You’re Sabotaging Your Own Career — And You Don’t Even Realize It

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Hey, Fearless Friends!

This week on Stay Fearless or Die Trying😀 

• I’ve started sending out the deck for a friends and family round for Chief Swag Officer, my e-commerce business. This week alone, we did 10 + rush orders, from Amazon, to UBS, to Shopbop. Interested in getting involved? Reply to this email!

• The Love List events are ramping up: we have two events in October, and two more in November. They’re both at capacity, but we let people in as soon as possible to the date to ensure we have a match for them. All of New England is loving The Love List! Make sure you’re on the list here.

• Shop The Connecticut Hat Collection, designed and made right here in CT. Grab your favorite and help support this growing community. 860 & 203 necklaces are officially live!

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Is The Job Market Broken?

Whether you’re fresh out of college, pivoting careers, laid off unexpectedly, or just feeling stuck in your current work role, the process of landing a new job can feel like dating in 2025. You meet someone you’re interested in, hit it off, and end up getting ghosted…Sound familiar? (By the way, if you’re having trouble in the dating world, join The Love List for a better chance at love 💕)

You’re not alone, many of us have been there; endlessly refreshing your inbox, tweaking your résumé, wondering if the job market is broken… Wondering if you’re broken.

Spoiler Alert: It’s not you, but it could be your approach. The good news is that those problems can easily be fixed!

The Mistakes You’re Making:

1. Skipping over the cover letter (or writing a boring one): Cover letters can feel outdated, but a great cover letter can set you apart from every other candidate. Especially in a society where most people skip over them, cover letters definitely distinguish you from other candidates. It shows effort.

AC PRO TIP: ✅ Use the cover letter as an opportunity to tell your story. Why do you want the job and why are you a good fit? This is also a great way to let your personality shine. Aside from your accolades, who are you? This is your chance to truly introduce yourself to a future employer.

2. Using the same résumé for every job: If you’re submitting the same résumé for every job, you may be doing yourself a disservice. Different jobs emphasize different skills and your résumé should reflect that.

AC PRO TIP: ✅ Customize your résumé for each role you apply to. If you’re applying to something creative, make a media kit or a one-sheet showcasing what you can bring to the role. I loveeeeee when people do that for a role I’m hiring for! Many companies use applicant tracking systems to filter through résumés, so using the right keywords for a specific job or role can be super beneficial.

3. YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW-UP: So you’ve submitted your application and heard nothing back. Most people would just move on, but following up (the right way) after an interview shows persistence, confidence, and professionalism.

AC PRO TIP ✅ Try this: Wait no longer than 7 days after your interview, then send a short and polite follow-up email. Reintroduce yourself, reiterate your interest in the role, and show gratitude for the time spent during the interview. You can even say something like “I really enjoyed the conversation we had during the interview, and I thank you for your consideration”.

@alexacurtisunfiltered

My #1 networking tip #networking #howtonetwork

4. Underselling yourself: Many people believe that if they don’t meet 100% of the qualifications listed in a job posting, they shouldn’t bother applying. That couldn’t be further from the truth. By holding back, countless talented individuals—especially women—miss out on incredible opportunities.

   A study by Hewlett Packard found that men tend to apply for jobs when they meet just 60% of the listed qualifications, while women often wait until they meet every single one. The result? Many capable women never even get in the running for roles they’re perfectly suited for.

   The takeaway: Don’t self-eliminate. If a job excites you and you meet most of the key qualifications, apply anyway. Confidence and potential often matter just as much as checking every box.

AC PRO TIP: ✅ Interested in a job? Apply. Remember there is always room to grow, and you never know what employers are truly looking for. There may be something else in your résumé that really stands out! Take the chance and apply, using the rest of the tips listed above. There is a chance the employers see your potential and doesn’t even notice what you believe you “lack”.

5. You’re ignoring your online presence: Think your employers don’t Google you? If you’re a potential candidate, your future employer might do a quick background check to see who’s joining their team!

AC PRO TIP: ✅ Make sure your LinkedIn is updated, professional, and aligns with your résumé. Use it to showcase your work, show organization across multiple platforms, consistency, and even your values. Your online presence, especially on LinkedIn, can even help for employers to find you before you know about the opportunity! If you stand out to them, they may reach out to you first!

Finding a job isn’t always easy. Positions are limited, competition is fierce, companies are taking longer to hire, and many people never even get a response. Although the process can feel impossible at times, you can get where you want to be. You don’t have to be the most qualified person in the room. Simply showing up with these tips can help propel you towards success.

Most importantly, don’t give up. The right opportunity might not respond in a day, a week, or even two weeks. And if an opportunity doesn’t respond at all, just know it wasn’t the right one for you, and a better match will come along.

Through this all, remember to hold your head up, keep trying, and be fearless!

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Alexa 

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