- Jobseeking is Hard
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- #140 - Refocus Your Pitch
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Hey There!
Welcome to Issue #140 of Jobseeking is Hard!
Today’s issue is sponsored by Morning Brew! If you find value in Jobseeking is Hard, the best way to support us (for free!) is to check out our sponsors. Show Morning Brew some love for supporting us! Thanks!
This week we’re talking about:
Stupid interview questions
A jobseeking horror story about thinking it went great…until the LinkedIn announcement dropped
A resume transformation that helped turn broad experience into a focused pitch
The best (worst?) job posting of the week
And a scam involving fake recruiters hijacking viral LinkedIn posts
And for Premium subscribers I’m:
Debunking LinkedIn profile photo myths
Giving you tips on how to tell if a company is just collecting resumes
Telling you why “years of experience” filters aren’t as strict as you think
Answering a Premium subscriber's question about getting interviews for the wrong jobs. I’ll explain how to refocus your resume so you attract the right ones.
Let’s get to it!
STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
"What do you think makes you better than other applicants for this position?" I said that I didn’t know since I never interviewed them.
Use this response next time: “I could make something up if that’s what we’re doing here, but I’d rather tell you why I’m a good fit than guess what’s wrong with the others.”
"Be honest, are you just interested in the money?"
Me: Absolutely not.
Also me:
“Would you rather be trapped in a small room with 10,000 tarantulas for 10 minutes, or eat 10 tarantulas in 10 minutes?”
“Can’t we just talk about my advanced Excel skills?”
Now I’m curious…
Would you rather be trapped in a small room with 10,000 tarantulas for 10 minutes, or eat 10 tarantulas in 10 minutes? |
Want to share your stupid interview questions? Reply or email [email protected]
SPEAKING OF POLLS
Last issue, I asked you, “Would you rather listen to an annoying laugh for a whole day or get tickled for one hour?” More than 72% of you would rather listen to an annoying laugh!
Some of the best responses:
"I know I couldn't control myself with the laughter and would most likely end up in jail on murder charges. For the sake of keeping the peace, I'll take the tickling. The bonus? I'm not ticklish haha! You get to live today Karen."
"Not very ticklish and would happily mention that I know an excellent labor lawyer."
"I'm like a puppy in the sense that I risk of peeing when tickled for 2 min. One hour is just out of the question."
But my favorite was:
"Tickled just for the duration. And it says nothing about not being able to throw constant face/throat punches to the person attempting the tickling."
For the record: 6 of you said “Don’t touch me,” 3 threatened to pee, 10 of you threatened violence, and 1 said it “depends where [you’re] being tickled.”
This officially sets a Jobseeking is Hard record for most HR violations in a single question.
COMMUNITY CATHARSIS
I had to take an assessment test. I knew I had aced it, and was told by one of the three interviewers that I had.
I'm not sure if it was an error or intentional, but they sent me the assessment results of another candidate (I assume it was an error).
She did not do nearly as well as I did, but she was half my age.
She got the offer. I saw her "Happy to announce" post on LinkedIn.
That sounds…fun 😒
It’s actually something I hear a lot. Interview for a job, feel good about it…then see the “Happy to announce” post on LinkedIn from someone with less experience.
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 it’ll make you want to thank me publicly when you land a job like this 2X client 🤷♂️
So how did I help this Review Bundle client pivot to the kind of role they were aiming for?
Relevance.
Their goal? Pivot into something more aligned with their values.
They had the experience...but the resume wasn’t doing it justice. The summary was vague. Related skills and outcomes were hard to find. And the whole thing read more like a biography than a targeted marketing document for the roles they actually wanted.
If your resume isn’t getting the right kind of attention, start with this:
Bring the most relevant skills to the forefront.
Trim anything that isn’t relevant to where you’re headed.
Rewrite your summary so it’s less “here’s what I want” and more “here’s what I bring.”
Even small shifts in framing can make a big difference.
If your resume isn't making the right impression, 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 job is not for me
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 I Hate It Here! C’mon give it a click…it costs $0 and helps support your favorite job search newsletter 🙂
The Secret Weapon for HR
The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.
JOB SCAMS!
Scammers are now hijacking popular LinkedIn posts to make their fake job listings look legit.
They’ll take a post that’s already doing well (usually something offering advice or resources for jobseekers) and repost it with new text that looks helpful: adding fake job listings and a Gmail address.
Like this one, claiming to hire for Walmart across multiple countries, with detailed job descriptions and a convincing tone.
The formatting looks professional. The roles are real. But then you see the contact info: [email protected]
🚩 No company…literally none…uses a Gmail address for hiring.
🚩 The profile is unverified.
If you see something like this:
Do NOT send your resume. Real recruiters use company domains. Click the profile. If they’re unverified, vague, or brand new, it’s fake. Report the account and block it.
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 getting interviews, but when I get to the interview, I find out the job really isn’t a match for what I’m looking for. How can I prevent wasting my time? How can I get interviews for the 'right' jobs? Is there something wrong with 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.
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A subscription gets you:
- • 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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