Over time architects develop a distinct ability to solve their client's "problem" in a manner that encompasses their personal touch and creative aptitude. There is a realization that the project is about someone else, but the vehicle and means to realize that project is grounded in the designer. Once the result is realized, there is an inadvertent and unavoidable fingerprint of the creator on the final product, and the dial of success lies greatly in the architect's solving of the design problem at hand. 

When it comes to applying to a job, this same thinking should be adopted. The application is less about you and more about how you can solve a problem for your future employer. This is a matter of perspective that can crucially change how you think about composing your application package. In one sense — the more common approach — applicants make their job search too personal. They want to tell the employer everything about themselves; they list everything they've ever done professionally; they include long lists of everything they know; and they pack their portfolios with as much work as they can.

Of course, this is the extreme, but when the focus becomes about the employer and the problem they're trying to solve by hiring someone, top performers take a different approach. The best candidates know that they need to curate their application package in a way that directly speaks to what an employer is looking for. They need to design a "proposal" to address a problem, the only difference is that, in this case, the proposal is your application.

The number one concern of successful job seekers is the prospective employer. Yes, internally, there should always be a concern of whether or not a place is the right fit or checking the proper boxes in terms of your career goals. However, your primary goal when applying for a job is to be the answer to the employer's problem and to present yourself as so. When you have a mindset of "how can I best respond to this opportunity" as opposed to "I really hope they like me" your decisions become more intentional and will likely give you a more powerful grounding to make a stronger impression.