Location, location, location…and relocation

“Featured” section - “Show me, and I will remember!”

Experience - Put your Storytelling talent to good use

Volunteering, serving the community and you

LinkedIn to your Resume and vice versa  - the power of synergy

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LinkedIn Profile Tips.png

LinkedIn Profile Tips: How to Create an Impressive Profile That Gets Noticed


As AI technologies and social networks evolve, so do the Recruitment process and job markets. 


A recent study on Talent Works says that "87% of recruiters use LinkedIn, but only 55% use Facebook."


While before the rise of LinkedIn, recruitment was more static, nowadays, it co-lives between sourcing, cross-checking, and attracting the best talents via multiple applications and social media. So, if you still don't have a LinkedIn, head fast to create one. Although it is not likely you would be looked up on Facebook, there is a 90% guarantee HR will trace you on LinkedIn.


However, having a profile doesn't automatically get you all the right HR "hits." Instead, you need to have the right one!


In this article, Enhancv will take you through the complete list of all the tips and tricks that will make every little detail on your LinkedIn spell one word - PRO. So get ready to be taken through the following insider topics, which you can apply immediately:



Start from a Clean slate;

Relatable Headshot and Cover photo;

Are you easily contactable?;

Location, location, location, and RElocation;

Pronouns;

Headline - your one-line Resume;

Open to work status;

Personalize your LinkedIn profile link;

“About” section;

“Featured” section - “Show me, and I will remember!”;

Experience - Put your Storytelling talent to use;

“Get your ducks, we mean.. - KEYWORDS - in order;”

Let recommendations flow;

Skills endorsements worth gold;

Volunteering, serving the community and you;

Courses, Honors & Awards;

LinkedIn to your Resume and vice versa - the power of synergy;

Interests and followed industries;

Networking;



Research for 2021 shows that “31% of all hires were proactively sourced”. So let`s make you part of these lucky numbers. Ready to do your homework? 
Start from a clean slate
There is one thing worse than having no LinkedIn profile. That is an unfinished or unprofessional-looking profile. So before hurrying to apply for attractive jobs - you must FIRST clean up your LinkedIn. Remove any links, likes, shares, or photos that would create a controversial impression or ruin it altogether.

Relatable headshot and cover photo

Visibility is key. Even if you think photos are unnecessary, do not go in anonymous Darth Vader. People want to see you and who they will work with. An excellent image will help them get a glimpse of your incredible personality. So invest in a professional headshot that reflects well your professional persona and makes you relatable to the jobs you apply for. It will quickly pay off.


Did you know that “members with profile photos receive up to 21x more profile views”?


As to the cover photo - choose an image representative of your professional interests, aspirations, and causes. However, beware when using stock photos that may be cliche. On the other side, other images may be subject to copyright.


Alternatively, you can always design your Cover photo on Canva or another program. Here is one great example:
Are you easily contactable?

Ensure your contact details are easily traceable in your Resume and LinkedIn profile. So, click the Edit button in the right corner to enter your location and email.

You can also add your Portfolio link, which can be especially handy for Creatives:

It will show up like this:
Location, location, location…and relocation

Are you on the lookout to relocate to a new country? Then you will need to “swim in new seas” and expose yourself where the right recruiters will find you. Wondering how? Easy - Edit the Intro and change the Location to USA, France, Australia - anywhere you wish.
Pronouns 

What is your gender identification and expression? “She, her,” “He, him,” “They, them”? That is certainly not mandatory. However, it can reveal your broader understanding and respect of large social movements and trends. Moreover, suppose you have your eye on a role related to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. In that case, this little pronoun detail will speak volumes about you before you get to the interview.

Headline - your one-line resume

A well-crafted headline is unbeatable. First, it showcases your professional brand from minute 1 Recruiters lay eyes on your profile. Secondly, it shows up as a preview of your profile in the "People You May Know" section, LinkedIn search, LinkedIn job application posts, messages, recommendations, invitations to connect, and even Google searches. Hence, it doesn't matter if busy Recruiters click on your profile. You will already influence them - with a good headline.


And lastly, it commands a powerful Call to action, which will get the interview invites raining on you. No wonder Career experts call it a "one-line Resume."

So how to write a catchy headline?

