Is summer a good time to look for a job?

Do companies hire during the summer?

How can I search for a job without spending all day at my computer?

Should I take a break from job searching in the summer?

1. Emphasize Relevant Experience

2. Focus on Results

3. Use Keywords and a “Screener-Friendly” Qualifications Summary

4. Be Creative—Especially If It’s a Job Requirement

5. Cut the Fluff

Career

Media

Talking Too Much Hurts Your Chances

Be Prepared

Deal with Silences

FAQs: Enhancing Interview Skills and Managing Over-Talking

Q: Why can talking too much during an interview be detrimental?

Q: What steps can be taken to prepare for an interview?

Q: How can one ensure they are not over-talking in an interview?

Q: What should you do when faced with silence after answering a question in an interview?

Q: How does being overly verbose affect the interviewer’s perception?

Q: What role does preparation play in avoiding over-talking?

Q: How can mock interviews help in reducing over-talking?

The Gig Economy Grew Up

Today’s Hot Jobs

AI Content Editor, Fiction and Creative at Research on Point

Paid Social and Digital Advertising Manager at How To Academy

Social Media Producer (Travel Required) at Showplace

Producer and Showrunner, Sports Video Series at Mustard Squad HQ

Professional Takeaways

1. It will be easier to find a job

2. It will help you find what you like about business

3. It will make you better at time management

4. It makes you a better sales person

5. It lets you see all angles and perspectives

Was that convincing enough?

Traci Badalucco

**But what if the office environment is very informal?**