10 pieces of job-search advice I give my daughters, as the former governor of Massachusetts

Jane Swift. Courtesy of Jane Swift Jane Swift, former governor of Massachusetts, shares the job advice she's given to her daughters. Swift advises them to employ personalized applications and impactful communication in interviews. She also suggests asking about the office dress code before an interview and not bringing iced coffee. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jane Swift, the 61-year-old former Gov. of Massachusetts and the CEO of the national work-based learning nonprofit Education at Work, based in Boston. It has been edited for length and clarity. I've always loved leading organizations and finding ways to make a positive impact on younger generations. I was elected lieutenant governor of Massachusetts in 1999 and served as acting governor from 2001 to 2003. My family moved to Vermont while I was CEO of Middlebury Interactive Languages, a role I held from 2011 to 2017. Now, I'm the CEO of Education at Work, a nonprofit that helps students become financially independent by providing paid, flexible opportunities with companies that need the talent students offer. I understand what employers and job seekers need today Today's job market is competitive, and AI has made it easier for applicants to submit a high volume of applications. That can make it harder for employers to identify the right candidate. Some employers use automated screening tools, making tailored, clearly written applications especially important. Elizabeth is my oldest daughter, who earned her master's degree from Emmanuel College. She handled security for the Red Sox and also has a math degree from UMass Amherst. Lauren has a degree in psychology from Northwestern and worked for the Northwestern football team. Sarah holds an integrative education degree from Trinity College and a master's degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University. Lauren and Sarah are twins. Currently, Elizabeth is a video operations engineer at KISWE, Sarah works as a business analyst for Education at Work, and Lauren is a consultant at Echo Group and Edmentum. I've been guiding them since they were in elementary school. I gave them the option to come with me on one of my business trips each year. They've grown up seeing me talk during board calls in our minivan and drafting RFP responses at the kitchen table late at night. I'd say they've been preparing for the job market since childhood without realizing it. Here are some crucial suggestions and job search coaching I've given my daughters. 1. Prepare for each and every conversation You don't know when you might make an impression outside a formal interview, which could help land a job. Try showing up to any and all opportunities as if they could help your career. That's what I asked Elizabeth to do, as she wanted to work for MLB. During an online informational group session, about 20-30 people attended, most of whom had their cameras off and were unprepared. Elizabeth dressed professionally with questions ready, and the host remembered her. When a position at MLB Replay became available, she was chosen from a pool of candidates on that Zoom call. 2. Before the conversation comes the application email You can use AI, but make sure you're personalizing each job application. Avoid generic, identical email copy, and include specific details about your experience that relate to the job to show hiring managers you've put in some effort. Keep it readable and scannable. You can add a short "why you" paragraph that includes an example or mentions a recent update the company has posted. If it's an online application, look for a warm connection, which can often get more attention than a cold email. Instead of sending emails to a generic inbox, reach out to a named person at the company, such as a recruiter. 3. Highlight your "win themes" I've taught my daughters to identify their "win themes" — the two or three strengths and accomplishments they want an interviewer to remember. Use specific examples to show how you achieved results. Before an interview, choose your three win themes and rehearse examples that illustrate each. Transferable skills can be part of that, too. Lauren and I often attend events with donors to sports programs, and she makes a point of explaining how her experience translates to the work she wants to do. 4. We all make mistakes at work Create a journal dedicated to your career and profession. If you have a bad day or make a mistake, work on solving or correcting that. Journal how you turned your worst day into your best day, and how you resolved an issue eventually. Add a star next to that journal entry and use these star entries as examples during your interviews. Writing it down helps you memorize it faster and more effectively in the long term. Ask yourself: Did I rush? Should I have asked for clarification? Build a strategy so you don't repeat the same error. 5. Dress appropriately for both video and in-person interviews Whether you're on screen or in person,