Let’s be honest: when scrolling through job boards or submitting applications, it can feel like you’re drowning in a sea of sameness. Everyone has “customer service experience,” “handled high call volumes,” “worked in fast-paced environments,” or “led cross-functional teams.” Great buzzwords—but if 85% of applicants are saying the same thing, how do YOU stand out?
We’re in a job market flooded with qualified candidates. Degrees are more common, certifications are increasing, and remote work has expanded competition. The problem? Many people are presenting their work history like a copy-and-paste job description.
Let’s fix that.
The Problem with “Common Experience”
Having the same job title or duties as thousands of others isn’t the issue. The problem lies in how you tell your story.
Employers aren’t just looking for what you did. They want to know:
- How well did you do it?
- What made your approach different?
- Did you solve a problem others couldn’t?
- Did your presence make things run smoother, faster, or better?
Generic = forgettable.
How to Turn Common Jobs into Unique Career Assets
Here are some ways to elevate your experience beyond basic job functions:
🔹 1. Tell the Impact Story
Instead of: “Answered customer calls.” Try: “Resolved 90+ daily customer inquiries with a 97% satisfaction rate, improving client retention.”
🔹 2. Highlight the “How”
What tools did you use? What processes did you improve? “Used Power Automate to streamline order intake, reducing processing time by 30%.”
🔹 3. Show Growth
Did you train others? Get promoted? Learn something new? Include that!
🔹 4. Add Quantifiable Results
Numbers cut through noise. Think: money saved, time reduced, revenue gained, or volume increased.
🔹 5. Insert Personal Insight
What did the job teach you? How did it shape your career path or work ethic?
Rethink How You Communicate Your Experience
On resumes, in interviews, or while networking, your goal is to stand out, not blend in.
Instead of relying on the job title, communicate:
- Your unique approach to solving problems
- The skills you built that are transferable
- The personal traits that make you an asset (adaptability, creativity, leadership, etc.)
Example: “While managing a retail store, I introduced a simple upselling script that helped increase monthly sales by 12% without increasing staff hours.”
THAT tells a story.
Is Networking Still Important?
Yes—and no.
YES:
- People hire people they know, trust, or are recommended by.
- It helps bypass algorithmic resume black holes.
- Conversations often reveal opportunities not yet posted.
NO (not always):
- If you don’t know how to communicate your story, networking won’t help.
- Not everyone has access to strong networks.
The real key is connection-building over traditional networking. It’s not about collecting contacts, it’s about building trust by showing your value.
Start with LinkedIn. Join online communities. Comment on industry content. Offer help. Share insight. Be human.
So, What Should You Do Now?
- Audit Your Resume Is it full of generic tasks or impact-driven bullet points?
- Update Your Bio & LinkedIn Make it reflect your voice, passion, and differentiators.
- Practice Your Elevator Pitch Can you summarize your value in 30 seconds?
- Focus on Learning and Doing Certs and degrees are great—but real examples of projects and outcomes are better.
- Show Up Differently Be consistent, be helpful, and make others remember you for more than just your title.