- Jobseeking is Hard
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- #134 - Reframing Your Resume
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Hey There!
Welcome to Issue #134 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. Easy peasy. Show our sponsor some love for supporting Jobseeking is Hard! Thanks!
I’ve been a little under the weather this week, so the full newsletter format will be back next time.
But I know the job market doesn’t pause when you’re not feeling 100%...applications still have to be completed, resumes still need to be sent, and momentum still matters.
So in the meantime, I’m sharing some resume advice that’s been helping clients land interviews…especially if your experience is solid but you’re not getting interviews.
And be sure to scroll down to the Affiliates section for a sale - 40% off Coursera Plus!
This week we’re talking about:
How to make your resume actually look relevant
The best (worst?) job posting of the week
And for Premium subscribers I’m:
Debunking some bad application advice regarding referrals
Giving you tips on how to decide whether to apply again after being rejected
Telling you why “I’m open to anything” makes you forgettable
Answering a Premium subscriber’s question about how to stand out when it’s your turn to ask questions. I’ll explain what makes a lasting impression.
Let’s get to it!
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 show value in your experience to land the type of role you’ve been searching for like this client 🤷♂️
So how did I help this Comprehensive Resume Review client go from a bad job fit to landing a leadership role in the city they wanted, with 35% more pay and a company that isn’t toxic?
Framing and relevance.
This client's original resume had solid experience...but it didn't look like someone ready for the roles they were targeting. The content wasn't bad...but the way it was structured made it harder for hiring managers to quickly understand how their background mapped to the job.
That's one of the most common resume mistakes...people list out what they did, but skip the context that makes it feel relevant. They list skills because the job posting mentioned them...but don't show how they actually used those skills, or what the outcome was.
Recruiting is more than keywords, and that's why context matters. Skills alone aren't enough. Anyone can say they "collaborate across departments" or "improve processes." What hiring managers care about is how you did those things...and why it made a difference.
Think of the job posting as the rubric. It's telling you what the company wants to see. So don't just copy the keywords...match them with examples. If they want someone with "project management skills," don't just say "Project management" under a bullet. Say something like: "Managed cross-functional project to implement new onboarding system, coordinating workflows for a team of 6 across 3 locations, reducing ramp-up time by 30%."
The skills are the ingredients. The context is the recipe.
And you need to do this for each job listed on your resume. Not just the most recent one. If you had relevant experience three roles ago, pull it forward. Use a Summary or Key Achievements section. Reframe the work you've done so it's immediately obvious how it connects to what you're trying to do next.
This isn't about rewriting your resume from scratch every time you apply. It's about aligning what's already true in your background with what matters most to the hiring team. That's what tailoring actually means...showing your experience in a way that helps someone see you in this job. Not just a job.
It takes a little more effort up front, but the return on that effort is better traction, better interviews, and a better shot at the roles you actually want.
If your resume isn't landing interviews, don't assume you need to blow it up and start over. Sometimes, all it needs is a sharper focus and a better frame.
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!
wtf
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!
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“I always hear that you should prepare questions to ask at the end of an interview. But I never know what to ask that doesn’t sound basic or rehearsed. What are some questions that actually make a good impression?”
Check out the Premium Section below for my answer! Not a Premium Subscriber? Upgrade here: www.JobseekingIsHard.com/upgrade
Why upgrade? For less than $0.63/day, you get:
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.
Subscriber-Only Discounts: Get exclusive promo codes for Karpiak Consulting services, available only to Premium subscribers. Whether you're updating your resume, need a LinkedIn profile review, or want expert help tailoring your applications, these occasional discounts make expert support more accessible.
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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Hey all! Thanks for being a Premium member! I hope you find the additional info helpful as you navigate your job search.
DEBUNKING CAREER CLICKBAIT
I read a post last week that made a bold recommendation: always mark “referral” as your source on job applications...even if you weren’t actually referred.
That’s not a tip. That’s bad advice.
If you claim you were referred and they follow up internally only to find out no one knows who you are, you’ve just tanked your credibility.
Referrals are valuable because they’re real. They come with built-in context and trust. Lying to get your application prioritized might get you a phone call, but it’ll also get you flagged as dishonest. And once a recruiter sees you’re willing to stretch the truth before the process even starts…you’re done.
