This job fits me. So why can't I get an interview?

Hey there,

A new subscriber recently shared their biggest job-search struggle:

“Gaining access to roles that fit my background and experience and converting that opportunity into an interview.”

This is a common struggle for many who are "IN IT" right now. Because finding a job you could do well and getting someone to see why you belong in that job can feel like two completely different challenges.

Grab your coffee. Let’s talk about how to move through both. ☕

THIS WEEK’S CAREER TIP

Make the connection between your experience and their needs easy to see.

When you read a job description and think, “I’ve done this,” you’re bringing years of context with you. You remember the complicated project, the team you helped build, and the problem everyone came to you to solve. The person reviewing your application doesn’t have those memories. They have the information you put in front of them, and if that information mostly lists responsibilities, the connection may be harder to see than you realize. Your job is to pull forward the experience that answers their most pressing question: “Can this person help us accomplish what we need?”

The bottom line: Give your search a clear direction, then make your relevant impact easy for someone else to recognize.

GOOD STUFF THIS WEEK

Here are two simple tools I’d put to work before sending another round of applications.

A job-description comparison: Put three descriptions for roles you’d seriously consider side by side. Highlight the problems, responsibilities, and skills that repeat. I like this exercise because it helps you see what employers are consistently asking for and which parts of your experience deserve more attention.

A small evidence bank: Keep a running document of problems you’ve solved, actions you took, and results you helped create. Numbers are useful when you have them, but evidence can also include a successful launch, a process adopted across teams, or a customer relationship you helped repair. Having these examples in one place makes tailoring your résumé and writing outreach much easier.

If you need a template for one, I've got you covered! https://www.riseupcareercoach.com/brag-sheet

A CLOSER LOOK

How to move from “this looks like a fit” to a stronger application

Here’s how I’d work through this with you.

1. Define what a good fit actually means.

“I’m open to anything that fits my experience” sounds flexible, but it gives you a very wide search to manage.

Start with one or two related role types. Then define the work you want to do, the level of responsibility you’re ready for, and the conditions that matter to you: compensation, location, travel, and work environment.

A simple starting sentence:

“I’m targeting [role types] where I can use my experience in [two or three strengths] to help [type of team or company] achieve [outcome].”

You can adjust this as you learn. You just need enough direction to make your next decision easier.

2. Search beyond the title you’ve already held.

Companies don’t always use the same title for similar work.

If your background includes managing complex implementations, for example, relevant work might appear under implementation, program management, professional services, or customer onboarding. Those roles won’t all be interchangeable, so read the responsibilities carefully.

Search using both titles and the work itself. Build a short list of companies where that experience could be useful, and check their career pages alongside your usual job boards.

That gives you more ways to discover a match without expanding into every possible career direction.

3. Build a case for the specific opportunity.

Before applying, identify the role’s three most important needs.

For each one, write down an example that shows you can meet it:

• What they need: Someone who can improve onboarding.

• Your evidence: You redesigned the handoff process and reduced delays.

• What belongs in your application: A clear bullet explaining what you changed and the result.

“Responsible for customer onboarding” gives the reader much less to work with.

“Redesigned the sales-to-onboarding handoff, clarifying ownership and reducing implementation delays” shows how you contributed.

Use accurate numbers when available. Never invent a metric to make a bullet sound stronger.

Also check genuine requirements, such as a required license or location restriction. You don’t need every preferred qualification, but enthusiasm won’t replace a mandatory credential.

4. Add a human connection where you can.

For a role you’re particularly interested in, look for someone who can help you understand the team or hiring process: a former colleague, an existing connection, or a relevant recruiter.

Start with people who already know your work. Give them enough context to respond:

“I noticed the [role] opening at [company]. The focus on [specific priority] caught my attention because I’ve [brief relevant example]. Do you know much about this team or what they’re looking for?”

If you’re contacting someone new, keep it brief and specific. Explain the connection between your experience and the opening, then make one reasonable ask.

Apply through the required process while you pursue that conversation. An introduction can help someone understand your background, but it doesn’t guarantee an interview.

5. Track what happens so you know what to adjust.

Keep a simple record of the role, your strongest evidence of fit, the application date, any outreach, and the response.

Then look for patterns over several weeks.

Are you struggling to find suitable openings? Revisit your titles, search terms, and company list.

Are you finding strong matches but getting little response? Review whether your résumé makes the relevant experience visible and whether you’re meeting the core requirements.

Are conversations happening but going nowhere? Make your target and the reason for reaching out more specific.

Silence can have several causes, including hiring decisions you can’t see. Use the information available to guide your next move without turning every rejection into a verdict on your ability.

YOUR PLAN FOR THIS WEEK

Keep this manageable:

• Choose one or two related target roles.

• Compare three job descriptions and identify the recurring needs.

• Pick two strong-fit openings.

• Bring your most relevant evidence forward in each application.

• Send one thoughtful message for each opportunity where you can identify a relevant contact.

• Record what happens.

That’s a week of work you can learn from. You’ll have clearer targets, stronger applications, and a better idea of where your search needs attention.

Before you go:

Hit reply with one role you’re targeting and where you’re getting stuck: finding the opportunities or getting the interview.

💛 Alyssa Bailey

Thanks for reading Rise & Shine by Rise Up Career Coaching.

This newsletter is for high-performing professionals who feel stuck, overlooked, or unsure of their next move — and want a clearer, smarter way to navigate the modern job market.

Here, I share real talk about:

• Getting clear on what you actually want next

• Navigating job searches without mass applying

• Networking in ways that actually lead to conversations

• Interviewing with confidence (even if you’re rusty)

• Negotiating offers without leaving money or opportunity on the table

The job market has changed, but most career advice hasn’t. I’m here to help you stop guessing and start moving forward with clarity and strategy.

I'm here to change that.

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ALYSSA BAILEY is a Certified Professional Career Coach who helps high-performing professionals get unstuck and land roles that match who they are now. With 15+ years of corporate experience, she’s guided clients through career transitions, interviews, and negotiations — helping them turn experience into opportunity.

If you’re done waiting for clarity or the “right time,” this is your sign.

Your next role won’t come from working harder. It comes from having the right strategy.

Let’s make your next move — intentionally.

P.S. If you’ve been thinking about making a change “someday,” remember: clarity doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from action.

Let's make your next move. Contact me today.

To read past Rise & Shine newsletters, you can find them here.