You have 220 characters to dazzle. Make sure you use them rather than sufficing with the generic headline LinkedIn will assign to you - based on your last role and company.

Here is one more eye-catcher:

To maximize the chances of your profile hits, create a headline that is a mix of the following value proposition items:



Job title
Expertise tied to the value you provide
Hard skills
Affiliations & Certifications 
Achievements
Industry keywordsOpen to work status

If you are currently actively looking for a job, you have one more weapon to use - in addition to the location. Activate the “Open to work” status. You can find it right under your Headline:
Personalize your LinkedIn profile link

You can do that via the “Edit public profile and URL” in the upper right corner of your profile. 
“About” section

After the 220 characters in your public headline, the “About” section gives you 2000 more characters to shoot a powerful CTA to Recruiters. It inspires them to read through your profile or directly pick up the phone to dial your number. A study by Statistic Brain Research Institute found that “122 million people received an interview through LinkedIn with 35.5 million having been hired by a person they connected with on the site.” Even more, “3 people are hired every minute.”


For an attractive About summary, you need to fuse some or all of those elements in a passionate narrative:


Company branding:



Current role/ industry;

Achievements.



Personal branding:



Hard and soft skills.
Call To Action: Prompt your profile visitors to:



Connect with you;

Reach out for pro-bono services;

Download a free report;

Sign up for your newsletter;

Register for an event.



Such an "About" section sets you up not only to be discovered by Recruiters but also to promote your services.

“Featured” section - “Show me, and I will remember!”

Treat your profile visitors well - not with old-fashioned coffee and cake. Instead - take them on a Reel-show. We are all visual creatures, recruiters too - especially the ones who lately have not seen an exciting application or LinkedIn profile.


Looking for ideas on what to include? Publications, interviews, videos, presentations, certificates, awards, or photos from professional events are a great start. Then, make the most of your achievements by “embellishing” your profile with them in the Featured section.


So do not be afraid to make it big and shine! 


Get inspired by this one:
Experience - Put your Storytelling talent to good use

While a professional Resume typically presents Work experience traditionally, LinkedIn opens a whole new universe for professionals. As a result, you can embrace the liberty of unconventional ways to introduce yourself.


Let's first get a critical rule out of the way. List all your relevant jobs. Ensure there are no gaps in your career history. If any, you can think of ways to adequately present them so you address the "elephant in the room" first. Think around options like: "sabbatical year," "career break," "world trip," "full-time mom," "personal development," "self-initiated expatriate," "relocation for cultural emersion and language study," "freelance gig," "charity work," "starting own company." 


See how a slight shift makes a huge difference?


Where does storytelling come into play?


9 out of 10 Recruiters expect your LinkedIn Experience section would be – word for word – a complete copy/paste of your Resume.


Surprise them! Replace the bullet points' job responsibilities with block text infused with passion, stories, and achievements, garnished with keywords.

The whole enchilada secret sauce:



(First person) (+) Action verb;

Followed by a tangible task;

Backed up by numbers.



Right example:
Get your keywords in order

In digital marketing, SEO, Career coaching, and Recruitment - "keywords" is, undoubtedly, THE buzzword. Keywords matter for your LinkedIn and your Resume too. So if you crack their code right, you will achieve two breakthroughs:



End up on Recruiters` shortlist for your dream job. Tick!;

Pass through the "iron doors" of the AI algorithms of the ATS (Applicant tracking system), especially if you apply with your LinkedIn profile.



Regarding ATS requirements, you should also check out our post, The Best ATS-Friendly CV Examples (+ ATS-Compliant Template).


There are many ways you can become keywords-fluent. The most time-consuming is doing your research. Once identified via industry articles, job descriptions, and other relevant resources, you want to spread the relevant keywords in your headline, About, and Experience sections.


Here is a helpful Enhancv blog post about The Secret to Finding Keywords in Job Descriptions.


Alternatively, you can sign up for LinkedIn premium and get suggestions of the TOP keywords based on industry and job role.


However, that is still a lonely task and not as precise as a LinkedIn revamp by a real PRO expert.

Let Recommendations flow

The LinkedIn algorithm will “love” you if your past and current peers/managers write you a recommendation. 


