In this Origin Story session, I speak with Adrian Pinon, a first generation college grad who took an unlikely path of self-promotion to his first job: Visiting tech company HQs around California with his message on a sign, garnering attention from ABC News, CBS News and other outlets. By doing this, Adrian proved himself to be a master marketer.
We talk through the journey Adrian took to land his first job out of university: Not knowing about college until late in life, overcoming naysayers, and learning how to market himself. Adrian even founded his own events app before graduation!
Words of wisdom: • A closed mouth does not get fed. • Talk to a person. Don’t let applicant tracking systems hold you back. • Attend that networking event. You could randomly meet a lifelong connection.
ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence powered chatbot launched in November 2022. The chatbot can take the questions you enter and provide articulate responses based on its language learning model.
One unexplored use of the chatbot is its ability to intake job descriptions and custom author cover letters and resumes to fit them.
NOTE: ChatGPT is not a substitute for real human creativity. It’s important that you review and embellish ChatGPT-created documents with your own achievements, accurate descriptions, and context about the companies you’re applying for.
Get tips to improve your resume
Copy the inside text of your resume.
Go to ChatGPT, type “How can I improve my resume, attached below?”, and paste the text of your resume. Press enter.
ChatGPT will give you bulleted tips on how to rearrange and make your resume more efficient.
Write resume achievements and customize your resume to job descriptions
Copy the responsibilities and paste them into ChatGPT. Enter this prompt: “Write resume achievements with metrics based on these job responsibilities.”
The platform will output your results!
Copy the output and, one at a time, paste them into your resume as achievements.
Go through the output manually to check for grammar, punctuation or errors, and remove any discrepancies you see.
Create a professional summary and/or “About” section for your LinkedIn profile
Paste your resume into ChatGPT.
For the prompt, say: “Write a professional summary using my resume.”
When you get your result, click “Try again” to generate two more versions.
Copy and paste those into Google Docs, so you you can compare all 3 versions.
Pick your favorite version and paste it into your resume. If you’re using it for the “About” section of your LinkedIn profile, paste it there.
Create a customized cover letter
Copy the text from your resume and paste it into ChatGPT.
Go to the job description for this role. Copy and paste the requirements and responsibilities into the chat window alongside your resume.
In the chat window, write “Write a cover letter using my resume and a job description.”
Make sure to edit in Google Docs to add the human elements AI can’t create: Why you’re passionate about the job / industry, how your experience relates to the job, and personal touches like mutual interests with the hiring manager (research their LinkedIn profile), industry people you know, etc.
Want more help with your resume and interviews?
I hope that this article helps make your job application process much quicker and more efficient.
Have more questions about what you can do with ChatGPT?
So it finally happened – You’ve been laid off from work! Maybe you saw it coming, maybe you didn’t. The first day after a layoff is crucial. You may feel exhausted or depressed. That’s completely valid. However, it’s time to get moving!
Did you know you can appeal a Separation Agreement WITHOUT paying a lawyer?
I’ll explain how later in the article.
By the way: Now that you’re job searching, why not check out some unconventional tips in our article, “How to Maximize Your Job Search“?
DISCLAIMER: This is not intended to be legal advice. I am not an attorney. Use at your own risk. Opinions expressed herein do not represent those of my employer or any associated groups.
Review Your Separation Agreement
For now, don’t panic! The first thing you want to do is review the Separation Agreement / Severance Package that HR sent you. Make a note of any lines that sound sketchy or wrong. Browse the lines for a deadline date to respond to the agreement.
File for Unemployment
After this, get on the phone with unemployment. Let them know that you just lost your job, and that you intend to file for unemployment. Calling right away will ensure you don’t lose money by filing late. The agent may ask if you are receiving severance pay or vacation/holiday pay. It’s important to be honest about this, as not to delay your unemployment package. Once you file in most states, you’ll have to take one unpaid waiting week before receiving benefits.
Don’t stop there! Contact your local aid office to ask about low-cost health care and food stamps. You may be eligible, based on your compensation package and savings. EBT / Food stamps have an unnecessary stigma around them. They can save you a lot of money on groceries.
