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- #123 - Your Career Brochure
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Hey There!
Welcome to Issue #123 of Jobseeking is Hard!
Today's issue is brought to you by Mindstream! 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 tricked into creating content for free
Tweaking resumes to highlight relevance
The best (worst?) job posting of the week
And a scam involving fake recruiters stealing real job postings
And for Premium subscribers I’m:
Debunking an post with an opinion on cover letters
Giving you tips on fighting ageism and positioning yourself for senior roles
Telling you how to spot ghost jobs before they waste your time
Answering a Premium subscriber's question about job application follow-ups. I’ll explain how to make them work for you instead of against you.
Let’s get to it! But First…
RESUME ADVICE!
I’ve compiled all of my resume advice that I’ve posted on LinkedIn over the past few months. Check it out here.
Recently, a few people told me the free tips helped them land more interviews…someone even posted that they literally DOUBLED their salary! Maybe they can work for you too!
STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
"What would you do if you won the lottery?"
If I win the lottery I wouldn't tell anyone, but there would be signs...such as never showing up for work ever again.
"Tell me a joke."
A cowboy, a duck, and an interviewer who asks irrelevant questions walk into a bar…
I just stepped out of an interview and wanted you to know that they asked me which Spider-Man I most associated with and why: Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, or Tom Holland.
Easy. Tobey. Why? He made more money than the other 2 combined.
Now I’m curious…
Which Spider-Man do you most associate with and why? |
Want to share your stupid interview questions? Reply or email [email protected]
SPEAKING OF POLLS
Last issue, I asked you, “Would you rather be followed by a band wherever you went or by someone narrating your life?” More than 61% of you chose to be followed by a band!
Some of the best responses:
“Please, please, please, Samuel L. Jackson. My life is full of curse words!”
“A narrator might be helpful in knowing my motivations because sometimes I have no idea! Well...unless it is an unreliable narrator, which would be my luck these days.”
"I'd rather listen to music when going to the bathroom than someone narrating it."
But my favorite was:
"But only if they talk really quietly like Golf Channel announcers. 'She's approaching the counter....looks like she's pouring the coffee. Excellent mug choice. You don't see that every day.’”
Exactly. Reminds me of this meme from Reddit:
COMMUNITY CATHARSIS
As part of the interview process, one company asked me to develop content (I'm in L&D) as an assessment, which they then SOLD from their site.
I wasn't even offered that job.
I learned from that and have offered other companies my portfolio of work I've already done OR offer to provide a sample of work that isn't related to their business.
Wait…they had you create content for free, turned around and sold it, and didn’t even hire you?? That’s next-level shameless.
Good on you for learning from it and setting boundaries. If a company actually wants to assess your skills, they can review your portfolio or pay for a test project.
Just say no to exploitation.
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 change your life like this client 🤷♂️
So how did I help this review bundle client land a job with a prestigious organization?
Alignment.
The biggest issue with this resume wasn’t a lack of experience...it was that the experience wasn’t positioned in a way that made sense for the jobs the client was applying to.
When you have skills across multiple areas, it’s easy for your resume to feel scattered, leaving hiring managers unsure about your true focus. This client had relevant experience, but it wasn’t being framed in a way that aligned with the specific roles they were targeting in data.
Remember: Your resume needs to align with the job you want, not just summarize the jobs you’ve had. That means structuring it so the most relevant experience is front and center, making it easy for hiring managers to immediately see why you’re a fit. If you’re transitioning into a new field or narrowing your focus, your resume should reflect that shift, from the Summary and Key Achievements to the language used in the Experience section.
Reordering bullet points to prioritize skills (both industry-specific and transferable), tweaking job titles (without misrepresenting them) to provide clarity, and refining your Summary to immediately position you for the roles you want can make all the difference. Instead of listing every skill and hoping the right one stands out, curate your experience so that every section reinforces your qualifications for the specific job you’re applying for.
A hiring manager shouldn’t have to piece together how your experience is relevant...it should be obvious at a glance. That’s why alignment matters. Your resume needs to guide the reader, making it clear what you’ve done and how it connects to what the company needs. This is especially important when moving into a new field with limited direct experience. The way you frame your work (choosing the right words, emphasizing the right skills, and cutting anything that doesn’t add value) can be the difference between getting an interview and getting overlooked.
Every detail should serve a purpose.
I hope this perspective from a recruiter helps you take a step back and see how your resume is being evaluated. It’s not just about listing everything you’ve done; it’s about making sure your experience is positioned in a way that makes sense to the people making hiring decisions.
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!
I have questions
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!
I received an email from a "recruiter" telling me I'd be a great fit for this position. They included the job and information pertaining to it in the email. I did my due diligence and looked up the company and the job description. It seemed cool, so I asked for more information.
The recruiter went on to tell me how to schedule an initial interview, and things started getting weird. I'd be looking for an email from [name], and they were to be my "Interview Experience Manager" or something to that effect.
Ok...so I did get an email from this person, who told me I needed to download Discord to proceed with the interviewing process, and then we'd schedule the interview with another, different person.
This felt odd to me. So, I looked more closely at the job description the initial recruiter had sent and noticed a couple very small discrepancies in the contact information between THAT job description and the version on the company's website. I followed my gut and decided to reach out to the HR contact listed on the actual company's website. I explained what was going on and how it felt really strange. I sent them all the documents I had of the job post but said that if it was an actual job opening, I was definitely interested.
It turns out that this recruiter who had emailed me was absolutely trying to scam me. This company did not work with anyone by any of the names I had been given, and the "recruiter" had entirely ripped off the job description from a real company's website. They launched an immediate investigation and had the internet scoured for the names and any fraudulent posts of the job description.
They then invited me to apply for the position...for real this time. I wish I could say I got that job, but they ran out of funding, and the position was dissolved before anyone was hired.
But it's a wild story!
The moment they told you to download Discord for an interview, that was the massive red flag that something was off. No legitimate company is going to make you download an app to interview.
What makes this one even more tricky is how they copied a real job posting and slightly altered the contact details. That's a scammer's favorite move...steal a legit job, tweak a few details, and hope jobseekers don't catch it. And unfortunately, a lot of people don't.
Reaching out to HR directly was the smartest move you could have made. That's exactly how you verify a role...go straight to the source. If the company doesn't recognize the recruiter's name or they're asking you to use random messaging apps…run.
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 honestly think I am sabotaging my job search. Maybe I contact hiring managers too much? Or contact them in the wrong way, like on LinkedIn or email? I've changed my resume so many times, and I'm not getting interviews. I'm not applying for jobs I can't do. So what's up?"
Check out the Premium Section below for my answer! Not a Premium Subscriber? Upgrade here: www.JobseekingIsHard.com/upgrade
Why upgrade?
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.
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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.
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- • 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.
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