How to stand out when everyone is qualified
If you’re reading this from a snow day (or what should have been a snow day), I hope you stayed warm this weekend. Like many of you, my household was juggling weather forecasts and closed schools, and now we’re settling into the week ❄️.
Storms have a way of slowing things down—and for many people right now, the job market can feel a little like that too: crowded, uncertain, and hard to navigate. We’re seeing a lot of highly qualified candidates in the market for a job right now. Which brings us to this week’s focus: how to stand out when everyone is qualified.
Yes, the market is competitive. But there is only one you, and you bring a unique value add. Here are a few ways to make sure that comes through.
1) Use their language
Hiring teams can immediately tell when someone really understands the role and their organization versus when they’re speaking in generic buzzwords.
Mirror the language in the job description. Are they saying development or philanthropy? Digital strategy or marketing? Pay close attention to the words they use and reflect them back clearly and consistently. This way you can really speak to what they’re looking for.
Reflect the organization’s values, priorities, and framing. Language really matters here. If an organization’s mission is to fight climate change, use that language, rather than “environmental work” or “global warming.” The same goes for values: how do they talk about culture, equity, or DEI? Using their language signals that you understand their mission, their positioning, and that you’re aligned.
Use examples that clearly connect your experience to their needs. My favorite approach: go through the job description line by line, especially the responsibilities and qualifications. For each bullet point, craft a specific example from your experience that shows you’ve done that work (or something very close to it).
2) Networking
Yes, even now. Especially now.
Reach out to people who work at the organization. If possible, connect with the hiring manager or recruiter before applying and ask for a quick info call. This can help you better understand the role, assess whether it’s a strong fit, and start building a relationship early.
Talk to folks at orgs you admire. If you think someone is doing great work, reach out and ask for a short chat. Pick their brain about their role, the organization, how they got there, and what they’ve learned along the way.
Prepare your ask. In my opinion, your networking question shouldn’t be, “Do you know of any jobs for me?” Instead, try things like:
“Given the kinds of roles I’m pursuing, what should I be highlighting on my resume?”
“What experience would you recommend building to move into this type of role?”
“Who else do you know that’s doing great work right now?”
Or simply: “Who else should I be talking to?”
Warm connections don’t replace qualifications, but they do help your application get attention. We have an NRG Networking Hour coming up on Feb. 5th. It’s pay-what-you-can. We hope to see you there!
3) First impressions really matter
When everyone meets the baseline qualifications, preparation becomes the differentiator.
A strong tailored resume. Use key language from the job description in your resume, and focus your bullet points on experience and outcomes that directly relate to the role. This signals alignment and helps reviewers see why you should get an interview.
Thoughtful responses to your application questions (or cover letter). We see a lot of copy and paste responses from AI. Even if you leverage AI in your job search, make sure your responses are you. And don’t skip the final read through – reviewers are often scanning for writing skills.
Prepared interviews where you can clearly tell your story. My favorite way to prepare is to develop a strong example or response for each key bullet point in the job description. On top of that, practice how you introduce yourself and tell your personal story. That intro can set the tone for the entire interview.
4) Apply early
This one is huge. Many hiring teams review applications on a rolling basis. If you see a role you’re excited about and qualified for, don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. Early applications often get more time and consideration, while later applications may be competing for fewer remaining “slots”.
5) Be specific about your impact
General experience typically blends in, but your specific impact stands out. As the Harvard Business School tells us, stories are more memorable than statistics. So, use concrete examples to help hiring teams remember you.
What changed because you were there?
What did you build, lead, improve, or scale?
What results can you point to?
The job market is competitive right now, but that doesn’t mean it’s hopeless. It does mean being more intentional, more prepared, and more strategic. We’re rooting for you at NRG, and I’ll keep sharing what we’re seeing from the search side.
Executive Director @ United Working Families | Chicago | $95K-$105K
Executive Director @ Anonymous Organization | Remote | $220K-$240K
Development Director @ Vital Impacts | Remote | $120K
Development Director @ Upstream | Remote | $120K-$130K
Development Director @ PowerSwitch Action | Remote | $91K-$114K
Campaign Director @ Pramila for Congress | Remote, Seattle Preferred | $110K-$120K
Policy & Advocacy Director @ Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition | Remote in DC | $120K-$130K
Media Director @ Working America | DC | $155K+
Senior Healthcare Research/Campaign Coordinator @ Private Equity Stakeholder Project | Remote | $99.3K
Senior Counsel for Family Defense & Strategic Litigation @ Mother’s Outreach Network | DC | $120K-$125K
That’s not all! We’re hiring for additional jobs and you can see all of them on the NRG website.
Upcoming Programs & Events
Launch Your Search Cohorts
📣 Our first Launch Your Search Cohort is full! We are fielding interest for a second group: Fridays at 2pm ET 📣
Our Launch Your Search Cohorts are a 4-week coaching series designed for mission-driven job seekers looking for strategy, structure, and support. The Cohort is four weekly sessions covering everything from organizing your search to acing interviews, with a small group (max 6 people) and email access to our coach between sessions.
$600 for 4 Weeks | Fridays at 2pm ET | Starts 2/6
2/5 NRG Networking Hour
On February 5, 2026, join our pay-what-you-can virtual networking hour. Whether you’re actively job searching, exploring your next move, or simply looking to expand your network of like-minded professionals, this session is for you.
📢 Follow NRG on LinkedIn to stay up to date on the roles we’re hiring for.
📬 Not a member of the NRG Talent Network yet? Fill out a quick form and let us know you're thinking about your next role.
Let’s move,
Naomi
P.S. If you’d like a partner to help you with your job search strategy, learn how NRG’s coaching programs can help you.
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