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

In a competitive job market, I think diversifying your search (considering roles across sectors, locations, and even functional areas) is a wise strategy.

For that to work, how you describe your experience in applications needs to travel well. I know this can be tricky, so here's a quick way to make your descriptions more transferable.
 

The problem:

Repeating your organization's name over and over. 

Why it's a problem:

It distracts the reader from seeing your transferable skills. When the organizational context is reiterated again and again, your real value gets lost.

The solution:

• Remove repeated org names wherever you can.

• Where you need something for flow, use broader descriptors like the organization, the team, stakeholders, etc.

• Keep all the transferable goodies, what you do – and could do in any context.

You already name your employer at the top of each experience, so you don’t need to repeat it in your descriptions (unless you're applying internally, in which case you keep all those org references!)

This small update helps the reader imagine you doing that thing you're great at, but in their context, without being distracted by your old one.

And it frees up valuable space for more important info – about you!

Try it and see how your profile opens up

If you’d like support in sharpening your applications, then click here to check out my document review services.