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- #138 - Focus or Fail
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Hey There!
Welcome to Issue #138 of Jobseeking is Hard!
Today's issue is brought to you by Superhuman AI! If you value our content, help support us buy checking out our sponsors! 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 getting ghosted by the interviewer...who then said she was too busy to talk
Fixing a “kitchen sink” resume that tries to do too much
The best (worst?) job posting of the week
And a scam involving fake recruiters using your own LinkedIn profile against you
And for Premium subscribers I’m:
Debunking the take that your resume’s file type gives off “the wrong vibes”
Giving you tips on how to figure out your next role by studying other people’s career paths
Telling you why searching by job title might be limiting your opportunities
Answering a Premium subscriber's question about listing contract work on a resume. I'll explain how to make it look strategic instead of scattered.
Let’s get to it!
STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
“How do you get people to do what you need them to do, given how young you are?”
"I speak in a slightly deeper voice and use the phrase 'circle back' a lot...people eat it up."
"What would you do if someone started shouting at you in a meeting?"
I’d send them a calendar invite later titled "Training - How to Use Inside Voice"
I was asked, “Do you think it’d be harder to concentrate at work if your underwear was one size too small or constantly itchy?”
Now I’m curious…
Do you think it’d be harder to concentrate at work if your underwear was one size too small or constantly itchy? |
Want to share your stupid interview questions? Reply or email [email protected]
SPEAKING OF POLLS
Two issues ago, I asked you, “Would you rather know how you die or when you die?” It wasn’t even close. More than 68% of you would rather know when you were going to die, not how.
Some of the best responses:
“I could then plan an epic departure!”
“If I know how, every false alarm will drive me mad.”
"I come from a family that has stood by a coffin explaining how the deceased was found face down in a trash can (no, it wasn't a violent death). Might as well find out if they will have a funny, cringe, or warm ending scene."
But my favorite was:
"Cause it's fast living (aka ice cream dinners and swimming after eating) all day, every day until the end."
I’ll drink to that.
COMMUNITY CATHARSIS
The recruiter kept setting up interview times, and no one showed up.
I sat and waited for 30 minutes, and nothing happened. When the manager finally showed up for the interview, she said, "I'm so busy interviewing people. I have to go.”
Well, thanks for wasting my time.
You:
This is one of those stories where the disrespect is so casual it almost feels personal.
"I'm so busy interviewing people. I have to go.” Are...are you not people?
This isn’t just bad manners. It’s a hiring process that treats candidates like time slots to fill...not talent worth impressing. And if this is how they act before you're hired, imagine the chaos once you're on payroll.
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 a $20K salary increase like this client 🤷♂️
So how did I help this Comprehensive Resume Review client land the job they wanted, with a higher salary and a more senior role?
Focus.
What was wrong with this resume? Their resume listed good experience, but it was trying to be everything at once. A little recruiting, a little professional development, a little events, a little customer service. It covered every job they'd done in detail and left it up to the reader to figure out what they were actually best at.
That's a huge risk. I call that a "kitchen sink" resume...you can't show a recruiter everything you've done and say, "Here's all of my experience. Hope you find what you're looking for!" Recruiters don't have time to connect the dots. Worse...some recruiters can't connect the dots due to a severe knowledge gap. They're recruiters...they (usually) haven't done your job. If your resume doesn't clearly signal "this person is a strong match for this role," they'll keep scrolling.
How can you fix that?
Stop treating your resume like a career scrapbook. You're not trying to prove you've done a lot of things...you're trying to prove you can do this job (the one you're applying for). Tailor it to the role you want. Lead with the most relevant experience and focus on what matters to that specific job posting throughout the resume. Cut what doesn't help your case.
Does your resume focus on the right skills and experience? If not, 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!
This hybrid job offers flexibility: 4 days onsite, 3 remote, and 0 days off
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 1440 Media! C’mon give it a click…it helps support your favorite job search newsletter 🙂
Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.
Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.
JOB SCAMS!
I'm hearing more and more stories from jobseekers that remind me that not all scammers are lazy, copying and pasting the same message to everyone. This scam doesn't seem obvious (at first). It looks personalized enough to trick people. It pulls your LinkedIn headline into the email, references your actual skills, and poses as a recruiter from a real company (in this case, Meta).
This scam scrapes public info from LinkedIn (your job title, specialties, etc.) and uses it to create a spear-phishing email that feels like it was meant just for you.
A spear-phishing email is a smarter, more effective phishing email. Regular phishing emails are usually generic, like "Click here to reset your Hulu password" or "Your package couldn't be delivered." They're sent to tons of people, hoping someone bites.
But with spear-phishing, the scammer does their homework. They might use your name, job title, company info, or even reference something you just posted on LinkedIn. It looks legit because it's tailored to you…which makes it way easier to fall for.
The fake recruiter sends a job offer that sounds like it matches your background and interests...one you'd be qualified for, and includes familiar industry language to make it feel legit. Then, you click the link…and it takes you to a fake login page to steal your credentials.
What makes this one especially tricky is how targeted it is.
Here's how to protect yourself:
Check the sender's email domain. If it's not from the company's known email domain, it's fake. Not sure? Send a message on LinkedIn to the name of the person who sent you the email. Make sure the profile is verified.
Don't click login links in cold outreach emails. Go directly to the site yourself.
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 done a lot of freelance and contract work the past few years. How can I optimize my resume so I'm not immediately rejected. I can do the work, and have great experience. I just can't find FT W2 employment."
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.
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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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