When looking for a new job, one of the most important steps is creating an effective job search post. This post allows you to showcase your skills, experience and personality to potential employers. But with so much riding on it, what exactly should you include in this all-important document? Here are some quick tips on what to write in a job search post:
Summary Section
Start off your post with a short 2-3 sentence summary at the very top. This summary should serve as an introductory elevator pitch highlighting your biggest assets. Mention your most relevant hard skills, years of experience, and 1-2 soft skills or traits that make you stand out. This gives employers an immediate high-level view of what you bring to the table.
Professional Headline
Follow up the summary with a professional headline below your name. This headline should serve almost like a mini job title, summarizing in 1 short phrase the role you are targeting. For example “Results-Driven Marketing Manager” or “Customer-Focused Accountant”. Choose words that emphasize your strongest skills and abilities.
Core Skills Section
One of the most critical sections is highlighting your core relevant skills for the role. Break this down into short bullet points, no more than 2-4 words each. Include both hard skills (like programming languages, software, etc) and soft skills (like communication, time management, etc). Only focus on skills directly tied to the job; this is not the place for hobbies or minor skills. Prioritize the top 5-7 skills that you want to showcase.
Work Experience Section
Of course you will want to include your full work history. For each role, briefly summarize in 2-4 bullet points the key responsibilities, achievements, and skills built. Customize each job description specifically for the role you are applying to now. So emphasize responsibilities and accomplishments from past jobs that align with the target job requirements. Use facts/data to quantify achievements when possible.
Education Section
List your degrees, certifications, coursework and training. Include the degree earned, major/minor, school name, graduation year. You can also mention academic accomplishments like honors, scholarships, or activities. Especially highlight educational details that pertain directly to the job like relevant coursework.
Optional Sections
Consider adding optional sections like:
– Volunteer work or community involvement – shows other skills
– Awards and honors – highlights achievements
– Certifications or licenses – emphasizes specialized expertise
– Languages – shows additional assets
– Interests or hobbies – reveals personality traits
Only include these optional sections if you have impressive details that showcase you in a positive light.
What to Include in Each Section
Now let’s dive deeper into what you should include in each key section of a job search post:
Summary
Your opening summary should briefly highlight your biggest selling points as a candidate. Specifically cover these key details:
– Primary skill(s) or area(s) of expertise
– Total years of professional experience
– Level (entry, mid, senior, director, etc)
– 1-2 soft skills or stand out qualities
Here are some examples:
“Innovative product manager with 5+ years experience leading cross-functional teams to launch industry-leading software products by combining superb strategic thinking with empathetic leadership skills.”
“Detail-oriented accountant with 10+ years experience overseeing all aspects of financial reporting and analysis. Forward-thinking professional who excels at leveraging data to provide strategic business insights.”
“Highly analytical data scientist with 3+ years experience working with massive datasets. Skilled in advanced machine learning techniques and statistical modeling. Passionate about translating raw data into impactful insights.”
Keep it short, convincing, and focused on your most relevant strengths. The summary section is your hook to get employers interested in learning more.
Professional Headline
Your professional headline mirrors a mini “job title” summarizing the role you want. For example:
– Senior Product Manager
– Data Analyst
– Social Media Coordinator
– Software Engineer
– Digital Marketing Specialist
Choose words that communicate your level, field, and area of expertise. This headline helps employers quickly understand the exact position you are targeting in your job search.
Core Skills
The skills section highlights your key technical abilities and soft skills relevant to the role. For technical skills, include:
– Software, programs, tools you have experience with
– Coding languages and frameworks
– Methodologies you have worked with
– Industry specific skills and knowledge
When listing soft skills, consider these examples:
– Communication – verbal, written, presentation
– Teamwork and collaboration
– Time management and organization
– Problem solving
– Leadership
– Project management
– Creativity
– Analytical thinking
– Flexibility, adaptability
– Attention to detail
Carefully curate the top skills you want to feature that align with the target job. 5-7 bullets is ideal.
Work Experience
When detailing your professional experience, you want to highlight accomplishments and responsibilities that relate directly to the job you are applying for.
For each role include:
– Company name and location
– Job title
– Employment dates (e.g. March 2017 – May 2022)
– 2-4 bullet points summarizing your key contributions. Quantify and highlight achievements when possible.
– Emphasize transferrable skills and relevant tasks/projects
– Use action verbs like “launched”, “led”, “managed”, “built”, etc.
For example:
Social Media Manager, XYZ Company (San Francisco, CA)
January 2019 – Present
– Grew Instagram followers by 25% year-over-year through innovative viral campaigns
– Collaborated with creative teams to develop and execute new social campaigns across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
– Analyzed audience insights and created data-driven content strategies to engage key demographics
– Managed social media calendars and day-to-day activities across 3 brand accounts
Carefully curate the most relevant accomplishments. It’s OK to tailor the descriptions to better match the target role. Just be honest and accurate.
Education
For education, start with your highest degree first. For each degree, list:
– Full degree name, major/minor if applicable
– University name and location
– Graduation month and year
– Academic honors, special projects, related coursework
Then include any additional training, certifications, or seminars that add value:
– Certification name and ID number
– Issuing organization and date completed
– Relevant training programs
– Professional seminars
Focus on educational details that relate to the job requirements.
Formatting Tips
Beyond what you write, pay attention to how you format your job search post:
Length
– Keep it concise at 1 page if possible, 2 pages max
Layout
– Use clean, readable fonts like Arial, Georgia, or Calibri (10-12pt size)
– Add whitespace between sections to improve scannability
– Use bold fonts, italics, or caps to highlight key details
Sections
– Organize related info under section headings like Work Experience
– Start with your strongest assets first – summary and skills
Consistency
– Use parallel structure for date ranges, bullet points, accomplishments
– Keep verb tenses consistent – all past tense for prior roles
Accuracy
– Proofread for any spelling or grammar errors
– Validate all details are correct
Customizing Your Post
While the above covers core components to include, it’s important to customize your job search post for each application:
Target company research
– Review the job description in detail, note required skills/experience
– Research the company’s mission, values, goals
– Understand their products, services, business needs
– Identify their challenges, competitors, industry landscape
Matching skills
– Make a list of your skills and experience that directly matches the job requirements
– Cross-reference against the company needs and goals
– Prioritize the most relevant skills and accomplishments to feature
Tailoring content
– Adjust wording to include keywords from the job posting throughout
– Tweak skills/experience to align with keywords
– Refine professional headline to match the role
– Add a cover letter to explain how you would add value specifically for that company
Targeted customization ensures the best chance of getting interviews!
Conclusion
Your job search post serves as your personal sales pitch to hiring managers. By following the steps here, you can create an effective post that gets you noticed:
– Lead with an impressive summary and professional headline
– Showcase your best skills and achievements tailored specifically to the role
– Use clean formatting with organized sections and consistent details
– Quantify accomplishments and customize content for the target company
Putting extra time into your post can really pay off with more interviews and ultimately job offers. The most important thing is crafting a document that clearly communicates how your background is a great match for the job – that will always grab employer’s attention.