If The Job Search Feels Endless…Read This.
If you’re in the middle of a job search, I see you. It’s a tough time to be putting yourself out there — the market’s competitive, and the process can feel endless. You’re not imagining it.
So this week, I wanted to do something a little different. I asked recruiters, hiring managers, and other experts (including our team here at NRG, and across my network) to share their best, most honest advice for jobseekers right now — the kind of stuff that doesn’t always make it into a LinkedIn post.
Here’s what they had to say:
On Applying:
“People often think they can't apply for a role because they haven't done exactly that job before - they're focusing on the nouns of the work. I always tell people to focus on the verbs - what actions is the organization asking someone to undertake? Go through your past work and resume and look for the times you performed those same actions, then highlight those in your application and interview.”
– Arianna Haut, Senior Director of Recruitment with NRG Consulting Group
“Know your audience. Organizations want to know how you will add value to their work. All of your materials and messaging need to demonstrate how you will contribute.”
– Cassie Scarano, Managing Director with Koya Partners
“Refrain from using AI tools to draft your resume or cover letter. Employers want to hear about the real you and appreciate candidates who bring originality and a human touch to their applications. AI as an editor or word-smith is great -- but the content should still come from you!”
– Dana Hagenbuch, Founder & Principal with DH Search
“Pre-application questions aren’t admin fluff—they’re a mini work sample. Hiring managers use them to gauge your judgment, attention to detail, and motivation for the role. Don’t skip or treat them as a formality. Answer each prompt fully, with clear, specific examples that show how you think and what you’ve done. Follow instructions exactly, proofread, and let your personality come through (professionally). Every response is a chance to stand out as both qualified and human. “
– Dr. Lisa A. DeRoche, Chief People & Equity Officer with Roosevelt Institute
“Make sure you focus in on the experience you have for a specific role, including tightening up your resume so your results, metrics of success, job responsibilities and key skills you flexed in each role are easy for hiring managers to see. Also, don't be scared off by "interim" roles if they are ones you are excited about - a lot of orgs are advertising roles as interim because of broader uncertainty in the market but those positions could end up being long term in the end. And either way nothing is certain these days so it could be worth going for a great opportunity, even if it seems less assured.”
– Christina Greenberg, CEO with Edgility Search
On Interviewing:
“Think about professional experiences that have stuck with you - whether they were successful, challenging, or illustrate your skills in adapting, growing, making hard management or resource decisions, etc. Practice that storytelling in a concise and compelling way that can be an answer to any number of typical behavioral interview questions that come up. Focus on concisely (1) setting the context (2) what you did, how you responded and (3) the outcome and your takeaway.”
– Allison Kupfer Poteet, Partner with NPAG
"Do yourself a favor - stop reading interview responses from a script. Interviewers can tell. Here's a longer blog about the topic.”
– Catherine Carrington, Job Search Coach & Executive Recruiter with Carrington Talent Group
“When interviewing with the hiring manager or panel, don’t underestimate the impact of sharing what the organization and its mission means to you. Speak from the heart and share specific examples of their work that inspire you!”
– Megan Severson, Senior Director of Recruitment with NRG Consulting Group
“Know your story. You don’t need a perfect pitch — you need a clear one. Be honest about where you’ve been, what you’ve learned, and where you want to go. The clearer your story, the easier it is for someone to advocate for you.”
– Jaclyn Jones, Senior Director of Recruitment with NRG Consulting Group
On hope:
“Do not lose hope, and stay grounded in the incredible strengths you bring! Find the people who are going to be your cheerleaders and support. It's a challenging job market and challenging time, and organizations are looking for leaders with resilience to lead through it. You have valuable and beautiful experiences and perspectives - don't forget to celebrate and honor those, even if they aren't always the right fit for a particular role.”
– Callie Carroll with CLC Endeavors
I hope something in here helps you feel a little less alone in the process — and maybe even gives you a new way to approach your next application or interview. You’ve got this.
Executive Director @ Virginia Conservation Network | Richmond, VA | $115K-$125K
Executive Director @ Gamaliel | Remote | $150K
State Senior Strategist @ Sunrise Project | Remote | $128K-$133K
Executive Coordinator @ Freedom Together Foundation | NYC (Hybrid) | $117K
Executive Manager to the CEO @ TransLash | NYC | $100K-$115K
Hudson Valley Organizing Coordinator @ Open New York | Hudson Valley | $65K-$75K
Westchester Organizing Coordinator @ Open New York | Westchester, NY | $65K-$75K
Major Gifts Officer @ UTEC | Lowell, MA (Hybrid) | $96K
That’s not all! We’re hiring for additional jobs and you can see all of them on the NRG website
UPCOMING EVENTS
Getting a career coach is a helpful tool when looking for a job. We know private coaching can be out-of-budget for those on the job hunt, so we offer Small Group Coaching Sessions as an affordable option. We focus our sessions on the questions we get asked the most: How do I make my resume stand out? How do I network effectively?
Post Your Jobs With Us
Are you (or orgs you know) hiring this fall? Our newsletter on October 22nd is all about highlighting the jobs from our networks.
We’d love to highlight your open roles in the blast. Submit jobs by Monday, 10/20:
📢 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? Take 3 minutes to 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, sign up right now for 15 minutes with Kristin to learn how NRG’s coaching programs can help you. If you find this newsletter helpful, forward it to your friends and help us build our network! If you received this from a friend, sign up here to receive future “Get Hired'' newsletters.