- Jobseeking is Hard
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- #124 - Showcase Impact, Not Duties
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Hey There!
Welcome to Issue #124 of Jobseeking is Hard!
Today's issue is brought to you by Morning Brew! 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 a company that didn’t even know who you’d report to
Making your resume show relevant impact, not just tasks
The best (worst?) job posting of the week
And a scam involving fake recruiters impersonating real companies on LinkedIn…and how to spot them
And for Premium subscribers I’m:
Debunking an article about email domains and red flags
Giving you tips on making your resume easier to skim
Telling you how to handle "overqualification" concerns
Answering a Premium subscriber's question about resume formatting for a career change. I'll explain how to highlight relevant experience without breaking the timeline.
Let’s get to it!
STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
"If aliens landed outside right now and asked for your help, what would you do?"
I’d gladly help…as long as it doesn’t involve filling out a Workday application.
"How would you hide a dead body?"
This…this isn't the same interviewer who asked about the aliens, is it? Because now I'm really starting to worry about the aliens' safety.
"Would you rather give up your favorite food forever, or wake up every day with a 5% chance that you are completely covered in honey?"
Now I’m curious…
Would you rather give up your favorite food forever, or wake up every day with a 5% chance that you are completely covered in honey? |
Want to share your stupid interview questions? Reply or email [email protected]
SPEAKING OF POLLS
Last issue, I asked you, “Which Spider-Man do you most associate with and why?” ~53% of you chose Tobey!
Some of the best responses:
“Most socially awkward, which reminds me of how I was in high school.”
"He's the one in the middle and the most overlooked. Andrew Garfield is also an incredibly talented actor (not that Tom and Tobey aren't), but he's not given the credit he deserves. As a middle child, I feel that! And also, as a middle child and anyone with a decent work ethic, I'm doing my job plus half of everyone else's. Coincidence?"
“This is a generation question for sure...tell me how old you are without telling me how old you are: Tobey - Gen X, Andrew - Millennial, Tom - Gen Z.”
But my favorite was:
“Going to see Spider-Man 3 in theaters was my high school graduation party with my BFFs. Emo hoverboarding Spidey might still be my dark soulmate.”
COMMUNITY CATHARSIS
I once went through 6 rounds of interviews for a company and met a different person each time.
They each asked if I understood who the position reported to, and I repeated what the person before had said. Each person disagreed with the last regarding who the position reported to or how success would be measured.
What started as comical became disturbing, and I eventually removed myself from candidacy with a brief explanation of why.
6 rounds of interviews, and not a single person could agree on who you'd be reporting to or how success would be measured? That's not just a red flag…that's a blaring emergency siren.
When leadership can't agree on something as basic as reporting structure, that's a clear sign of dysfunction. If they don't know who's in charge, how are you supposed to? And if they can't define success, how will they evaluate you once you're in the role? They're setting you up to fail.
You were absolutely right to walk away. You dodged a mess.
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 get hired in 2 weeks making the most you’ve ever made like this client’s best friend 🤷♂️
So how did I help this edit bundle client transform their resume into a more compelling, high-impact document?
Positioning.
The biggest issue with this resume wasn't a lack of experience…it was that the client's contributions weren't framed in a way that fully demonstrated their value. The original version listed responsibilities but didn't clearly communicate how their work made a meaningful impact.
When your resume reads like a task list, hiring managers will see you as someone who "does things" rather than someone who drives results.
This client had a strong background, but their resume needed to showcase how their contributions improved processes, supported key business objectives, or solved problems. Not just what they did, but why it mattered.
Remember: Your resume isn't just a record of your past jobs… it's a marketing document that should position you for your target roles. That means structuring bullet points so the most valuable contributions come first (based on the needs in the job posting you are applying to) and using language that reflects the level of responsibility and influence you've had (again, based on the relevant experience).
Instead of listing tasks, focus on the outcome of your work. How did you make things better, faster, or more effective?
Reframing bullet points to highlight efficiency gains, revenue growth, cost savings, or improvements in team performance, adjusting phrasing to remove passive descriptions, and emphasizing how work directly contributed to business goals can make all the difference.
Hiring managers don't just want to know what you did…they want to understand why it was valuable. If your resume focuses too much on duties and not enough on results, you risk underselling yourself.
Every detail on your resume shapes how hiring managers perceive you. Every bullet point should reinforce why your work was essential. If you want to be seen as a key contributor, your resume needs to reflect that level of impact.
The hiring manager will take you as seriously as you present yourself.
I hope this perspective helps you rethink how you frame your own experience. It's not just about what you've done…it's about how your work drives results.
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!
losers need not apply
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!
LinkedIn finally decided to verify my company page after literal years…so let's talk about why that matters, especially for jobseekers.
Scammers have been running wild on LinkedIn, impersonating recruiters from legitimate companies and leaving spammy comments on job-related posts (including mine), targeting desperate jobseekers. The problem? Some people don't take the extra step to verify whether these so-called "recruiters" actually work for the companies they claim.
Company page verification matters. LinkedIn verifies official company pages using their corporate domains. If a company is legitimate, you'll see the verification badge on its profile, proving that LinkedIn has confirmed it owns the domain associated with its business. If that's missing, be skeptical.
Employee verification matters, too. Fake recruiters will slap a company's name on their profile, but that doesn't mean they actually work there. Verified employees (like me) will have LinkedIn's verification next to their name, confirming they've authenticated their employment with a company email. Just click on it.
Before engaging with a recruiter, check both their profile AND the company page. If the recruiter isn't verified and the company page lacks verification, don't engage. Real recruiters use company emails, not random Gmail accounts, and they certainly don't spam LinkedIn comments...they're too busy for that.
And since LinkedIn finally granted me that long-overdue verification, this is a great time to remind you: Follow my company page for DAILY TIPS on resumes, cover letters, applications, interviews, networking, and working with recruiters.
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'm curious about the best way to structure my resume when switching industries. Instead of listing jobs in strict chronological order, would it make sense to prioritize my most relevant experience on the 1st page, even if it's not my most recent role? For example, if my last job was as a frontend developer, but I want to return to property management (which I have experience in but from earlier in my career), should I move that experience to page 1? Or do resumes always have to follow a chronological format?”
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.
Learn how to make AI work for you
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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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