Does your resume tell the best and most compelling version of your professional accomplishments and story? Joining our show today is top-ranked Executive Resume Writer and Coach, Sarah Johnston, founder of the Briefcase Coach. Sarah is recognized as a LinkedIn “Top Voice” and named one of HR Weekly’s Top 100 Most Influential People in HR and her firm was rated “best” for experienced executives by Balance Careers. A former corporate recruiter and industry insider, Sarah is committed to empowering high-achieving professionals around the world in their job search.

During this candid, revealing conversation, Sarah shares her hard-earned wisdom on the biggest mistakes she sees people making when crafting their resumes, and what you can do instead.

Sarah also shares insights on how resume content should differ from our LinkedIn profiles and the most common resume and LinkedIn mistakes she's encountered. We discuss why relying solely on keywords isn't enough, how networking is evolving, how to effectively disclose gaps in our work experience, and the limitations (and also helpful aspects) of generative AI tools in resume writing.

Finally, Sarah shares how she strikes a key balance between personal and professional identities and sharing on a public platform.

Join us today to learn how to craft the most compelling narratives of your work and career journey and great new ways to uplevel your resume and LinkedIn profile today!

 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Meet Sarah Johnston, Executive Resume Writer and Coach. [02:33]
• Making a distinction between resume content and a LinkedIn profile. [05:14]
• The two biggest resume mistakes that people make and how to counteract them. [10:06]
• Establishing whether or not to share your ‘dirty little secret’ when writing a resume. [17:44]
• How to approach keywords and leverage the power of networking. [21:26]
• Sarah’s thoughts on using AI tools to get a headstart on writing your resume. [30:16]
• Two of the biggest mistakes Sarah sees people making on LinkedIn. [34:42]
• Balancing personal and professional identities and when to communicate a stance. [38:40]
• Sarah’s closing advice: don’t skip the self-reflection piece of finding a job. [41:20]

 

For More Information:

Follow Sarah Johnston on LinkedIn. Learn more about her services as the Briefcase Coach.

Follow Sarah on X.

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Julie Robinett’s Book, How to Be a Power ConnectorGreenhouse applicant tracking software Zoho Recruit talent acquisition solution

Example: Kate’s Latest Book, Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Busy Moms & Do Less Planner

 

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And Join Kathy’s FREE LIVE Monthly Career Advice Call - ASK COACH KATHY

Hi friends! I wanted to make sure to invite you to join me on my next FREE LIVE career coaching call in my monthly series “Ask Coach Kathy.” In this program, registrants are invited to come on a 45-minute LIVE Zoom call and share their most pressing career challenge or problem that they want help with, and I will give you my best advice right on the call, for free. No question is too large or too small, and it can be about any type of professional issue you’re having. I’d love to help you! It’s time to get some outside support and move forward forward fast.

 

Sign up at kathycaprino.com/ask-coach-kathy and I’ll see you on the next call.

 

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Order Kathy’s book The Most Powerful You today!

 

In Australia and New Zealand, click here to order, elsewhere outside North America, click here, and in the UK, click here.

If you enjoy the book, we’d so appreciate your giving the book a positive rating and review on Amazon! And check out Kathy’s digital companion course The Most Powerful You, to help you close the 7 most damaging power gaps in the most effective way possible.

 

Kathy’s Power Gaps Survey, Support To Build Your LinkedIn Profile To Great Success & Other Free Resources

Kathy’s TEDx Talk, Time To Brave Up & Free Career Path Self-Assessment

Kathy’s Amazing Career Project video training course & 6 Dominant Action Styles Quiz

 

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Quotes: 

“The resume is very KPI (key performance indicator) and result-driven: we’re going to make sure that we highlight the impact that you’ve had on the business and the bottom line. I view the LinkedIn as two-fold: number one, it’s a story.” — @SarahDJohnston [0:05:23]

“When someone opens your LinkedIn profile to view you and read about you, they only see the first three lines. I want to do everything I can to make that reader click ‘See More’.” — @SarahDJohnston [0:06:03]

“Don’t lie on your resume, but also view the resume as a marketing document. You don’t have to put everything out there, but you have to make sure it’s honest.” — @SarahDJohnston [0:20:34]

“I make my money off of writing resumes, but I will say that a resume alone will not get you a job.” — @SarahDJohnston [0:27:56]

“What ChatGPT can’t do is unearth your value proposition, and that’s what a great resume writer does.” — @SarahDJohnston [0:31:24]

“The one takeaway that I would give to listeners today is to not skip the self-reflection phase of the job search.” — @SarahDJohnston [0:41:20]

 

Watch our Finding Brave episodes on YouTube!

Don’t forget – you can experience each Finding Brave episode in both audio and video formats! Check out new and recent episodes on my YouTube channel at YouTube.com/kathycaprino. And please leave us a comment and a thumbs up if you like the show!