Resume Assassin Unfiltered | Career Advice

Mary Southern
  • 5.0 (37)
  • Careers
  • Weekly

Hey, I’m Mary! I’m the founder of Resume Assassin, and for the past 15 years I’ve helped 4,000+ people land interviews, make career moves, and figure out what actually works in a pretty weird job market. On Resume Assassin Unfiltered, we talk resumes, LinkedIn, interviewing, job searching, career growth, personal branding, hiring trends, and what’s really happening behind the scenes. I’ll share what I’m seeing with real clients, what recruiters are responding to, and what can actually help you get noticed, land more interviews, and make your next move.

  1. 6d ago

    Ex-Amazon Recruiter: What Makes a Top 1% Resume Stand Out

    FREE: Career Resources to Land Interviews Faster: https://www.resumeassassin.com/freebies FREE: Check Your Resume's ATS Score: https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume-analyzer FREE: 15-minute consultation: Work With Me https://calendly.com/resumeassassin/meet Resume writing, LinkedIn, career & job search coaching & more: https://www.resumeassassin.com I took a pretty average resume with some seriously impressive experience and rebuilt it into an S-tier resume. I’ll show you exactly what I changed, what I cut, what was hiding in plain sight, and a few things you can steal for your own resume today. MORE RESOURCES Tailor your resume to a specific job in less than 1 minute: https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume-generator/start Resume Pro Academy: https://academy.resumeassassin.com/ Free Resume Template: https://www.resumeassassin.com/newsletter CONNECT WITH ME LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-southern Instagram: @resumeassassin TikTok: @resume_assassin_mary #JobSearch #JobSearchTips #ResumeTips #Interview

    Ex-Amazon Recruiter: What Makes a Top 1% Resume Stand Out

  2. Oct 21

    What Interviewers Secretly Look for in Leaders

    FREE: Career Resources to Land Interviews Faster: https://www.resumeassassin.com/freebies FREE: Check Your Resume's ATS Score: https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume-analyzer FREE: 15-minute consultation: Work With Me https://calendly.com/resumeassassin/meet Resume writing, LinkedIn, career & job search coaching & more: https://www.resumeassassin.com Most people prepare for interviews by obsessing over having the perfect answer, but that’s not necessarily what makes you memorable. I'm getting into the psychology behind why some interviews just click, from storytelling and likability to curiosity, enthusiasm, social proof, and even admitting when you screwed something up. You’ll also learn how to prepare without sounding rehearsed and turn an interview into an actual conversation. MORE RESOURCES Tailor your resume to a specific job in less than 1 minute: https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume-generator/start Resume Pro Academy: https://academy.resumeassassin.com/ Free Resume Template: https://www.resumeassassin.com/newsletter CONNECT WITH ME LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-southern Instagram: @resumeassassin TikTok: @resume_assassin_mary #JobSearch #JobSearchTips #ResumeTips #Interview #InterviewTips

    What Interviewers Secretly Look for in Leaders

  3. Oct 14

    Why AI Resume Screeners Keep Rejecting You

    Everyone is terrified that an AI screener is rejecting their resume. But what if AI isn’t actually the reason you’re not getting interviews? In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the invisible hiring funnel. Between knockout questions, keyword searches, recruiter capacity, and flawed screening technology, the advice you hear online about beating the algorithm is leading job seekers in the wrong direction. I break down real-world case studies, from the Workday hiring software lawsuit and Amazon's discontinued experimental screening tool to the bizarre trend of hiding white text in resumes. I also show you what actually works when applying for competitive, six-figure roles. Need support in your job search? Let’s Chat!Grab a free 15-minute consultation with me:https://calendly.com/resumeassassin/meet -- FREE: Career Resources to Land Interviews Faster:https://www.resumeassassin.com/freebies FREE: Check Your Resume's ATS Score:https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume Resume writing, LinkedIn, career & job search coaching & more:https://www.resumeassassin.com -- TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 The real problem behind hiring and ATS worries01:12 The Workday lawsuit and the invisible hiring process04:13 What applicants can’t see after they apply06:05 An ATS isn’t automatically an AI screening tool07:10 How application questions can narrow the candidate pool08:49 Why recruiters need clear evidence of your qualifications10:36 Amazon’s experimental AI recruiter12:23 How historical data can teach hiring software bias15:41 The truth about chasing a 90% ATS score17:35 When resume analysis tools can actually help18:50 Why keyword stuffing can weaken your resume20:21 A quick plain-text test for resume formatting21:33 Hidden messages in resumes and prompt injection25:24 Research the company before tailoring your resume30:51 Stop making applications do all the work CONNECT WITH ME LinkedIn: / mary-southernInstagram: @resumeassassinTikTok: @resume_assassin_mary #ResumeTips #JobSearchStrategy #SixFigureJobs #CareerAdvice #ResumeAssassin

