Welcome to Career Essentials, where I share actionable insights and curated articles that will help accelerate your career and supercharge your job search.
Best Way to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” In 2 Formulas
“Tell me about yourself” is one of those interview questions everyone struggles with.
It’s meant to break the ice and it is supposed to be an easy question. But most job seekers get it wrong.
Let’s reframe the question and get to what the interviewer really want to know.
“Why are you qualified and interested in this role?”
THE CONTENT
◾Provide only information relevant to the role. (Thoroughly review the job posting)
◾Reference technical skills, processes/procedures, and industry knowledge
◾It’s a high-level summary
THE DELIVERY
◾Let your passion shine through
◾Speak slowly and confidently
TIMING
◾Keep your answer under 2 minutes
You have the rest of the interview to cover additional skills and to let your personality and qualifications shine.
Here’s a simple formula to follow?
🕰️ Past
📅 Present
🔮 Future
This is what I’ve done in the past that qualifies me for this job
This is what I’m currently doing that qualifies me for this job
This is why this role would be good for my future career goals
Ending with why you are interested in the role makes it clear you are finished talking and is a nice transition for the conversation.
Another formula I like to use is this one:
"I am a ____________(job title or profession)
With expertise in _________________ (specific work related skills)
My background includes______________ (relevant roles or industries worked in)
My unique qualities are_____________ (traits that differentiate you)"
I’m interested in this role because ______________ (why you are attracted to this company or role)
Don't just "wing it".
Your answer to this question makes a first impression. Be prepared and practice out loud. And be sure to speak with confidence and enthusiasm.
Athletes train for months before they compete. They do this to develop muscle memory. When you are nervous, at least you will know what to say (because you’ve been practicing).
See the post on LinkedIn here

🔎 JOB SEARCH
Maybe, just maybe, not every bullet on your resume needs metrics. If you are having difficulty identifying a metric, either it’s not the best bullet to use or you need to follow the strategic approach Dave mentions in his post. “Focus on placing them where they'll have maximum impact.”
Is It Time To Start Your Plan B? - Hannah Morgan
If you have been unsuccessful in landing a new job, perhaps it’s time to put Plan B into action. Plan B is your plan to secure some paying job that will fill the gap, generate some income, and give you a sense of purpose. Here are tips on how to get ideas and places you can look for immediate employment.
This is one thing you can do today to increase the number of people looking at your profile! Use a market value job title, not the fancy/confusing job title your employer gave you! As Kevin says, LinkedIn is a massive database. You can impact the find-ability of your profile by using common titles and keywords!
🗨 INTERVIEWING
“Many people think they don't need to sell themselves. Their good work will be immediately recognized.” But Shelley lists the reasons this isn’t true. 1) Interviewers Can't Read Between the Lines 2) Your Competition Is Telling Their Best Stories 3) Silence Reads as Lack of Impact 4) The Interview IS the Performance
So stop being humble and take credit where credit is due!
⚙ AI
2025 GenAI Resume Feedback Report - Erica Reckamp, The Captivators
This report explores how helpful Generative AI can be for job seekers seeking feedback on their resumes. Since resumes are often a source of stress and conflicting advice, AI could theoretically offer a more objective source of guidance. However, most job seekers lack the resume strategy knowledge and prompt engineering skills needed to evaluate or interpret AI feedback effectively. You can download the full report and read the high-level summary here on LinkedIn.
🔮 WORKFORCE
Are teams getting bigger? - ADP Research
Just because prominent leaders of large tech companies plan to cut managerial staffing ratios, doesn’t mean all companies will. This research by ADP shows you what team size looks like in tech vs all industries. In some cases, teams are shrinking, but not in all cases.
💰 CAREER
How to Spot Someone on a Power Trip - Frank Sonnenberg
A power-hungry person isn’t just confident — they crave dominance and control, often at the expense of others. You can spot them by their need to micromanage, intimidate, or assert authority in ways that turn leadership into manipulation. Do you recognize these 25 red flags?
📶 RECRUITER PERSPECTIVE
4 Signals recruiters are looking at during the process - Kelli Hrivnak
These are 4 things every job seeker be aware of because everything you do (or don’t do) sends a message. Kelli is attempting to quantify some of the “gut feelings” in hiring decisions. It’s not a “gotcha” or “outing” the candidate, it’s about finding the most suitable match for the role, team and company.
💗 WELL-BEING
The bravest thing she did? Ask for help - Dorlee Michaeli
In our ongoing quest for “what’s next” sometimes the best thing we can do is ask for help! Dorlee explains how her client did this and why! What happens when you start accepting support without guilt?

EVENTS

REGISTER TODAY! THIS STARTS TOMORROW!
Here’s what you get during the 5 weeks:
5 actionable job search goals to move you forward
Step-by-step instructions so you never feel stuck
Ready-to-use templates, samples, and checklists
30-minute group check-in call on Zoom for accountability and support
Delivered straight to your inbox, every Monday
See the full details and FAQs here.
Only a few spots available and $39 for all 5 weeks!

JOB SEARCH VISUAL
You built an awesome LinkedIn profile… so why aren’t recruiters reaching out?
👉 Because your profile alone isn’t enough
💡 The real secret?
Posting showcases your knowledge, passion, and personality.
People associate you with what you share. And LinkedIn says job seekers who post weekly are 10x more likely to be contacted by recruiters. 🔥
Here are 10 easy post ideas to help you stay visible and valuable:
1️⃣ Share an industry insight
2️⃣ Post news from your target companies
3️⃣ Offer job-related tips or hacks
4️⃣ Ask a question to spark conversation
5️⃣ Use images, infographics or videos
6️⃣ Talk about upcoming professional events
7️⃣ Give kudos or a shout-out
8️⃣ Reshare someone else’s great post
9️⃣ Drop an inspirational or on-brand quote
🔟 Celebrate your wins or milestones
👀 Want to stay top of mind with your network? Start posting!

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DID YOU MISS THESE

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Explore Job Transitions & Identify Top Skills
Use this tool to help you find possible job transitions based on LinkedIn insights into skills similarity.
Enter your most recent role to see the transitions you could make. LinkedIn will show you skills you already have in common with those jobs and the skills you may need to build, along with open jobs that are available in your region and an easy way to connect with LinkedIn members who might be able to help you in your journey.


