I get really excited about job application materials. At the mention of tweaking a resume or even filling out an online job application, it is not unusual for there to be a gleam in my eye. It's not the most common hobby, but I think the reason that resumes and cover letters are so "fun" relates directly back to just how cool (and effective) communication can be.

You know who else thinks communication is really cool? Liz Ryan and The Human Workplace.

A couple of years ago, I stumbled on The Human Workplace and read about a little thing called the human voice.

I used to be a person who used sentence fragments and avoided the use of "I" at all costs in my resume. As far as I knew, stripping these documents of all personality and plugging in as many keywords as possible was the best way to come across as a professional, and the best way to get a job.

Now, don't get me wrong: for some companies and some positions, this is still the best way to get a job.

But is that really the type of place you want to work for? One that hires robots?

Liz Ryan, and the Human Workplace, helps you to regain your voice and your mojo, and challenges you to question everything you thought you knew about the job search process. Her articles range from advice on literally everything a job-seeker might want to know, to human-voice themed articles for HR and recruiters.

I occasionally coach folks on job application materials and the job search (I was serious when I said I think this stuff is fun). Once I started following the Human Workplace, I knew I had to share this wealth of information with my clients. I found myself sending them article after article, because there are a lot of articles. I wanted to try and find a better way to introduce others to this great idea without overwhelming them with resources and information.

Rather than try and sum up everything that is the Human Workplace myself, or drown innocent bystanders in links to different articles, I decided to select the top five articles that I think make an excellent introduction to the Human Workplace.

1. Stop! Don't Send That Resume!

This piece is the ultimate starting point. Meet Liz Ryan and her amazing ability to convey meaning and teach through stories that make you laugh and make you think. You'll get an introduction to the Human Workplace and summary of different job application documents.

2. Put a Human Voice in Your Resume

You've heard about a Human Voiced Resume(TM), but what does it look like, what does it sound like, and why does it matter? Dig deeper with this article.

3. Forget the Cover Letter - Send a Pain Letter, Instead

Much like the article above, this piece goes more in depth into the process of drafting and refining your own personal Pain Letter(TM). A Pain Letter(TM), it turns out, is an incredibly human alternative to cover letters.

4. How to Build Your Online Brand

We live in an age of constantly developing technology and online communication. The job search is just as much about your online presence and networking as it is about the resume you write. Learn how to improve your networking and develop your own personal brand.

5. How to Interview Your Next Boss

The Human Workplace doesn't just stop at the resume! Now that you've successfully researched and created your own Human Voiced job search materials, it's time to get ready for the interview. Liz Ryan's approach to including a human voice during the interview process is just as revolutionary as her ideas about the application process. Learn how to maintain control during an interview and how to ask the important questions.

If you like what you see, give Liz Ryan a follow and please don't stop reading!

About Rachael

Rachael is a self-proclaimed word nerd with an infinite curiosity for the intersection of communication and new technology. By day she is a technical writer, by night she is a graduate student studying Technical Communication. She has too many houseplants and dreams of one day becoming a certified Cicerone.