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Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #153 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Today's issue is brought to you by Morning Brew! If you're a free subscriber and value our content, show our sponsor some love for supporting Jobseeking is Hard! Give it a click and help us out! Thanks!

This week we’re talking about:

• Stupid interview questions

• A jobseeking horror story about broken promises

• Why “how” matters more than “what” on your resume

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

• And a job scam about hacked recruiter profiles

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Debunking LinkedIn “red flags”

• Answering a Premium subscriber’s question about interview follow-up. I’ll explain who to contact, when to reach out, and how to do it without overstepping.

Let’s get to it!

STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

"If the building caught fire, would you save your boss, your peers, or the CEO?”

Me:

“Is your parents' house mortgaged or rented?”

Me:

“Would you rather be caught singing in the shower or dancing in front of the mirror?”

Asking a candidate about being in the shower?

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 wake up in Freaky Friday or Groundhog Day?” More than 72% of you want to replay the same day over and over and over.

Some of the best responses:

But my favorite was:

I’m getting depressed thinking about this.

COMMUNITY CATHARSIS

Two weeks ago, I was contacted by a recruiter regarding a job I had applied for on LinkedIn. After a Zoom chat, she was able to set me up with an interview with a mid-level startup 3 days later.

Convo went well, and I was moved on to another interview, which also went well. The next interview was with a panel. It went great and could have easily gone on for another hour.

The recruiter called me and said they loved me and that she would definitely call me by Wednesday to let me know their decision.

Well, Wednesday rolled around and NOTHING.

I waited until Friday, inquired, and got a cold, canned message stating that it was a "very hard decision" and that they selected someone else, and that I should keep an eye on their website for more opportunities. (I'm pretty sure that unless I messaged, I'd have been ghosted.)

I went on LinkedIn shortly after that day and mentioned what had transpired. Yesterday, I got a call out of nowhere to basically tell me THE EXACT SAME THING from the email from Friday. Not even an apology, and when I tried asking a question, she spoke over me. (I SO badly want to publicly name names.)

I get it, they're busy, and other people get the job you wanted. FINE, but DO NOT essentially promise a candidate you're going to call them on a specific day and then don't! If you can't keep that promise, don't say it bc every word out of your mouth after that cannot be trusted either. It's a lack of professionalism and integrity. It also hurts your reputation and that of the company you represent.

As my dad would say, "Don't write checks your a** can't cash."

I may contact the company letting them know that it’s unacceptable to blow smoke up people's backsides…well, in different words, of course lol.

If you tell a candidate you’ll call Wednesday, call Wednesday. It’s not complicated.

Breaking your own promise kills trust, makes the rejection worse, and reflects poorly on both you and the company.

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 you’ll find it well worth the time and money, like this client 🤷‍♂️

So how did I help this Review Bundle client feel empowered?

I explained how to tell the story behind the story.

There's a huge difference between what you did and how you did it.

Take this client for example. On paper, they had solid experience, but the way it was presented wasn't helping them. Their resume read like a string of job descriptions: "led sales," "built processes," "conducted demos." The "what" was there, but the "how" and "why it mattered" were missing. Without that context, their resume looked generic. And when a recruiter is overwhelmed and quickly scanning, generic equals forgettable.

Anyone can list responsibilities. That doesn't prove you were good at them. Two people can both say they "managed accounts," but one grew revenue by 40% and the other didn't hit quota. Without context, they look the same on paper. That's the danger of focusing only on duties...you blend in with everyone else who has the same job title and responsibilities.

The fix is simple, but powerful. Add the "how" and the "impact." Did you launch a presales function during an acquisition? Did your demos help land enterprise clients? Did your process changes reduce onboarding time? That kind of detail proves competence and shows exactly why your experience is valuable to the next employer.

Once your resume shifts from a flat list of responsibilities to a clear story of results, your relevance and value jump off the page.

It worked for this client. When someone on LinkedIn asked if paying someone to work on your resume is worth it, this client didn't hesitate to share their experience working with me: "His feedback is positive, relevant, and empowering…Highly recommend his newsletter as well."

If your resume only shows the "what" without the "how" and "why it mattered," you're forgettable.

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!

dance puppets, dance!!!!

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!

JOB SCAMS!

I’ve talked about this one before, but it’s worth revisiting because I’ve seen a wave of new victims posting about it on LinkedIn.

I don’t care how legit someone looks. I don’t care if their profile has connections. I don’t care if their account is verified. A recruiter will not review your resume, claim it “needs to be fixed for their ATS,” and then refer you to someone who will “fix it” for a fee.

Yes, it’s helpful to spot obvious red flags, like brand-new profiles, 0 connections, no verification...but what’s happening now is different.

Hackers are taking over real recruiter accounts. Profiles that have existed for years, that look vetted and trustworthy, are being used to scam vulnerable jobseekers.

That’s not how recruiting works. That’s not how the ATS works. And it’s definitely not how legitimate recruiters work.

One person even shared that after falling for it, all they got back was the exact same resume in a different font. That’s the whole scam...a useless “service.”

If anyone tries this on you, report the profile and block them.

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

"When you've not only applied but have had interviews with HR and the hiring manager, what is the appropriate time and way to follow up? Is it appropriate to follow up with the hiring manager, just HR, or both?"

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 150+ 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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