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Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #136 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Today's issue is brought to you by 1440! 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!

This week we’re talking about:

• Stupid interview questions

• A jobseeking horror story about time zone chaos

• Why your resume might be “too quiet”

• The best (worst?) job posting of the week

• And a scam involving fake interviews and identity fraud

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Debunking “Most LinkedIn jobs are already filled”

• Giving you insight into why your Open to Work setting might not be working

• Telling you why applying directly on a company’s site can give you an edge

• Answering a Premium subscriber’s question about resume customization. I’ll explain what actually needs to change and how long it should take.

Let’s get to it!

STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

"If you were a part of a toilet, what part would you be?"

I wonder if they have one of those "team-building" bathrooms?

“Which way should the toilet paper fall? Under or over the roll?”

$1 says someone’s just trying to settle an argument at home.

“Would you rather know how you die or when you die?”

Now I’m curious…

Want to share your stupid interview questions? Reply or email [email protected] 

SPEAKING OF POLLS

Last issue, I asked you, “Would you rather only be able to eat yogurt or peanut butter?” This was another close one, with PB winning 52% of the vote. (I’m seriously disappointed in 48% of you btw.)

Some of the best responses:

But my favorite was:

Try that in the break room and you’ll be escorted off the premises and updating your LinkedIn before you know it.

COMMUNITY CATHARSIS

I was contacted by a recruiter for the world's largest [redacted...just in case].

I was notified, without notice, very early on Monday morning that my interviews would be in 4 hours: C-suite first, followed by senior leaders on the same day, with almost no time to prepare.

I am CMT time, and the company team is in varied time zones. The first interview was at 3:45, and the second was at 4:45. I signed into ZOOM at 12:45 to find 4 people, and my recruiter chaotically argued over the time and interview schedule.

Apparently, the recruiter was not supposed to schedule C-suite back-to-back with senior teams.

The 2nd interview was with the C-suite, and if they liked you, they would move candidates to Phase 3 with senior leaders.

I sat there, fully visible on the call, for 10 minutes, watching them bicker between themselves before they realized I was in the room.

It was abruptly explained by a C-suite employee that I had missed the East Coast call; however, 1 person was on the West Coast - possibly the most poorly organized interview to date.

I spent days preparing for both interviews, only to find that there was only 1 interview and I would have to wait for C-suite approval to move to the 3rd. The recruiter had booked both interviews on the same day without notifying the C-suite or executive team.

I'm no longer interested.

I'm done searching. The market is 100% broken and beyond repair.

The lack of communication, disorganization, and public confusion on that call says way more about their internal chaos than anything about you. You showed up. You were prepared. They weren't.

You're not imagining how broken this is. It makes total sense to feel done after something like that. The market isn't your fault...but it's absolutely exhausting to keep hitting this kind of nonsense.

I’m sorry that happened to you.

Subscribers…

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 stop underselling yourself like this client 🤷‍♂️

So how did I help this Comprehensive Resume Review client finally achieve “normality” and escape a toxic workplace?

Clarity.

One of the biggest reasons qualified candidates don't get interviews? They're underselling themselves.

It usually comes from a well-meaning but completely wrong assumption...that the recruiter will understand what's involved in a job title, or that applying alone makes your fit obvious. But recruiters aren't mind-readers. They don't know you outside of your resume, and they don't know the job outside of the job description. If your resume doesn't spell out why you're a match, they'll move on.

This is a huge disconnect. You're already up against enough, like timing, luck, bias, internal candidates, etc. Don't let your own resume be another obstacle.

Here's how to fix it.

Stop relying on titles to carry weight. "Client Account Manager" can mean 5 different things at 5 different companies. Spell out what you actually did. Focus on responsibilities that align with the job you want, not just a list of everything you were responsible for.

Lead with relevance. If your best experience is buried halfway down the page, it won't get seen. Structure your bullet points so the most relevant ones are first. You want the reader to say "yes" almost immediately.

Don't just list duties...prove you were good at them. "Handled client onboarding" is a task, but explaining how you facilitated it has value. "Created a new onboarding framework that cut handover time in half" is even better.

Context matters. Without it, the reader can't tell if what you did was impressive. Show scale, scope, and outcome. Managed accounts? How many? Handled deals? What size? Delivered results? What changed?

Your resume isn't the place to be modest. Be clear, confident, and deliberate. If you've been applying and not hearing back, there's a good chance your resume isn't selling you hard enough. Fix that...and give yourself a real shot.

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!

straight to jail

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!

Today's issue is also brought to you by Morning Brew! C’mon give it a click…it helps support your favorite job search newsletter 🙂

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JOB SCAMS!

A subscriber sent this in:

“You will take job hunting interviews as an individual candidate instead of my developers to secure jobs with given profile and resumes.”

Oh ok.

Basically, they want you to pretend to be someone else in interviews so one of their workers can land a job. It’s not just unethical...it’s fraud. And it’s happening more often than you’d think.

This kind of scam causes real damage to people who are genuinely trying to land a role. It breaks trust in the interview process. When companies get burned by fake candidates, they become more skeptical of everyone else. That means longer hiring timelines, more tests, more projects, more hoops...and more rejections for people who are actually qualified.

It also makes companies question the viability of remote hiring. These fake worker scams are possible because of remote work, and when companies fall for them, some react by pulling back on remote flexibility. That hurts real candidates who need or prefer remote roles...and makes everything more difficult for jobseekers playing by the rules.

Worst of all, it feeds the kind of cynicism that leads to bias. Hiring teams start doubting resumes, questioning experience, and making assumptions...all because scammers have poisoned the process.

If you get a message like this, don’t just ignore it. Report it directly to LinkedIn. These fake impersonation schemes are actively wrecking the process for the rest of us.

Stay safe out there!

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.

PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

“Hey Adam,

How long should I actually be spending on tailoring my resume for each job?

I keep hearing that every resume should be customized, but if I’m applying to multiple roles each day, it feels impossible to do that without spending hours on every single one. What’s realistic here?”

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:

• 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.

• 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.

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.

AFFILIATES

NOTE: As an affiliate to these services, we will receive compensation if you purchase products or services through the links provided.

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