The truth is - the more you have collected, the more often LinkedIn will suggest your profile to Recruiters. So if you currently have 0 recommendations, roll up your sleeves and collect a minimum of 5.
Skills endorsements worth more than gold

The maximum number of skills you can add to LinkedIn is 50. They are not only a surefire way to engage your network but also offer a quick overview of your capabilities to Recruiters. Being endorsed by your 1st-degree connections increases your profile's credibility and chances that HRs will reach you more easily with great job offers based on your skill set.


Speaking of skills, here is another helpful post from Enhancv PROs that tells you how to Tailor Your CV To the Job.

Volunteering, serving the community and you

Typically, a few experts speak of leveraging the Volunteering section of LinkedIn. However, it hides untapped potential to let your personality shine. You can use it to demonstrate soft skills like leading by example, organization, communication skills, and work etiquette.


If you apply to philanthropic or NGO roles, you want to fill this section in to showcase your flexibility, social aptitude, and organizational fit.

Courses, Honors & Awards

Your Resume can enlist your most relevant TOP achievements and professional awards. However, if you aim for a One-page CV, there is only so much space left.


In that case, LinkedIn is of invaluable help, as you can add as many achievements as you like.


Along with the Languages, the Causes, and the Interests, these are the last sections of the LinkedIn profile that, when used correctly, add the finishing touches to your “Hire me” vibe!


A word of caution for the Interests. While there are all kinds of fancy groups on LinkedIn, you better stick to those that reflect your industry engagement, professional development, and some non-confrontational hobbies. Showing the right amount of individuality and personality is a great way to intrigue your audience.

LinkedIn to your Resume and vice versa  - the power of synergy

Since a Resume and LinkedIn profile are complimentary, it is always advisable to quote your LinkedIn in your CV`s Contacts section. However, the opposite is also true. Adding your Resume to your social profile would speed up the hiring process. Recruiters will be able to download it immediately. Just make sure you always have the most up-to-date one. 


You can add it by clicking on the “More” button in the upper right corner of your profile.

Then select the option Build a Resume from the drop-down menu, after which - upload a Resume. And voila! Keep it sweet and short in the Curriculum vitae while adhering to the business tone. Leave the juicier staff for your social network presence. 

Networking 

Now that you have an eye-catching LinkedIn profile, what's next? Sure, it will get the hits. But afterward, you will need to demonstrate proactiveness and good networking skills.


Unlike Facebook, Instagram, or other social networks, simply liking and sharing a funny post won't do you much favor. So read what it does instead.


Basic networkquette rules:



Add more connections from your current or prospective industry;

Spark up exciting conversations via well-thought outreach messages;

Make networking about value/knowledge-sharing rather than transactional currency;

Offer interesting research, article, and other know-how in exchange;

Stay open to the new and different;

Be welcoming for mentorship and sponsorship;

Accept invites for meet-ups and podcasts;

Maintain the connection with occasional messages rather than one-offs;

Regularly share not necessarily long but meaningful content;

Add/follow influencers and industry leaders to stay up-to-date with the latest trend;

Join groups and participate in public discussions.



Do you have more points? Get creative with networking.


You will do amazing - as long as you stay professional, courteous, and respectful!


In this article, you learned how to do a complete makeover of your LinkedIn, from "head to toe."


Apply the visual/written content and keywords guidelines for the Headline, About, Featured, Experience, Skills Endorsements, Volunteering, and Interests, along with the networking tips, and your career will soon skyrocket!


5 short cover letter examples for different industries

How to become the master of Call to Actions

What's the ideal structure of a short cover letter

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Short Cover Letter.png

Short Cover Letter Examples: How to Write a Powerful Cover Letter That Stands Out


Do you recall finding out you need to write a Cover letter for a job application and your whole body shivers with resistance?! We feel you. “I love crafting Cover letters,” - said no one ever. However, Enhancv PROs will let you in on the secrets to writing short and efficient Cover letters, which work even better than long ones.


Over the years, we have noticed that not only candidates are resistant to writing Cover letters - especially long ones - but the time-starved HRs too have developed a super low threshold of tolerance to reading them.


Solution? The short Cover letter. In recent years, more and more HRs and Career coaches speak of the value of the 3-sentence Cover letter.


