Off the top of my head;

• Specialize rather than generalize.

• Highlight your specialty or niche. “Python developer”…TF does that mean? “Data science consultant specializing in Python and machine learning” makes more sense. Pick an area you excel in and highlight it.

• Work on your soft skills. Anyone can learn to program (or whatever) given long enough. I want people on a project who can communicate, understand the concept of project management, are proven collaborators etc.

• Testimonials/reviews as standard. “I can do x because the people at y company said I was good at it”. Cool, prove it, show me.

• If you’re doing something broad like SEO or whatever, don’t just put SEO. Something quantifiable with metrics to back it up. “I did x and increased client traffic by 30% as per this dashboard here”. Yes, graphics can obviously be photoshopped, but a quick bit of double checking can usually spot those.

• Build a presence. Doesn’t have to be some smarmy LinkedIn page with thought leadership listicle rubbish (though there are some areas where that does work), but have something to show. For example, if I want to hire a writer or journalist, I’d ask to see their portfolio. Same goes with a developer, editor, designer etc.

• The daily Github update thing for developers is almost a meme at this point, but if someone tells me they’re passionate about building and then don’t have any evidence of them actually building something, then why should I believe them?

• Network. It’s not what you can do, it’s who knows you can do it. Make connections, talk to people you know who are doing the same thing, what are they working on, what’s a skillset the people they are working with are looking for right now etc.

This is all a bit basic in terms of advice, reading back, but TBH the basics account for most of what I’ve found works, and what I look for in new hires.