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Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #142 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Today’s issue is sponsored by 1440 Media! If you find value in Jobseeking is Hard, the best way to support us (for free!) is to check out our sponsors. Show 1440 some love for supporting us! Thanks!

This week we’re talking about:

• Stupid Interview Questions (Spoiler: A recruiter sent these in!)

• A jobseeking horror story about potentially losing a great candidate to red tape (told from the hiring side)

• The fix for a resume that says everything (and nothing)

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

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Giving you tips on how to read between the lines of a job description to figure out what they actually care about

• Telling you why you should always give notice when leaving a job

• Answering a Premium subscriber's question about following up after applying. I’ll explain who to contact, how to find them, and what to say.

Let’s get to it!

STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Welcome to the Recruiter Edition of Stupid Interview Questions!

This week's submissions come from a tenured recruiter...someone who's been on both sides of the table and was recently laid off in a budget RIF. They've sent in a few of the worst offenders they've encountered over the years, along with a brief breakdown of why these questions are so frustrating from a hiring perspective.

Hi Adam!

I read #141 and, as a tenured recruiter (and someone recently laid off in a budget RIF), thought I'd submit a couple of stupid interview questions for your enjoyment.

1) “How many pizzas do you think Americans consume annually?” (No, this was not a pizza chain; it was telecom.)

2) "If you could be any kitchen appliance (alternative - any animal), what would you be and why?"

The first 2 are self-explanatory in their stupidity, lol. The last two are common, but I find them to be a waste of time for both the candidate and the interviewers.

3) "What do you like to do outside of work?"

#3 is gray in the compliance area (imo), because it seems like a way to determine if someone is married/has kids; it's also moot because we all know these managers don't actually care. We're here to discuss a position, folks, not my personal life or what I do in my downtime. It's an inane waste of interview time. Get to know me after you hire me, and stop wasting valuable time upfront.

4) "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

#4 is stupid because career transitions can happen at any time throughout a person's life. I spent the first 5 years of my career in finance with no plans or interest in going into HR. I fell into it, ended up liking it, so I stayed on the HR rail. Not to mention, Boomers throttled management progression (and wages) for millennials and at least 1/2 of Gen X for over a decade, so regardless of aspirations, they were largely unattainable; and it's especially stupid right now because everyone is trying to get some kind of job to survive, period.

Hope you enjoy the stupid interview questions! There aren't a lot of HR people out there speaking to candidates or holding orgs accountable for their ridiculousness. Thank you for keeping it real!

Thank you to this recruiter for pulling back the curtain and sharing both the nonsense and the nuance. It's rare to hear honest insight from someone who's done the hiring and experienced the job hunt.

If you're a fellow recruiter and have your own "what were we even doing?" moments, send them in! I'd love to include more hiring-side perspectives in future issues.

Email me at [email protected]

SPEAKING OF POLLS

Last issue, I asked you, “Would you rather your lips were always dry, or your hands were always slippery?” ~80% of you do not want slippery hands 😅

Some of the best responses:

But my favorite was:

Good point.

COMMUNITY CATHARSIS

This week’s story comes from a longtime reader who’s now writing in from the other side of the table.

They’ve hired hundreds of people across the country…but this recent experience left them feeling powerless. Not because of a bad candidate. Not because of indecisive leadership. But it was because of a background check process that went completely off the rails.

It’s a reminder that even when a jobseeker does everything right, the broken parts of the process can still create chaos for everyone.

Hey Adam,

I’m back — but this time, on the hiring side (don’t worry, still staying sharp and paying attention).

I’ve hired hundreds of people across the country, but this recent experience was one of the most frustrating I’ve ever had — not because of the candidate or myself, but because of the process itself. It left me feeling completely powerless.

We were urgently hiring for a key manager role. The job was posted in late April. Within 2 weeks, I phone screened 12 candidates, interviewed 6, and made an offer to one...who declined within a day. We quickly moved on to another strong finalist: interviewed, verbally offered, accepted, formal offer sent and accepted, two weeks’ notice given, drug screen and background initiated.

Then…nothing.

At 5:15 p.m. on the Friday before his start date, 15 minutes after his last day at his old job, I received a vague message: He hadn’t failed the background check, but it wasn’t cleared either. Just “delayed.” Three days. Then five. Then another five. Every week — for six weeks now — I’ve been told, “Maybe next week.”

The candidate’s been incredibly communicative. He wants the job, shared some personal challenges that make the uncertainty even more complicated, and even called HireRight to get clarity. They told him the delay stems from a state he has never lived in, worked in, or even visited. He’s understandably frustrated. He also noted that HireRight was facing multiple class-action lawsuits for similar issues and hoped for an alternative option.

Meanwhile, I’m doing two jobs — mine and the one I hired him for — and trying to keep him on the hook without being able to offer him clarity or a start date. HR has made it clear: No exceptions, no contingent starts, no workarounds.

Luckily, my local team helped put together a backup plan to keep us afloat, but man…what a mess.

Figured you’d appreciate the behind-the-scenes of how broken the system still is — even for the “winners” of the job search.

Hope you’re well!

Sounds fun!

Thank you for sharing this...and for offering a rare view from the other side of the process. It’s a powerful reminder that even the wins can get derailed by systems that still need fixing.

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 get a $30K bump in base salary like this client 🤷‍♂️

So how did I help this Comprehensive Resume Review client from May land a great opportunity with a fantastic company in July?

Value alignment.

This client, who was targeting customer success and account management roles in tech, wasn't getting passed over because they lacked experience. They were getting passed over because their resume tried to say everything at once.

Resumes should showcase relevant skills and experience. That's why they're marketing documents...not transcripts of every task from every job.

If the resume doesn't align with the roles you actually want, it doesn't show a clear value proposition to the reader. Want interviews? Clearly communicate the value you bring to the role.

Want to do the same? Here's how:

1. Rewrite your summary to reflect the next role, not just your background. Make it obvious that you're a match.

2. Reorder each job's bullet points so the most relevant skills come first.

3. Add context. Don't just list what you did...explain how you did it and why it mattered.

4. Trim unrelated bullet points. More content isn't more impressive; it's more confusing.

If your resume's not converting, it might not be the experience…it might just be how you're telling the story.

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!

not all heroes wear capes

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 still brought to you by 1440! C’mon give it a click…it costs $0 and helps support your favorite job search newsletter 🙂

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PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

"I applied for a role I’m perfect for and haven’t heard anything. Should I follow up? If so, who should I follow up with? What do I even say?"

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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