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- #139 - Rethink Your Messaging
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Hey There!
Welcome to Issue #139 of Jobseeking is Hard!
Today's issue is brought to you by I Hate It Here! If you value our content, help support us by 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 ghosting...and a privacy breach
Testing new resume strategies when your current one’s not working
The best (worst?) job posting of the week
And a scam involving fake “helpful” comments from strangers in the LinkedIn replies
And for Premium subscribers I’m:
Debunking the importance of your resume's page count
Giving you tips on how to find active job leads with low competition
Telling you why scrolling your LinkedIn feed can surface hidden openings
Answering a Premium subscriber’s question about handling back-to-back short stints on a resume. I’ll explain how to give just enough context to reduce red flags and keep the focus on your impact.
Let’s get to it!
STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
"On a scale of 1 to 10, how honest are you?"
Me: My greatest weakness is I’m too honest
Also me:
"If all the animals overthrew humanity, which species would be the leader?"
Me hearing that question and leaving the interview:
“Would you rather listen to an annoying laugh for a whole day or get tickled for one hour?”
“Would you rather listen to an annoying laugh for a whole day?” So…work in an office?
Now I’m curious…
Would you rather listen to an annoying laugh for a whole day or get tickled for one hour? |
Want to share your stupid interview questions? Reply or email [email protected]
SPEAKING OF POLLS
Last issue, I asked you, “Do you think it’d be harder to concentrate at work if your underwear was one size too small or constantly itchy?” More than 84% of you thought itchy underwear would be more distracting!
Some of the best responses:
“Not mine, but it definitely will be harder to concentrate if another colleague is constantly moving due to itchy underwear.”
"First of all, most of us have had chicken pox, so we know that awful uncontrollable itchy feeling where you can't do anything else but concentrate on, well, being itchy. Second, can you imagine? You rock up to a meeting, totally prepared, then start rubbing away at your nether regions like a rabid baboon? Outrage."
“Too small, for sure. I like my discomfort with a side of body image issues and a reminder that maybe salad isn’t such a bad idea.”
But my favorite was:
“[Insert Viola Davis side eye, getting up and walking out gif]”
You leaving the interview:
COMMUNITY CATHARSIS
We had an interview scheduled, but then they had to reschedule. Fine. Things happen in recruiters' lives, too.
I joined the rescheduled interview - and a completely different recruiter was on the call.
Her headset was making a horrible noise the whole time, so I struggled to hear the questions. She looked bored throughout. To cap things off, I was then ghosted.
When I followed up via email, they said, "Oh, didn't you get the email for the next stage?" (hopes raised!) And then they said it was sent to a similarly named person at [a completely different email address than mine]. Yes, they shared data on another candidate and later panicked, asking me to delete it; no apologies for how they treated me and the f*ck ups.
I checked out the other person. They were a fraction of my age and experience.
Brutal.
You gave them grace when they rescheduled…life happens. But then you were handed off to a new recruiter and ghosted. And when you checked in? You got false hope...and a privacy violation
It's one thing to mess up logistics. It's another to treat a candidate like an inconvenience. I'm sorry that happened to you.
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 you’ll land a 34% salary increase like this 2X client 🤷♂️
So how did I help this Comprehensive Resume Review client land a role in just a few weeks?
Experimenting.
If your resume isn't working, it doesn't always mean your experience is the problem. Sometimes it's how that experience is being framed. And if your current strategy isn't getting traction, the worst thing you can do is keep applying the same way and hoping for better results.
You have to test. Iterate. Try a new approach. That's what this client did...and it worked.
They didn't overhaul their background. They didn't pick up a new certification. They just got intentional about the message they were putting out there.
The resume review focused on their messaging, making sure it aligned their experience with what hiring managers actually look for based on the job posting...and cutting anything that didn't help their case.
How can you do that?
Show up with intention. Lead with relevance. Every part of your resume should support your case for this job, not just reflect everything you've done. Hiring teams aren't going to piece it together for you. Make the connection obvious.
Keep experimenting. If you're not getting interviews, something's off...and it's fixable.
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!
oh ok
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 The Rundown AI! C’mon give it a click…it helps support your favorite job search newsletter 🙂
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JOB SCAMS!
Scammers are everywhere in the LinkedIn comments right now...especially on posts with large #OpenToWork audiences. It's bad. Like really really bad.
If someone replies to your comment saying they’re impressed with your background or want to help, and they ask you to message them or email someone they know who can assist you, it’s a scam.
Watch for red flags:
The name is usually a combination of 2 first names or a word and a name.
The email address they provide looks sketchy...a random Gmail or a fake domain of a real company like @Manpower-USA.com instead of @Manpower.com.
Their profile was just created.
The profile has little to no connections.
They’re not verified.
They’re posting the same comment over and over on every job-related post they can find (c’mon…no one is that nice).
Yes, LinkedIn is meant for connection...but no one is out here offering unsolicited help to every single stranger in the comments.
Don’t engage. Don’t message them. Just report, block, and move on.
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 had 2 short stints of only 6 months over the past year. How would you suggest I handle that on my resume?”
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
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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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