Lastly, review your Separation Agreement to ensure it states your reason for termination as a layoff or reduction in staff. If it does not, your unemployment might be contested. In the latter case, you’ll want to ask the employer to change that reason, and if they push back, hire a lawyer.
Why would you sign on a lawyer if they’re so expensive? You don’t need to. However, lawyers have plenty of valuable advice to give. Visit your state’s Bar Association website, where you can search for a lawyer specializing in Employment Law.
Once you’ve found a lawyer, call their number and ask if they do free consultations. Once you find one who agrees to, set up a 15 minute consultation.
In that consultation, give what you feel are TOO MANY details. The object of this is for the lawyer to answer many of your questions before you commit to signing them on. Be sure to let them know it’s layoff. You’d be surprised how much relevant advice they’ll give you if you provide enough information. If you decide to sign them on later, you’ll already have a good sample of what they can do.
Health insurance is the most obnoxious thing about layoffs. From day 1 of the layoff, you want to get all of your medical, optical and dental appointments set to times/dates before the insurance expires. After the cutoff date, you will no longer be able to use your health insurance. However, you’ll usually be offered to extend your coverage (COBRA) after your employment, but the employer doesn’t pay their portion, ultimately making it quite expensive for you.
The good news is, there are now some affordable services out there for those without insurance. For medical, check out a free clinic in your town. For dental, there are monthly membership services out there like Alligator Dentalthat give sizable discounts on dental care. Here are some great options via U.S. local health departments, Medicare/Medicaid and dental schools. Lastly, EyeCare Americaoffers no-cost eye exams.
Don’t Lose Money! Check your 401K / Retirement Plan!
Do you have a balance lower than $5000 in your retirement plan? You may be subject to an automatic cash-out. This is not a joke, especially with recessionary economic conditions. As surreal as it sounds, many employers have this baked into their agreements. The minimum balance varies by company, so check your Employment Agreement. If you can’t find it there, email your HR directly and ask.
Call your 401K provider and ask what your options are. If your balance exceeds the minimum, you may be fine. If not, you may be able to put your remaining balance into a rollover account at another existing investment company you work with.
Have you spoken to a lawyer? Great! If you have a basic Separation Agreement, you probably don’t need to retain them. Writing an appeal to your HR representative is easier than it sounds. What’s important is that you know what you can ask for.
Here’s a list of common pushbacks on severance packages:
Push back deadline date
Increased compensation
Pay out vacation / holiday pay
Extended health coverage
Outplacement services
Good reference or neutral reference
If you aren’t sure how to structure the email, here’s a good template.
Sample email response template:
“Hello YOUR HR PERSON’S NAME,
After having spoken with an attorney, I would like to appeal my Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”), following my termination from YOUR COMPANY on DATE/MONTH/YEAR.
My reasons and grievances for appealing the termination are as follows:
1. ____________________________________________ State your reasons and grievances.
I would like to request the following amendments to the Agreement prior to signing, which I find to be reasonable requests:
1. Inclusion of extension of Agreement deadline date to DATE/MONTH/YEAR.
2. Inclusion of a copy of any supporting documents or written notice of performance provided to my personal email (YOUREMAIL@YOUREMAILPROVIDER.COM).
3. Inclusion of an increase to ____ additional weeks severance pay, paid in a total lump sum, written into the Agreement.
4. Inclusion of employer payment of COBRA medical, dental and vision coverage until DATE/MONTH/YEAR. If this is not possible, I am requesting that my termination date to be officially pushed back (unpaid leave of absence) to DATE/MONTH/YEAR and my medical, dental and vision insurance employer portion to be paid until that date.
5. Inclusion of clause stating that YOUR COMPANY will provide an outplacement assistance service to me, YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME, of my choosing, written into the Agreement.
DISCLAIMER: This article represents my personal views and not those of my employer or any affiliated organizations.
The job search market is more competitive than ever.
You must perform due diligence to work with the top companies and get a good deal for yourself.
Traditional job searching is not going to benefit you.
Traditional searching moves at a snail’s pace, your resume goes into a black hole, and that lessens your likelihood of attaining the job you want in a timely manner.