    Why AI Resume Screeners Keep Rejecting You

  4. Oct 7

    How High Earners Get Recruited (Without Job Boards)

    High-earning leaders don’t land their next six-figure move by submitting cold applications on job boards. When you operate at a senior level, your job search is about strategic positioning: making your direction obvious, communicating true operational scope, and getting directly in front of retained search firms and recruiters. In this episode, I break down how experienced leaders get approached for roles they’d actually consider, and how to stop recruiters from pitching positions you outgrew eight years ago. -- FREE: Career Resources to Land Interviews Faster:https://www.resumeassassin.com/freebies FREE: Check Your Resume's ATS Score:https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume... FREE: 15-minute consultation: Work With Mehttps://calendly.com/resumeassassin/meet Resume writing, LinkedIn, career & job search coaching & more:https://www.resumeassassin.com -- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 How to Get Recruiters to Find You01:12 Four LinkedIn Changes That Help Recruiters Find You03:23 Can Recruiters Actually Find Your Profile?04:58 Why Vague LinkedIn Headlines Don’t Work06:03 Examples of Stronger Professional Positioning08:34 How to Research the Roles You Want10:44 How AI Is Changing Recruiter Searches13:30 Can Recruiters See Your Value?14:40 Why Scope Matters More Than Your Job Title17:03 How to Explain Your Achievements19:57 Don’t Sell a Career You Don’t Want22:17 Who Knows Your Work?26:28 Understanding Different Types of Recruiters31:34 Is the Opportunity Worth Considering?38:58 What to Do This Week -- CONNECT WITH ME LinkedIn: / mary-southernInstagram: @resumeassassinTikTok: @resume_assassin_mary

    How High Earners Get Recruited (Without Job Boards)

  5. Sep 30

    Why Your Resume Works for $125K (But Fails at $400K)

    A resume that gets you interviews for a $125K job will often get ignored when you start applying for $250K, $400K, or higher roles. You might have the experience. But if your resume only proves you can get work done, hiring teams will never see that you're ready to decide what happens next. In this video, I’ll show you how a recruiter’s expectations change at each salary tier, and how to rewrite your bullets so you're not underselling what you actually did. Need help positioning your experience for higher-paying roles? Book a quick call with me here: https://calendly.com/resumeassassin/meet -- FREE: Career Resources to Land Interviews Faster:https://www.resumeassassin.com/freebies FREE: Check Your Resume's ATS Score:https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume... Resume writing, LinkedIn, career and job search coaching, and more:https://www.resumeassassin.com -- TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Why a strong resume gets overlooked00:44 Meet Mary Southern01:31 How resume expectations change by salary level02:34 The $125K resume: show the work and results03:50 Turning a basic bullet into a stronger one05:34 Proving your marketing work made an impact06:27 Moving from individual contributor to director06:38 The $250K resume: show what you owned08:10 Demonstrating leadership with measurable results09:21 Make your role in big decisions clear10:34 Metrics for roles beyond sales11:59 A quick check for your resume bullets12:46 The $400K resume: show business-level judgment18:24 Manager vs. director vs. executive contributions25:52 A practical resume review before you apply CONNECT WITH ME LinkedIn: /mary-southernInstagram: @resumeassassinTikTok: @resume_assassin_mary

    Why Your Resume Works for $125K (But Fails at $400K)

  6. Sep 21

    I’ve Accomplished a Lot. Why Is Finding My Next Role This Difficult?

