I’ve hired thousands of people at Google, Meta, and Yahoo. Here’s how to stand out in your job search

Over the course of my career as an executive at Google, Yahoo, and Meta, and now as founder and CEO of my own firm, I’ve hired thousands of people. Across all those roles, one thing has stayed consistent: the applications that stand out are the ones that go beyond simply checking the boxes. In today’s job market, with a challenging economy and the rise of AI, fewer jobs are getting posted, and more people are applying for every job. So it’s all the more important to take the steps that will make your application stand out.

Last year, we opened a chief of staff role at my company. Within days, we received more than 800 applications. My team and I read through every one of them.

Just three stood out immediately. It wasn’t because the applicants held that exact title before or came from the most well-known companies: it was because they did something extra.

One submitted a deck outlining how they would approach the role. Another sent a short video of themselves walking through a presentation they’d created. The third added a “User Manual,” a tool some organizations use to help teammates understand how to work together (and one our company uses, too). Each of the three caught my eye not just because they went beyond what we had asked for, but also because they used language and terms unique to our company that showed they understood and cared about how we operate.

All three were invited to interview, and two of them made it to the final round.

Taking the extra steps to bring attention to your application can be effective for all kinds of jobs. Whether you’re applying for your first job or your next leadership role, a strong, thoughtful application can help you stand out. Here’s what I’ve learned about how to set yourself apart.

Treat AI as a beginning, not an end

As of late, I’ve seen many job applications that sound almost identical. They begin with the same phrases, like “Due to my extensive experience” or “I am writing to express my sincere interest.” It’s clear that some were written entirely by AI.

I’m not against using AI. It can help you organize ideas and polish your language. However, when you rely on it too heavily, your application ends up sounding exactly like everyone else’s. The best candidates may use AI to help support their thinking, but then they bring their own voice into the final version. 

Show how you think

Résumés list what you have done, but strong applications show how you think. A short deck, a one-pager, a video, or a note with specific ideas gives companies insight into how you approach problems and communicate.

You don’t need to be a designer or send something flashy (unless you’re applying for a design role!). What matters most is clarity and thoughtfulness.

Show off some smart research

When someone references details about a company’s mission, product, or values using specific examples, it shows care and effort. 

When we were searching for our next chief of staff, one of our applicants sent some positive quotes from her clients and called them “quotes from the Cookie Jar.” The Cookie Jar is a term we use for the Slack channel where we put customer testimonials—something we also mention on our company blog. By including our own terminology, it showed she had taken the time to go beyond just the first couple of pages of our website. 

Use your network when you can

It’s still a good idea to lean on the tried-and-true strategy of leveraging your connections. If you know someone at the company you’re applying to, reach out to ask for a recommendation, an introduction, or even a quick tip; second-degree connections, too, might yield an introduction or a good word. 

And if you don’t have any ins at the company, don’t worry. Tailoring your message, doing deeper research, and writing an application that demonstrates how you think are just as effective for people without inside connections. In some cases, a standout application from someone without any ties can rise even further because it reflects initiative and creative thinking—two skills any team is looking for.