In this blog post, we will go over:



A to-the-point, sealing-the-deal examples;

When to use a short Cover letter;

How long is too long;

How to become the master of CTAs;

What's the ideal structure of a short Cover letter;



First things first! Sit down, relax and let Enhancv guide you through a few killer-good short cover letters. Then, ready, steady, GO!
5 short cover letter examples for different industries#1 Art & Creative Sector#2 ICT Sector#3 Corporate Sector#4 Internship#5 Social work sector
The common thing between all the above short Cover letters is not only that they skillfully play with words, but they possess all the needed success elements:



Personal salutation - Dear (Hiring manager name)

1st Paragraph: Straight-to-point intro and your biggest job-fit win

2nd Paragraph: What will you ACHIEVE FOR THEM

3rd Paragraph: Your fierce call to action

Formal closing

P.S. All-in with your 2nd value refueling CTA



More in detail on that you will find at the end of this post! But let`s first dive deeper into the other specs to turn you into an epic short Cover letter PRO.

When to use a short cover letter

Despite the heated debates that Cover letters are dead, and no one needs them, let alone - read them in 2022. In reality, as a FORBES article states,”83% of HR professionals think cover letters are essential when making hiring decisions”. Moreover, “7 in 10 recruiters expect to receive a cover letter even if they mark them as “optional” in job ads”. So, do send a Cover letter, even if it's not required - you'll gear yourself up for success.


Of course, that doesn't mean writing a Cover letter should be tiresome. We are so conditioned to overdeliver in our compulsive doers' society that we may often be compelled to crowd our Cover letters with any insignificant job we did or unrelated skills. Thinking this is a winning strategy, we shoot ourselves in the foot, as the opposite is true. 


You will not disappoint HRs with a short Cover letter - they will LOVE you, as long as it is well-targeted, and we will teach you exactly how to do that!


Less is more when turning HR into your biggest raving fan. You can do just that with a short Cover letter that contains:



A carefully curated list of skills and achievements;

A powerful call to action. 



So let's get one thing out the way, which not every advice out there tells you. Candidates are not only allowed but encouraged to send short Cover letters. 

Entry-position

Using a short Cover letter definitely applies to entry positions where you don't necessarily have a long track record. Then you will need to choose 1 job-related skill or achievement and 1 inspiring call to action and spread that over 2-3 paragraphs maximum.

TOP-level position

High-level executives often have decades of experience in one or several sectors. In that case, it would be way too tedious and totally unnecessary to describe every single job-related success. So a juicy, glory-packed short Cover letter is applicable, where you can cherry-pick the top 3 mind-blowing work wins to boast with. This will surely be your pass to the organization.

When a Cover letter is not required

99% of candidates will tell themselves, “Thank God!” when they read a Cover letter is unnecessary and will drop just their Resume and go about their day. However, only 1% will put effort into writing a Cover letter that introduces them in a meaningful and powerful way. And Enhancv wants you to be one of these 1 % winners. So, once you've read all the PRO knowledge from this article, you can head directly to our FREE Cover letter builder.


As we already highlighted, it shouldn't be a novel-size letter. As a matter of fact, when it is not mandatory, you can embed your short (and sweet!) Cover letter right in the body of your email with the CV attached. That way, you make it easier for the Recruiter to see your TOP strengths right away.

How long is too long

Glad you asked! The general standard for Cover letter length is a maximum of 1-page. By all means, never go over 1 page. 


What’s more, check whether your cover letter offers enough “breathing” space for your reader.


If you cram everything in a single block of text, your story would disengage the recruiter. Wouldn't you do it too? It's like being with a friend who never stops talking, and you have no chance to take the word. 


Now, when we speak of short Cover letters, the recommended sweet spot length is around 150 words. Fascinating, isn't it? If you wonder how the heck you are to pack all the glory you've got to offer in that tight word count, bear with us! We are getting there soon! Meanwhile, you can take a look at our cover letter examples.

How to become the master of Call to Actions

The knack for writing a killer short Cover letter is making just the proper use of calls to action that are motivating enough for the Recruiter to pick up the phone and schedule an interview to get the info you promised. 


