poquillo™

Confession time, amiga: I used to spend HOURS scrolling through job listings, feeling that knot in my stomach grow with each “5+ years experience required” I’d see. Sound familiar? 😅

The job search process can feel like trying to solve a puzzle where half the pieces are missing. I know exactly how overwhelming it gets when you’re sending application after application into what feels like a black hole.

Why This Matters

Let’s be honest – job searching is rarely anyone’s idea of fun. But it doesn’t have to feel like you’re climbing a mountain with no end in sight. After helping several friends navigate their own career transitions and reflecting on my own experience landing a role in less than 90 days, I realized there’s a simple framework that actually works.

No complicated strategies. No paying for expensive courses. Just straightforward steps that get results.

1. Make Your Resume Work Harder (So You Don’t Have To)

Your resume isn’t just a document – it’s your ticket to getting that interview call. Here’s how I transformed mine from “meh” to “wow”:

The Perfect Header: Include your name, phone, email, and LinkedIn profile (this is non-negotiable in 2025, amiga!). Keep it clean and professional.

Experience That Actually Shows Your Value: This was my game-changer. For every bullet point, I followed a simple formula:

• Start with a strong action verb
• Explain WHAT you did
• Add HOW/WHY you did it
• End with the RESULTS (with numbers whenever possible)

Pro Tip: Put your most impressive achievement at the top of each job description. Recruiters often skim, so make that first bullet count! ✨

Strategic Section Placement: If you have 3+ years of experience, put education at the bottom. Recent graduate? Education goes up top.

The Extras That Make You Stand Out: Don’t forget to include community involvement, languages, and even relevant hobbies. These personal touches often become conversation starters in interviews!

2. Turn Your LinkedIn Profile Into a 24/7 Job Magnet

Think of LinkedIn as your digital business card that works even while you’re sleeping. No tiene que ser complicado!

Your Bio = Your 10-Second Pitch: Write your first paragraph as if you’re introducing yourself to someone at a coffee shop. Who are you, what do you do, and how can you help? Keep it conversational and in first person.

I used to have this super formal, third-person bio that sounded nothing like me. Once I rewrote it to sound like an actual human, my profile views went up 78%!

Recommendations Are Gold: Don’t be shy about asking former colleagues or managers for recommendations. Even 2-3 thoughtful ones can make a huge difference in how recruiters perceive you.

3. Create a Simple System (Because Chaos Doesn’t Get You Hired)

When I was in the thick of job hunting, I felt like I was juggling a hundred applications in my head. That’s when I created what I now call my “Sanity Saver” system:

The Job Tracker: Nothing fancy – just a simple Excel sheet with columns for:

• Company name
• Position
• Application date
• Follow-up date
• Contact person
• Status
• Notes

Email Templates For Everything: I created simple templates for:

• Initial applications
• Follow-ups (I follow up every 3 days, up to 3 times)
• Thank you notes
• Accepting/declining offers

This saved me HOURS and kept my communications professional even when I was feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

Remember: It’s a Numbers Game! The more you apply, the more comfortable you become with the process. I stopped tailoring my resume for every single position (major time drain!) and instead focused on volume with a strong base resume.

Pro Tip: Reach out directly to hiring managers via email and LinkedIn instead of going through recruiters. This direct approach helped me land interviews for positions I was technically “underqualified” for on paper!

4. Prepare For Interviews Like You’re Having Coffee With a Friend

Interviews used to terrify me until I changed my mindset. Instead of seeing them as interrogations, I started approaching them as conversations.

For every interview, I:

1. Researched the company thoroughly (but focused on their mission and recent news, not just memorizing facts)
2. Prepared stories for common questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
3. Practiced out loud (yes, talking to myself in the mirror works!)
4. Prepared 3-5 thoughtful questions to ask them

Don’t Stop Applying! This was a game-changer for my confidence. Even after landing interviews for positions I was excited about, I kept applying. Having multiple opportunities in the pipeline put me in the driver’s seat – I became the one turning down offers rather than anxiously waiting for a single company to decide my fate.

Don’t Judge a Job by Its Posting: Some of the best job experiences come from postings that looked… well, not great! Remember that job descriptions are often wish lists or written by people who aren’t great at writing job descriptions. That vague or overly demanding posting might hide an amazing opportunity, and that perfect-sounding role might be a nightmare. Always explore before deciding.

5. Never Accept The First Offer (Trust Me On This!)

This was the hardest lesson for me to learn, especially as a woman who was taught to be grateful for opportunities. But here’s what I discovered:

When you get that offer:

1. Express genuine excitement (because yay, you did it!)
2. Ask to review the complete offer by email
3. Take at least 24 hours to consider it
4. Schedule a call to discuss

For example, a simple “I’m really excited about this role and believe I can bring enormous value. Would you consider a starting salary of [5-10k more]?” can result in an additional $7,000 annually.

If They Can’t Budge On Salary: There are other valuable things you can negotiate for:

• Performance bonuses
• Additional PTO
• Remote work flexibility
• Education budget
• Equipment stipend
• Stock options

Remember, amiga: negotiating isn’t being difficult – it’s being professional.

Your Turn To Shine ✨

The job market can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into these five simple steps makes the process so much more manageable. Which of these areas do you think you need to focus on first?

Remember this above all: YOU have control over your future. The job search isn’t something that happens to you – it’s something you actively drive forward with each application, each follow-up, and each interview.

The perfect job search isn’t about waiting for the perfect position – it’s about creating so many opportunities that you get to choose the best one for you.

Cheering you on, Gaby

P.S. If you’re currently in the middle of your own job search journey, drop a comment below letting me know which step you’re going to implement this week. I’d love to cheer you on!