Originally shared via email. For early access to UN job search success tips and advice, subscribe to the newsletter here.

Just because everyone is doing something doesn't make it best practice.

When it comes to job applications, if you follow the crowd, you risk blending in, not standing out.

What do most people do? They tell everything to everyone.

What's a better way? Curate your information for your audience.

Curating isn't just about tweaking what's already there. It's about making deliberate choices about what to include – and just as importantly, what to cut.

Your application shouldn't be an autobiography. Rather, it should be a curated snapshot of why you are a strong and relevant choice for this particular role, in this specific organization, at this point in time.

Here are two principles to help guide you:

The Rule of 3s: Whether it's skills, competencies, or examples – three is the magic number. Three things are easily captured and processed by the human brain. More than that, and it gets noisy.
 

The more you write, the less they read: While this obviously doesn't apply to massive reads like The Lord of the Rings, when it comes to job applications, more information equals less impact.

Hiring teams aren't detectives. They're busy professionals scanning (not digging!) for what they need.

So don't bury your brilliance. Curate with intention – so your relevance is undeniable.

Wishing you curating clarity!