In order to make engaging CTAs, you need to take care of a few things first:



Find out the organization's needs;

Research the job description;

Ponder on your expertise and achievements and identify how you are the missing piece;

TAKE YOUR TIME! Short cover letters are 90% strategy and 10% writing;

Make a proposition statement that powerfully connects you and the organization;

Indirectly suggest a follow-up contact with a promise to reveal some of your know-how;



Just take a quick look at these cleverly “served” CTAs from the above short cover letters template are:
What's the ideal structure of a short cover letter

We are sure we have already poked at your curiosity about how exactly to write your own short Cover letter. Here are the secret sauce ingredients that never fail:



Personal salutation - Dear (Hiring manager name)

1st Paragraph: Straight-to-point intro and your biggest job-fit win

2nd Paragraph: What will you ACHIEVE FOR THEM

3rd Paragraph: Your fierce call to action

Formal closing

P.S. All-in with your 2nd value refueling CTA



Remember that to make your Cover letter even more compact, you can limit all the 3 paragraphs to one sentence each.

Personal salutation

Whether you write a short or a traditional Cover letter, and whether you enclose it in an email or send it as an attachment, one element should always be present - the personal salutation. It sets you up for success from Hello! You should always address it to the Recruiter's name; if you don't know it, try to dig it out. You can read more tips and tricks on how to do that in the Enhancv post Cover Letter Salutation That Entices the Recruiter to Learn More About You.

1st Paragraph: Straight-to-point intro and your biggest job-fit win

The second building block to your success is cutting all unnecessary details and, without further ado, going straight to the point. A short Cover letter consists only of high-value, high-vibe job-fitting achievements of you that keep the momentum up throughout the whole time. Hence, you can be sure it will keep the Recruiter wide awake like they have just drank two cups of the most robust Italian espresso. 


It showcases only THE BEST OF THE BEST of your professional persona concerning the position you apply for.


It should be invigorating and lead them to invite you to an interview invitation and, ultimately, a job offer.


Hence, you need to make quite an appearance. So instead of entering the stage with the boring, overused and predictable “I'm writing to express my interest in the position of Key account manager that you advertised on LinkedIn”, you perform a short, adrenaline-infused demo of your best job-fitting achievement and/or skill.


Starting strong and to the point in combination with the short volume guarantees skillfully attracting the HR attention and waking their curiosity to learn more about you.

2nd Paragraph: What will your fit achieve for them 

Once you've made a powerful entry from the first second, showing them in numbers and achievements you are the person they are looking for, it's crucial to keep the ball high in the second paragraph. That means you need to cut all trendy buzz-words like “detail-oriented,” “hard-worker,” and “stress-resilient.” Actions speak louder than words. So in this section, you will need to pick at least one of your relevant successes and assure them what exactly you will be able to do for them, thanks to your proven expertise.

3rd Paragraph: Your fierce call to action

Here is what, you reap what you sow. In other words, you invite the Recruiter to further contact you for the goodies you've got to offer.


Nonetheless, we do feel obliged to make an important disclaimer. Even if you are the most qualified candidate for the role in the world, grounded humility is still a nice-to-have. Moreover, you might lose some integrity if you opt for the overly aggressive Call to action, stating you will contact HR within a specific time to schedule an interview. You can proceed with such an approach only if you are 100% sure it is in line with the organizational culture, and the position you apply for requires you to model or even master such a behavior. Otherwise, overly intense CTA can seriously hurt your application.


The good news is that you can indirectly inspire HR to take your desired action without appearing overly pushy or cocky.


One more bonus insider secret: resist the urge to use larger-than-life statements like: “I am certain I am the best candidate for the role!” Usually, those backfire, as they sound unprofessional and very self-centered. So instead of telling this, the trick is to lead HR to draw the same conclusion based on the achievements and skills present. 


Your actions should make it evident that you are the best!

Formal closing 

A short cover letter closing should be just that - "formal." Your best bet here is always an official close-off salutation like "Best regards," accompanied by your name. We can't stress enough the need to befriend your eagerness and anxiety to get the role. Neediness repels; confidence attracts. Hence, your short Cover letter closing should carry a self-poised air of quiet but stable esteem. In other words, cut off any cheesy phrases like "I would be excited to get an opportunity to interview with you!", "Looking forward to hearing back from you" and "Thank you very much for the time to review my application." A simple "Thank you!" is a lot more powerful instead. 

P.S. Go all-in with your second value refueling CTA

The short Cover letter, with its hype structure, offers the opportunity to add one more final adrenaline boost. 


Your last secret weapon - the Post-script, has the same standing ovation effect a grand finale has on its audience in the ballet hall. You should definitely use the PS if you have a job-related achievement that would benefit the organization, which you can present to them at a meeting or an interview. By sharing a vital piece of information, you set positive expectations, which skyrockets you to the top of the Recruiter` shortlist.


Review and confirm the “small font” of your job offer

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How to Accept a Job Offer.png

How to Accept a Job Offer


So you have gotten a verbal job offer? Even if you are head over heels excited about it, it is still worth cross-checking with the Recruiter who delivered the good news if the offer meets all your requirements.


After you are sure you want to give it a GO, you must do it right and with envied business class. 


In this blog post, Enhancv PROs will teach how to accept a job offer that makes your heart race like a Ferrari. We will cover the following:



Review and confirm the "small font" of your job offer;
Negotiate the conditions you want;
Say "Yes" - both verbal and written;
Design your Job offer acceptance offer;
Quit your current job.Review and confirm the “small font” of your job offer
We know the job hunt can sometimes be time-consuming and tiring, so you may want it to be over a.s.a.p. But, unfortunately, that application fatigue can make anyone take the first job chance fate offers without double-checking details. Not to worry, though - we are with you in every step of your career journey – from the job search and interview prep to Compensation negotiation.


Now, back to the small font in your job offer – even if you feel like accepting on the go, we strongly advise you to use your time wisely. 


Most employers first provide a verbal offer via phone call to the successful candidate/s. You can still express gratitude and excitement, but make sure to ask all the questions you need, even though HR may omit to mention them. 


For example:



Is the salary Gross or Net;

What perks will you get: bicycle plan, travel reimbursement, free fruits/lunch, home office allowance, unlimited paid vacation, and company product discounts.



The right time to discuss all these queries is before receiving the written offer. Then, it is much easier for HR to reflect in the offer all the negotiated changes immediately.

Negotiate the conditions you want

If you have received the offer in writing directly, you should diligently examine all the details. Plus, it is ok to express thanks for the opportunity offered and inform them that you will provide them with your answer shortly.


Disclaimer: Be aware that the acceptable time you can delay an answer to a job offer is a maximum of 2 days. After all, should you opt-out, the Recruiter will need more time to contact the other finalists or search for a new match at the speed of light. 


In addition, if you discover points you want to address to the HR department and need help with how exactly to do that, you can always get a  Personal Career counselor from one of our Dream job packages. They will support you in the negotiation process to get a profitable job that makes you feel professionally fulfilled and keeps your mental and physical well-being in the long run.

Say “Yes” - both verbal and written

Many candidates wonder if only verbal confirmation is enough when embarking on new professional chances. The short answer is: No.


While it may not be the end of the world, if you skip sending your written acceptance, you would best do it like a PRO. We have got you covered here too. 

Design your Job offer acceptance letter

Documenting your acceptance to demonstrate your business class and avoid misunderstanding makes sense. However, you may be wondering how exactly to do that.


You can say Yes to your new employer via a job acceptance letter or job acceptance email. Regardless of which one of those two business communications you choose, this is the structure to follow:



Courtesy: Start with Thanks!

Give your official acceptance and list the exact position.

State your agreed salary, plus benefits and other perks.

Top it with a high note.



Here is an exemplary template of a job offer acceptance that you can use directly to grab your next role.
Quit your current job

As they say, as one door closes, another opens. So also, with a new opportunity, you may need to file your resignation from your current role after you accept your new dream job. Again, what matters most here is - like with the job acceptance - to do it with appreciation and class. Burning bridges is not a good idea at work. Check out our article on the topic of how to quit your job for a handful of useful insights.


As a general rule, the necessary elements you should include in your Resignation letter are:



Reason for leaving;

Last date of employment;

Statement of gratitude - quote a few work achievements and memorable team successes or projects that helped you grow;

Final arrangements and succession planning.



Lastly, you want to read also our post, How to Submit a Two Weeks Notice Letter. No matter where you currently work or the critical position you hold, a two-week notice letter is a legit and PRO way to resign with tact.


In this article, you learned how to discuss job offer conditions and negotiate so you can confidently accept your new offer. But, more than that, you are now prepared to write your Job offer acceptance letter and your two-week notice period.