To get the job you want, you have to use unconventional tactics, and augment your search with external recruiters.
Your Job Search is like a Sales Cycle!
Even if you haven’t worked in sales, you will find that a job search has many similarities. The difference is that you’re not selling a product, you’re selling YOU.
What are the similarities?
– Your company / role wishlist is like a prospect list
– LinkedIn connections are your sales outreach
– Your resume is your sales presentation
– Working with recruiters is partnership building and scaling, which helps with efficiency
– Signing your offer letter is a business contract
Let’s move into some tips that will help you through each process stage.
Prospecting
Start by using LinkedIn Search filters.
Think about whether you want On-Site, Remote or Hybrid work.
Select the criteria of where you want to work (if On-Site / Hybrid).
Save potential jobs to LinkedIn Jobs page.
Unsave jobs which you’ve already applied to.
Outreach
Create a script for recruiter/hiring outreach that fits basic LinkedIn connection request size.
Example: “Hi Hiring Manager, I’m Candidate Name. Appreciate your help here: I noticed Role Name opening at Company. With experience in Skill 1, Skill 2 and Skill 3, it looks to be a great fit. Would you be the best point person? Thanks, Candidate Name”
Focus only on people that matter – Hiring managers in your discipline, internal recruiters and HR.
Go down your prospect list and customize the script when reaching out.
Reach out to everybody that fits the above job titles.
Once that’s complete, move on to the next role/company.
Do NOT fill out Applicant Tracking Systems (i.e. Greenhouse, Lever, etc.) until you READ BELOW.
Applications / Applicant Tracking Systems
Only use ATSes after you’ve reached out to people at the company on LinkedIn.
If the ATS asks you to re-enter resume information you’ve already uploaded, quit the ATS.
The purpose of filling out the ATS is to contact a recruiter to tell them you applied.
If you cannot find a contact at the company, and you MUST use an ATS, follow these best practices!
Revise a new resume each time you submit to an ATS.
Add as many keywords/skills from the job descriptions as you relevantly can, WORD for WORD. ATSes are simply search crawlers that match resume keywords to job descriptions.
Working with Recruiters
Search for “staffing” or “recruiting” in your discipline / industry.
Reach as many external recruiters as possible.
You can also reach external recruiters by asking friends or internal recruiters who’ve rejected you.
Lead by asking if the recruiter has an exclusive relationship with their client.
If they do not, politely decline.
Give the recruiter your highest salary expectation, they get paid more for higher negotiations.
Interviewing
Research interviewer’s profile before you speak with them.
Pay attention to details about mutual connections, organizations, interests, hobbies, and location/hometown.
Interviewing is 50% not about your skills, but about your likability and shared connections.
Try to use the “business sandwich” model: Open with small talk. Discuss the business at hand. Close with small talk.
It’s important to keep a balance between how much each person is talking.
If the interviewer is making you talk too much, pass the ball back into their court during questions.
If you feel the interviewer is talking too much themselves, interject with some questions.
REMEMBER: It’s OKAY to write a follow-up email elaborating on your conversation! Given that an interview is only 30 minutes to an hour, you may think of things you didn’t remember.
Post-Offer
Got an offer? Congratulations!
You will first get a verbal offer. Wait until HR sends the paper offer letter.
You’ll have about a week to sign the offer letter, but can ask for slightly more time.
This is NOT the end of the process, though most people think it is.
Now the negotiating power is in your hands.
Negotiation
By receiving an offer letter, you now know you are the company’s final candidate choice.
What do you think of the offer letter? Is the compensation right? Bonus? Stock? Benefits? PTO?
These items are all still negotiable, but you’ll have to do it gently.
You do not want to leave money on the table.
Did you know you could pre-negotiate your severance? (some companies will not do this)
The HR team will likely ask why you’re requesting pre-negotiated severance. Explain that even the best companies have layoffs, and this helps provide a sense of security.
After negotiating your terms, HR will send over a revised offer letter.
Way to go! You’ve negotiated an offer letter that both you and the company is pleased with!
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianpinon
