- Jobseeking is Hard
- Posts
- #114 - Highlighting Your Fit
In partnership with
There’s a reason 400,000 professionals read this daily.
Join The AI Report, trusted by 400,000+ professionals at Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Get daily insights, tools, and strategies to master practical AI skills that drive results.
Hey There!
Welcome to Issue #114 of Jobseeking is Hard!
Today's issue is brought to you by AI Tool Report! If you're a free subscriber and value our content, it costs $0 to support us by taking .0005 seconds to click the ad and check out the service. Seriously…all you need to do is click it. You don’t even have to subscribe or buy anything…just clicking helps support us. Easy peasy. Show our sponsor some love for supporting Jobseeking is Hard! Thanks!
This week we’re talking about:
Stupid interview questions
A jobseeking horror story about being ghosted...even with an internal referral
Why formatting can make or break your resume
The best (worst?) job posting of the week
And a scam involving fake recruiters with fake connections
And for Premium subscribers I’m:
Debunking an article about the “right” time to apply for jobs
Giving you tips on how to navigate an industry pivot
Telling you how to overcome the “overqualified” bias
Answering a Premium subscriber's question about figuring out what’s going wrong in your job search. I’ll explain how to analyze patterns and improve your chances.
Let’s get to it! But first, a few things…
THANK YOU!!
Karpiak Consulting’s 2024 Holiday Toy Drive was a huge success! Thanks to you, so many unemployed and underemployed parents could provide their kiddos with toys, clothing, and essentials. Thank you so much for your generosity!
If anyone wants to see the notes/comments expressing thanks, you can check it out here.
RESUME TIPS
Over on LinkedIn, I compiled all of my resume tips from the past few months. Start the new year with a fresh approach to your resume by following this advice!
STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
At an interview, I was asked, "If you could be a box of cereal, what would it be and why?" I was shocked, angry, and insulted. And I couldn't hide it. I gave some lame BS answer to placate them, and I STILL wasn't hired. I think they took advantage of me because it was COVID.
The correct answer is Cap’n Crunch. Why? As the saying goes, “The strongest people are the ones who can feel pain.”
This was from my last boss: "It's day 5 of the zombie apocalypse. What are you doing?"
I said I was writing recipes for brains.
When answering interview questions, always try to be relatable:
“Which is the worst word: Moist or Phlegm?”
Me reading this:
Now I’m curious…
Which is the worst word: Moist or Phlegm? |
Want to share your stupid interview questions? Reply or email [email protected]
SPEAKING OF POLLS
In Issue #112, I asked you, “Would you rather be on 90 Day Fiancé or Love is Blind?” More than 65% of you chose Love is Blind!
Some of the best responses:
“I was a 90-day-fiancée IRL. Little did I know there was money and questionable, cringeworthy fame to be made.”
"I can go through my time in the pod and then peace out. I might wait until after the exotic trip to 'get to know them better,' but honestly, having a camera follow me 24/7 for either show- no one wants to see that!"
“Love is Blind will partner you with a clout chaser. 90 Day Fiancé will partner you with someone that you have to support for the next 10 years if it doesn’t work out.”
But my favorite was:
"Of the two, I'd prefer to have 90 days to figure it out, but really, I'd rather sleep on a bed of wet dog food than place my happiness at home in the hands of mob rule or a sh*tty reality show host. Of course, if my wife and kids found out, I'd be sleeping on the bed of wet dog food anyway."
I’m 99% sure there’s a reality show centered around sleeping on a bed of wet dog food. And if not, there should be.
COMMUNITY CATHARSIS
I was interviewed for an HR position on the recommendation of one of the company's Senior Directors.
I interviewed with the hiring manager in HR, then with the site's General Manager, and then a 3rd interview with 3 leaders I would ostensibly be supporting as well...only to get ghosted.
I reached out to the recruiter several times.
Of all positions, if you can't get hiring right in HR, forget about it.
Surprise! I've seen the position open twice in 2 years since.
And no, I haven't applied for it, not even now that I'm unemployed.
This kind of story frustrates me to no end. Internal referrals being ghosted is something I hear way too often, and it’s just unacceptable. HR, of all departments, should know how to treat candidates respectfully...especially someone recommended by a Senior Director.
Subscribers…
Has anything like this ever happened to you? |
If there's a jobseeking horror story *you’d* like to share, reply or email [email protected]
SHAMELESS PLUG
If your job search needs a little more help, Karpiak Consulting offers resume and LinkedIn services, as well as job search strategy coaching.
Who knows…maybe it’ll help you go from 0 to 10 interviews like this client 🤷♂️
So how did I help this resume review client?
Presentation.
Formatting and presentation can genuinely transform how your resume is received.
In this example, the content didn't change...they didn't rewrite their experience. But by simply restructuring it to make the key points stand out, you can turn your resume into a powerful marketing tool.
This is what so many jobseekers miss. It's not just about what you've done but how you show it. Recruiters spend seconds scanning resumes in the initial go-around. In that time, they're deciding whether to dig deeper or move on. The goal is to make it effortless for them to see your value...to connect the dots between your experience and their needs without any guesswork.
Small changes make a massive difference. Clickable links ensure they can contact you easily...consistent formatting prevents distractions (and those dreaded "attention-to-detail" red flags)...and restructuring roles to highlight growth or consolidation reframes your career trajectory in a positive light. Even things like ordering bullet points by relevance to the job you want...rather than the one you had...can shift the narrative entirely.
You've got the experience, but you can present it in a different way that commands attention and keeps recruiters engaged. It's less "Let me tell you my story" and more "This is why you need me on your team."
Resume formatting isn't about making your resume look pretty... it's about making it functional, ensuring your skills and achievements aren't buried.
If you’re feeling like your resume isn’t telling your story the way it should and don’t know how to frame your experience, our services can help.
BEST (WORST?) JOB POST
OF THE WEEK
Here’s the job post that got the most people talking on my Instagram this week!
Is this a job application or a therapy session?
If you come across an irritating job posting, email it to the newsletter or DM me on Instagram and I’ll add it to the list to post!
JOB SCAMS!
Recently, a "recruiter" replied to a comment on one of my LinkedIn posts. As you'd expect, a lot of jobseekers with #OpenToWork banners engage with my content, so I try to stay vigilant about scammers.
This one seemed odd, so I decided to check out their profile...and it was full of red flags.
(I’ve hidden the profile picture, just in case they’ve stolen someone else’s pic.)
First, the account wasn't verified. Not necessarily a dealbreaker, but it's something to keep in mind when the rest of the profile feels off. I personally wouldn't engage with a recruiter on LinkedIn if their identity wasn't verified.
The location was another giveaway...it happened to be one that's been showing up a lot in reports about fake profiles. But the biggest red flag? The profile claimed "500+ connections" in what looked like the usual LinkedIn summary...except it wasn't. That info was in the featured link section as a clickable link. Below that? The actual number of connections...1. Yep, just one.
And if that wasn't enough, clicking the "500+ connections" link took me straight to Fiverr. So, not only was this profile misleading people into thinking it was a legit recruiter, but it was also trying to drive traffic to a freelancer.
Scammers are getting more creative. Always double-check profiles before engaging. Look at the details, verify what they're claiming, and if something feels even a little off...trust your gut.
Stay safe out there!
Has this scam contacted you? |
If you come across a potential scam, send it to [email protected], and I’ll warn the community. And if you’ve been a victim of a job scam, the FTC has job scam reporting resources listed here.
I've been applying to jobs for a few months now and have had interviews, but no offers yet. I always ask for feedback when I get rejected, but most companies don't respond or give generic answers like, “We went with someone else.” How can I figure out what I'm doing wrong and actually improve my chances?
Check out the Premium Section below for my answer! Not a Premium Subscriber? Upgrade here: www.JobseekingIsHard.com/upgrade
Today's issue is also brought to you by The Rundown AI! Show our sponsor some love for supporting Jobseeking is Hard and click on the link! Thanks!
Learn how to make AI work for you
AI won’t take your job, but a person using AI might. That’s why 800,000+ professionals read The Rundown AI – the free newsletter that keeps you updated on the latest AI news and teaches you how to use it in just 5 minutes a day.