17 toxic organizational culture interview signs

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Toxic Work Culture At The Interview.png

How To Spot Toxic Work Culture At The Interview: 17 Signs To Watch Out For


It feels like forever, but finally, here you are, confident and shining at your dream job interview.


Your family and friends congratulate you for taking a big step forward in your career.


While all sounds like sunshine and rainbows, before you get too carried away with exhilaration, you must ensure that everything is as good as it seems.


For example, sometimes we focus too much on how prestigious a role is, rather than how happy it would make us.


In addition, we get swept up in the company’s public image, which may not have much in common with their organizational reality.


If you close your eyes to anything that felt wrong during the interview, you risk ending up at a job that has a toxic work environment.


The good news is there are always signs you can look for to avoid falling into the “trap” of toxic employers.


Here’s what you need to take control of the interview:



Do your preliminary research

Stick to your "guns"

Trust your gut

Don't be shy to counter-offer

Take your time



So, let’s take you on a crash course on spotting all those tricky little signs of toxic organizational culture.
Do your preliminary research

You will significantly minimize the risks of being catfished by a company that does not deserve your potential simply by making sure to check out the company's social media reviews on websites like Glassdoor. Rest assured, if the organization is toxic, you will see it reflected in the comments.


Another excellent approach is to network on LinkedIn with experts who already work at the company. You can casually ask them about the organizational climate and what makes them happy to work there. 


Furthermore, compared to employer reviews, where you can come across a false negative review, speaking directly to employers helps you find out first-hand, verified information. The important thing here is to take a mental note if you find something mildly concerning about your future potential employer. 
Stick to your "guns"

You probably have heard of the so-called "behavioral interview," or maybe you have even experienced it yourself. Simply said - behavioral interviewing is simulating certain stressful situations to strike anxiety in the candidate and see how well they will be able to respond and come out of it. Even though the ethics of this old-school approach are very questionable, it is still used. 


So we at Enhancv want you to be prepared if you face it, and to do so with dignity. A few examples here can be:



Spilling a glass of water or - worse (!), coffee on your white shirt, seemingly accidentally, and sitting across you impishly, watching if you will flip out or keep your cool.

Deliberately delaying the interview - we have heard of cases like 20-30 minutes of lateness, while the candidate has to wait in a tiny lobby room with no idea when the meeting starts.

Telling you that there are other “high caliber” candidates more qualified than you.

Gaslighting you with the statement that you don't seem qualified enough for the role.



Still, all behavioral interview tricks have one thing in common - making candidates stressed.. Getting a candidate worried and uncertain about their value is a favorite treat of most toxic organizations. And they gladly use it as a stepping stone to a lowball offer.


So, when you face the ugly face of toxic HR tactics, the most important thing is to stay calm. Remember, it is just a game they are playing as a means to an end, so do not take their devaluation personally. Becoming reactive or too emotion-driven is what they expect, as at that moment, they would have achieved their goal - that you lose your cool. Surprise them instead! Rather than getting upset about it, you can offer the HR a short and clear rational objection based on facts from your CV. It can be something like:


"I have 3+ years of mid-level experience as an Account manager at XCM Marketing New York."


Sticking to your "guns," e.g., skills, without lowering your guard, is an excellent exit strategy for that situation. You are the only person who knows best your work history and achievements. By learning such toxic HR techniques exist you will detect them with ease and be less likely to be negatively affected in any way.

Trust your gut

One of the ways we find ourselves in toxic work situations is by ignoring our intuition and the warning signs, which are always there from the beginning. Sometimes we may have been searching for work for too long, and we convince ourselves some job is better than no job at all. So we ignore or sugarcoat toxic attitudes, abide by dire conditions, and set ourselves up for work situations that do not align with our standards.


So to solve that puzzle and strip the mask of the toxic employer,  you need to measure the facts carefully and track your body for reactions of anger, anxiety, and insecurity that the invasive or illegal interview questions may have triggered in you. For example, one of the most significant toxic culture indicators is that if you went to the interview happy and upbeat, and you felt down and squeezed like a lemon at the end. So don't ignore it, but trust the signals your body sends you.

Don't be shy to counter-offer 

By standing up for yourself and counter-offering any lowball offers, you will demonstrate you don't fit the interviewers` projections. Hence, re-position yourself where you belong, raise the bar, and learn exactly how to ask for a higher salary than offered.