And let’s not forget: many applicant tracking systems actually track who made the referral. If there’s no one to tag your name to internally, the lie falls apart instantly.
Want to be seen as a referral? Do the work. Build a real connection. Reach out with a clear message, make it specific, and give people a reason to care. That’s how you turn a cold intro into a warm one. Not by gaming the drop-down menu.
Faking a referral doesn’t make you clever. It makes you untrustworthy. Don’t risk it.
Watch or read a questionable piece of career content? Send it along and I’d love to debunk it! [email protected]
How to decide whether to apply again after being rejected:
Reapplying to a company that previously rejected you isn’t a no-go…but it does require a little strategy.
First, understand that most companies don’t blacklist candidates who reapply. Hiring needs change, roles get restructured, and internal teams shift priorities all the time. A rejection six months ago might’ve had nothing to do with your qualifications. It could’ve been internal. It could’ve been timing. It could’ve been that they already had a strong internal candidate and were just posting for compliance.
That said…you don’t want to reapply blindly. If it’s the same role with the same requirements and your resume hasn’t changed, don’t expect a different result. Just clicking “apply” again isn’t going to help. But if you’ve gained relevant experience since then, updated your resume to better match the posting, or if the job description has changed enough that you’re a stronger match now…then it’s worth another shot.
Make it easy for them to see the difference. Tweak your resume and reframe your experience to better reflect the specific needs of this new posting. If possible, add a note in your cover letter or email explaining what’s changed: a new certification, a recent project, a clearer alignment with the role’s responsibilities.
You’re not “bothering” them by applying again. But you are expected to show growth or renewed alignment. And if it’s a company you’re truly interested in, this kind of thoughtful persistence can actually work in your favor.
Why “I’m open to anything” makes you forgettable:
Recruiters aren’t just filling roles…they’re solving problems. When you say, “I’m open to anything,” you’re putting the burden on them to figure out where you fit. That’s not their job...it’s yours. If you’re not clearly articulating what you do well, how you add value, and where you want to go next, you’re asking them to do too much work. They’ll skip to the next applicant who makes it easy.
You can have range. You can have multiple directions. But each version of your resume and LinkedIn profile should have one clear throughline.
“Open to anything” sounds like flexibility, but what it communicates is uncertainty. And in this market, uncertainty kills momentum. Specificity builds trust. So define what you want, and make that the story you’re telling.
“I always hear that you should prepare questions to ask at the end of an interview. But I never know what to ask that doesn’t sound basic or rehearsed. What are some questions that actually make a good impression?”
This is a great question and a hugely underrated part of the interview process.
Asking thoughtful, specific questions at the end of an interview can reinforce your interest, demonstrate that you’ve been listening, and give the hiring team a better sense of how you think. But the key is to ask questions that are relevant to this role at this company…not just generic filler like “What’s the company culture like?” (they’ve answered that a hundred times, and you probably already saw their Glassdoor page).
You don’t need a huge list. Just a couple of thoughtful, well-phrased questions can go a long way. Here are some that often make a stronger impression:
“What’s something that surprised you about this company/department once joined?” This shows curiosity about the reality of the work, not just what’s on paper. It often leads to a more candid conversation.
“What would success look like in this role after 6 months?” It shifts the focus from “what are the responsibilities” to “what does good actually look like here,” which helps you understand their expectations and priorities.
“How do you see this team or department evolving over the next year?” This shows long-term thinking and helps you understand how your role fits into the bigger picture.
And if you’re earlier in the process or talking to a recruiter, something like: “What prompted this role to open?” or “What does the hiring process look like from here?” can help you gather useful intel without putting them on the spot, as well as give you a better idea of timeline and next steps.
The goal here isn’t to impress with your cleverness…it’s to demonstrate genuine interest in the work, and to leave the interviewer with the sense that you’re already thinking about how you’d contribute. That’s what makes the best impression.
I hope that helps! Good luck!
If you’re a Premium subscriber and have a question about your job search, email us at [email protected] and I’ll answer it in a future issue!
That's it for now, and send in those questions! Don't forget to put "Premium" in the subject line so I can stay organized!
Do you have any thoughts or suggestions for the premium membership? Let me know! The premium tier is a work in progress, and I want to create something of real value for subscribers.
Have a good one!
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