This might sound "obvious", but it's one of those things I think it's good to get clear on and remind ourselves about every now and then.

You are NOT your resume.

If you're applying for jobs left, right and center -- and keep getting "rejected" by all of them (or, even worse, ignored completely) -- then it's easy to fall into the trap of taking that rejection personally.

What I mean by that is this:

Your brain plays a trick on you, and, without noticing, "my resume" becomes "me". It feels like employers are slamming the door in your face and shutting you out in the cold -- rather than just rejecting your resume.

Writing your resume can be tough.

Especially if it’s been a while since you last updated your resume.

It's difficult to communicate -- explicitly and clearly -- how you added value in your previous roles, and how you're going to add value in the future.

But it is VITAL.

In fact, if your resume isn't getting you interviews right now, if recruiters and HR reps aren't calling you back, then this could be the reason why.

Here's an easy way to get clear on how you add value:

I want to share a bit of my personal story.

Once upon a time, I got an interview with a great company through a family member. The first interview went okay, and I thought the job was a shoe in.

However, the last interview – the BIG one – wasn’t so pleasant.

When I showed up, I was impressed with how modern the office looked. The interviewer was in a sharp suit, and everything seemed like it was expressly designed for “big shots”.

I thought I was prepared, but then the interviewer asked me a question that threw me for a loop. After I answered, the interviewer took off his glasses, looked me in the eye and said:

Yesterday, we talked about how interviewers’ mindsets have changed.

They’ve shifted from looking for suitable candidates to looking for ways to cut candidates from the running as fast as possible.

Why?

Because they believe it’s far more expensive to bring the wrong person on board than it is to wait for the right candidate. In other words, they’d rather hire nobody than make a costly mistake.

That means it’s more important than ever before for you to go into an interview fully prepared.

Consider this:

Eric Schmidt helped build Google.
            
In the book he wrote with Jonathon Rosenberg, called How Google Works, they talk about their "LAX rule" for choosing the best new hires.
            
It's a company house rule that every manager was encouraged to follow.
            
And the reason I'm telling you about it now is that a lot of hiring managers, especially younger ones look up to Eric Schmidt. They've read How Google Works, and they use this "LAX rule" for their own hiring decisions.
            
It goes like this:
            
If the hiring manager was trapped in LAX because their flight was delayed, could they endure 4-5 hours talking with this candidate?

Let's talk about "mojo".
            
It's that indescribable quality – which most of us have experienced at some point in our lives – when people just respond to you differently.
            
They laugh at your jokes.
            
They take you more seriously.

It feels an awful lot like dating. And even the ugly guys won't call you back."   

That's how someone on LinkedIn described the job seeking process. (I think it was LinkedIn. It might have been a different online platform. I wrote it down in my notebook a few months ago, meaning to share it with you.)
            
You know, in many ways the job seeking process *really is* like dating – and that's why I'll often use dating/relationship metaphors to make a point.
            
For example.

Here's something we hear a lot from frustrated job seekers:
            
"I've sent out more than 100 resumes... I've applied for dozens of jobs... but have only landed a few interviews. Nobody wants to give me a break."
            
Can you relate to this?
            
If so, don't be so hard on yourself. Because this is something that a LOT of folks experience and, thankfully, it's easier to solve than you might think.

Today, I'm going to share with you something simple you can do to improve your professional profile, and show up on more hiring managers' radars.
            
It doesn't cost any money.
            
It requires some time, but not a lot (one or two hours, max).
            
You don't even need to leave your house.

Most of us know that gratitude is good for soul.
            
But it's also good for your career prospects -- especially if you're going through a difficult transition right now.
            
Candidates who cultivate a genuine sense of gratitude come across to interviewers as more grounded, more charismatic, and more attractive.
            
So it really pays to remind yourself about all the things in your life that are great right now. Even if things aren't entirely perfect.