When you are unsure if you should negotiate, ask yourself if you are willing to compromise with possibly losing a fortune over a year, for example, because you signed a poor offer. Or if you will be ok with destroying your mental well-being by having a toxic boss?

Take your time

When it comes to significant personal and professional decisions, like starting a new job, you owe it to yourself and your professional growth to ensure you have enough time to decide.  


Sometimes we rush ourselves to get just "a" job rather than "the" job that will make us emotionally, physically, socially, and financially happy. So, calming your job anxiety will help you not let the interviewers make you abide by their impossible interview time slots, or force you to accept a questionable job offer on the spot.


Slowing down the pace will allow you to feel the subtle nuances of communication. This will help you detect the level of toxicity, and whether you can tolerate it or not. 


And now that you found out the steps to "navigate" out of a toxic work environment, here is the promised list of the most typical toxic environment signs to watch for in the (pre)interview phase.

17 toxic organizational culture interview signs


DOWNSIZING your achievement and experience, typically upon salary negotiation.

BAD-MOUTHING other departments in the company or competitor organizations.

GASLIGHTING with speculations, you don't fit the organizational culture.

GOSSIPING about current or past employees` mistakes or bad morals makes you wonder if you will be under a magnifying lens and how soon you'll be next in line for some hate-talk behind your back.

OUT-OF-CONTROL EMPLOYEE TURN-OVER - The department is understaffed, and no force on earth, not even the best HR, can hide that they are in a hell of an emergency to find new employees asap.

TOO MUCH EAGERNESS  - No, wait! Correction - "TOO DESPERATE" to tie the knot and hire you - immediately if possible with a contract with yesterday's date, because - again - their people are dropping like flees.

ILLEGAL QUESTIONS - HR pushes your boundaries by asking you many personal questions that are none of their business. By doing this, the interviewer "helps" you solidify your impression of toxicity, as it shows the company's selfish stance for their own organizational goals only, without consideration for their employees` aspirations or overall well-being. 

CHAOS - HR is disorganized, unprofessional, and not responsive - it may take ages till you get a reply, or you are not kept in the loop at all.

LACK OF CLARITY - The interviewer avoids answering your questions, especially the tough ones.

TOO MANY FREEBIES ASKED FROM YOUR SIDE - As - supposedly - a way to test your skills. This includes a full trial day, an unpaid assignment, etc. That should be rejected - or at the very least negotiated to something reasonable or require to be paid.

SLIDING THROUGH THE SURFACE - Throughout the whole time, you may feel something is missing, or things are not quite right. And you may very well be right.

TOO LONG OR TOO SHORT INTERVIEW PROCESS - Both can be symptomatic of deeper organizational problems. Timing is not a reason to ditch a potential employer, but in combination with several other warning signs- it may as well be.

MICROMANAGEMENT & INFLATED ORGANIZATIONAL IMPORTANCE - Asking the whole team of your future department and all the other departments` team leads to "check you out" before they make up their "mind" for you - like you are some kind of purchase goods.

“VIVA” ALL-IN-ONE JOB MULTITASKING! - Lack of clarity for your role specifics, or including duties of other job titles into yours.

THE FAMILY "BRAINWASH" - Beware of organizations that emphasize too much that they are just "one big happy family." Typically, such companies (much like cults, by the way) conveniently use the "family" factor as an entry point to, later on, introduce unacceptable practices like too many overtime hours, underpayment, and so on. Much healthier and mature organizations know the company is not your partner or spouse and encourage "work-life" balance without exploiting the word "family." 

YOU ARE SILENCED - The interviewer entirely seems to forget to ask if you have questions. If being silenced happens to you, especially if other toxic signs accompany it, you should not end up at such a company anyway. You choose your own employer and not the other way around. 

LOW BALL OFFER - typically garnished with the excuse they can't offer you more, so you are left in a "take it or leave it" losing stance.


Key takeaways

These are the 17 most common toxic company culture interview signs we have identified in our practice and collected for your awareness and TOP performance at any interview! The list, of course, is non-exhaustive.


Lastly, in any case - even if you managed to raise the lowball offer the toxic organization may have thrown your way, in case you observed more than 4-5 signs of the above list, you may be better off declining the offer.


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