    FREE: Career Resources to Land Interviews Faster:https://www.resumeassassin.com/freebies FREE: Check Your Resume's ATS Score:https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume FREE: 15-minute consultation: Work With Mehttps://calendly.com/resumeassassin/meet Resume writing, LinkedIn, career & job search coaching & more:https://www.resumeassassin.com -- This episode explores why accomplished leaders can have impressive careers and still struggle to gain traction in the market. I break down how executive positioning, scope, targeting, and visibility shape the way companies understand your value, and how to figure out where your search is actually breaking down. -- TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 — Why executive job searches take longer than expected1:47 — The higher the role, the bigger the problem you’re hired to solve3:34 — Why a strong career can still be positioned weakly6:10 — Job titles versus the real scope of your leadership7:21 — How senior roles are changing8:26 — Why narrowing your target makes your story stronger10:02 — Building visibility beyond your current company11:37 — Diagnosing where a job search is breaking down13:13 — Match your experience to the company’s real business problem14:49 — Turning interviews into offers15:23 — Patience, risk, and evaluating the opportunity17:07 — Final takeaway and consultation invitation CONNECT WITH ME: LinkedIn: /mary-southernInstagram: @resumeassassinTikTok: @resume_assassin_mary #JobSearch #JobSearchTips #ResumeTips #AgeDiscrimination

    I’ve Accomplished a Lot. Why Is Finding My Next Role This Difficult?

  7. Sep 16

    Career Advice That Will Make You Richer in 2026

    FREE: Career Resources to Land Interviews Faster: https://www.resumeassassin.com/freebies FREE: Check Your Resume's ATS Score: https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume-analyzer FREE: 15-minute consultation: Work With Me https://calendly.com/resumeassassin/meet Resume writing, LinkedIn, career coaching & more: https://www.resumeassassin.com Want to make more money in 2026? I’m sharing the career advice I wish more people heard earlier, including a few moves you can start making today that could seriously change what you earn over the next several years. MORE RESOURCES Tailor your resume to a specific job in less than 1 minute: https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume-generator/start Resume Pro Academy: https://academy.resumeassassin.com/ Free Resume Template: https://www.resumeassassin.com/newsletter CONNECT WITH ME LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-southern Instagram: @resumeassassin TikTok: @resume_assassin_mary

    Career Advice That Will Make You Richer in 2026

  8. Sep 9

    Recruiting Has Changed. Here's How to Get Hired in 2026

    FREE: Career Resources to Land Interviews Faster: https://www.resumeassassin.com/freebies FREE: Check Your Resume's ATS Score: https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume-analyzer FREE: 15-minute consultation: Work With Me https://calendly.com/resumeassassin/meet Resume writing, LinkedIn, career coaching & more: https://www.resumeassassin.com Job searching has gotten weird. It’s easier than ever to apply, harder than ever to get noticed, and recruiting is changing fast. In this episode, I’m breaking down what’s actually happening behind the scenes and exactly how I’d job search if I had to start from scratch in 2026. We’ll get into AI, recruiters, resumes, LinkedIn, applications, and what I think actually matters if you want to get hired right now. MORE RESOURCES Tailor your resume to a specific job in less than 1 minute: https://www.resumeassassin.com/resume-generator/start Resume Pro Academy: https://academy.resumeassassin.com/ Free Resume Template: https://www.resumeassassin.com/newsletter CONNECT WITH ME LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-southern Instagram: @resumeassassin TikTok: @resume_assassin_mary

    Recruiting Has Changed. Here's How to Get Hired in 2026
See All (121)

5
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

Hey, I’m Mary! I’m the founder of Resume Assassin, and for the past 15 years I’ve helped 4,000+ people land interviews, make career moves, and figure out what actually works in a pretty weird job market. On Resume Assassin Unfiltered, we talk resumes, LinkedIn, interviewing, job searching, career growth, personal branding, hiring trends, and what’s really happening behind the scenes. I’ll share what I’m seeing with real clients, what recruiters are responding to, and what can actually help you get noticed, land more interviews, and make your next move.

Information

You Might Also Like