Job search tip: What you think of yourself isn't as important as what others think of you

Recruiters are likely more interested in what other people think of you, than what you think of yourself.

By that I mean don't waste too much space on your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile telling the reader how skilled you believe you are - it doesn't carry much weight since you're talking about yourself.

However, if a former boss said in a LinkedIn recommendation that you were the most talented leader she ever worked with, THAT carries weight and should be featured prominently in your job search materials. It's much more persuasive because it comes from an authoritative, objective third-party.

Other examples that come from objective third-parties:

• Reference letters - similar to LinkedIn recommendations (just not as highly visible), these show how well you were thought of by former supervisors.

• Performance reviews - comments from supervisors on these evaluations often describe your skills, strengths, and results and can often be incorporate into your job search materials.
• Awards you have won - these are decided upon by other people and reflect how your performance compared to others in your peer group.

When you're preparing your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile, always look at it from the point-of-view of the recruiter. That will help you determine what information is valuable and what isn't.

​Best of luck!