AFFILIATES
NOTE: As an affiliate to these services, we will receive compensation if you purchase products or services through the links provided.
BETTERHELP: 15% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH OF ONLINE THERAPY
Mental health is a massive part of your career. Anxiety, depression, self-worth issues…all become more intense the longer a job search goes on. With my link, get 15% off your first month of online therapy with BetterHelp!
SECTA LABS: 10% OFF AI-GENERATED HEADSHOTS FOR NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS
Want a new headshot for LinkedIn? Hate having your photo taken? Don't have the time to pick out what to wear and coordinate with a photographer? With Secta you can upload 25 pics and get AI-generated headshots without leaving your bed.
Get 300+ photos with my affiliate link for just $44! Subscribers get an additional 10% off of Secta’s already discounted launch pricing!
All you have to do is upload 25 photos, enter a few prompts how you want to look in the images, and they’ll generate 300+ headshots. And with a 100% money-back guarantee, you have nothing to lose.
Interested? Here’s my affiliate link! And when you get your new profile pic, be sure to post about it (and tag me) o kickstart the networking!
COURSERA PLUS: ONLINE COURSES
Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs—all included in your subscription. $59/month, cancel any time, OR $399/year with a 14-day money back guarantee!
Sign up here!
PLURALSIGHT: FREE STANDARD OR PREMIUM 10-DAY TRIAL
Pluralsight is *the* technology learning platform. They help individuals evaluate their technical abilities and align courses to their learning objectives and close skills gaps in critical areas like cloud, mobile, security, data, and web development.
Try out the standard or premium subscriptions with a free 10-day trial!
HUNTER: FREE TRIAL FOR EMAIL ADDRESS FINDER
Want to follow up on your job applications? Looking to network? Have some target companies? Try Hunter! The Email Finder is all you need to connect with any professional. It puts all our data together — email formats, email addresses found on the web, and verification status — to find reliable contact information in seconds.
NOTE - If you don't have a corporate email, choose the "Sign up with Google"option and use a Google account!
Try it for free here!
https://hunter.io/?via=jobseekingishard
Want to learn some new skills? Looking for a few new keywords to add to your resume or LinkedIn profile? Want to sharpen your expertise in Excel or Tableau? Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes on topics including illustration, design, photography, video, freelancing, marketing, and more.
Join Skillshare today with my link and get 30% off your annual membership with unlimited access to thousands of online classes!
Jobseekers, have a great rest of your week, and good luck with those applications!
-Adam
PS!! If you're enjoying the newsletter, let people know! Forward it, post it on social, tag me, whatever...the bigger the discussion, the better! The idea is to help as many people as possible!
About Adam- Recognized as a leading voice on hiring and workplace trends, Adam has been recruiting and providing career advice since 2003, developing high-trust relationships based on honesty with companies and jobseekers. A highly sought-after speaker, he has appeared in numerous outlets, including Bloomberg News, Business Insider, LinkedIn, and CNNMoney. You can find out more about Adam's resume and coaching services here.
Subscribe to Premium to read the rest.
Become a paying subscriber of Premium to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.
Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.
A subscription gets you:
- • Extra Tips & Advice: Gain exclusive insights, strategies, and advice from a recruiter with over 20 years of experience in the field. Discover what hiring managers truly value and how to stand out at every step of your job search.
- • Access to Previous Issues: Explore a library of knowledge with all 100+ past issues of the newsletter. Each edition is packed with proven strategies, practical advice, and real-world jobseeking stories to give you an edge in today’s competitive job market. From resume tips to handling tough interview questions, you’ll find answers to every challenge.
- • Exclusive Q&A: Have questions about your job search? Premium subscribers can ask Adam directly! Questions will be featured in upcoming issues, with detailed answers tailored to real-world scenarios, ensuring you get the guidance you need.
- • Bonus Content: As part of your Premium subscription, you’ll receive 20 additional job search tips delivered to your inbox over the next 20 days. This includes advice on avoiding common mistakes and maximizing your job search strategy to land interviews faster.
Reply