Secrets to Finding a Job

[smrt]

There is some amazing advice in this thread!

I definitely recommend tweaking your resume every time you apply, especially if you're looking at a variety of jobs. What I've done is create a master list of accomplishments, achievements, and responsibilities, and depending on what the job is looking for, I pull a few into my resume or leave a few out. It works! Same thing for cover letters - There's only so many ways you can say "My experience in XYZ makes me a great candidate for your XYZ position" so you really just need to pick which pre-written paragraphs you want to include and write a new intro paragraph for those.

A couple of resources I recommend:
Ask A Manager is one of the best sources out there for resume, cover letter, and general career advice.
There's a subreddit for resume feedback that's got a few people who'll help you tweak yours.

And another piece of food for thought is this article -- The key takeaway here is that people DO get jobs they don't meet 100% of the qualifications for, so don't let that hold you back. Every professional job I've had required a four year degree - even the job I'm in now, where they wrote the job description/requirements specifically for me -- and ten years later I'm finally working on checking that box.

[davewill]

Also, make networking contacts any way you can. There will be professional clubs like my local hardware hackers SIG, where you just have to show up and say hi to people. There are always local Toastmasters clubs, where you can also meet working professionals. I joined one at a very large local tech firm, and I soon had contacts in several depts, plus two solid contacts in HR who helped me steer my resume. They actually got me interviews despite my lack of a degree. It didn't work out that time, but it may the next time.