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Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #155 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Today's issue is brought to you by Superhuman AI! If you're a free subscriber and value our content, it costs $0 to support us by taking .0005 seconds to click the ad and check out the service. Seriously…all you need to do is click it. You don’t even have to buy anything…just clicking helps support us. Easy peasy. Show our sponsor some love for supporting Jobseeking is Hard! Thanks!

Hiring seems to be picking up a bit from what I’m seeing across my professional circles and on my LinkedIn feed, which means now’s the time to strengthen your strategy and do what you can to stand out. So this issue is dedicated to your questions…real scenarios, real struggles, and the guidance you need to move things forward in your job search.

This week we’re talking about:

• Why resume formatting matters

• What to do when you don’t have numbers for your resume and still want to show impact

• How to make your skills sound relevant when switching industries

• Why certifications and training can help you stand out

• How to reach back out to a company that once rejected you

• How to overcome the bias against former business owners

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Debunking the “manager-only references” myth

• Answering a Premium subscriber’s question about simplifying job titles after multiple re-orgs. I’ll explain how to show growth and stay relevant without misrepresenting your experience.

Let’s get to it!

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 like this client 🤷‍♂️

So how did I help this Comprehensive Resume Review client?

I explained that formatting matters.

I worked with this client a few years ago (but the best practices remain the same). Recently, they reached out to say they’re still getting compliments on their resume. That doesn’t happen by luck. It happens because the resume reads well.

When I returned their review, their immediate response was, “I see what you mean about showing value. This really helps!” And that’s exactly the point...your resume has to show value right away.

Your relevance should be obvious at first glance. A hiring manager shouldn’t have to work to see that you’re qualified. That’s where format, structure, and clarity come in. The easier it is to follow, the faster someone can understand what you bring to the table. Shorter bullet points make your experience easier to absorb. Trimming the fat keeps the focus on what matters most. White space gives the reader room to breathe. And aligning your resume around the job you want, not every job you’ve ever had, makes your story make sense.

It’s not about design or being flashy. The joke in recruiting is that the most “eye-catching” thing on a resume is being qualified. So your job is to make that easy to find.

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. 

Now, onto your questions…

Hey Adam!

Been sitting here trying to reframe my experience. I’ve done a lot, seen a lot, and don’t usually have access to numbers. So when trying to write bullet points, I’m stumped at trying to quantify them. I’m not going to shoot out some BS percentages and numbers, which is, to me, LYING. I simply don’t know, and often didn’t have access to that information then or now, SO...

HOW the heck do you write a bullet point when you don’t have the numbers to really support or quantify it?

Good point. It sounds great when people say "you need metrics," but success isn't always about numbers. Having data would make it easier to prove your impact, sure, but most people don't have access to that information.

But that doesn't mean you can't show value.

Everything you do at work has an objective. There's a reason you do it. So instead of thinking "I don't have numbers," start by asking, "What was I trying to accomplish?" Then focus on how you achieved that goal.

If the objective was to create a process, make something more efficient, strengthen communication, or support a team, say that. Demonstrate that you met the goal and connect it to the bigger picture. How did that work impact your group, department, or company? Did it save time, improve accuracy, help leadership make better decisions, or free up resources for higher priorities?

You're not lying...you're reframing success in terms of outcomes. Hiring managers don't just care about how much something improved; they care that you made things successful and understand why it mattered.

So your goal isn't to make up metrics. It's to show that you achieved what you set out to do and that your work contributed to the larger success of the team or organization. That's what proves you're an integral part of how the company succeeds.

How do you highlight your transferable skills in a way that shows real value to the employer, especially if the role has a different title, function, or even comes from another industry? How can you prove that what you’ve done before is still relevant to what you want to do next?

It's not about listing skills or stuffing your resume with keywords. Recruiting is more than matching words to a job description. It's about demonstrating how you used your skills. That's the value.

Anyone can say they have leadership, communication, or project management skills. What matters is showing those skills in action. The way you prove transferability is by demonstrating how you've used those abilities to solve problems, lead teams, or deliver results, even if it was in a completely different setting.

Skills are skills, regardless of industry, job title, or function. A project manager in construction and a project manager in marketing are both coordinating timelines, resources, and deliverables. The tools might change, but the skill itself doesn't.

That's why it helps to make your experience sound industry-agnostic. Describe what you did in a way that focuses on the action and impact, not the industry specifics. Instead of saying "Led warehouse operations for a manufacturing company," you could say "Led daily operations and process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce delays." You're describing the same work, just without locking yourself into an industry label.

Your goal is to connect the dots for the reader. Don't assume they'll see how your background applies. Show them. Highlight the way you think, lead, and execute so they can see your value, regardless of where you've done the work. That's what makes you relevant, even when your experience looks different on paper.

I earned a Six Sigma certification, several Salesforce badges, and basic coding skills. Should I put them on my resume? Will they show interest in continued learning?

Yes! You should absolutely include them. Advanced education and professional development are differentiators. In a competitive market, they can be the tiebreaker between you and another qualified candidate when a hiring manager is deciding who to interview.

Certifications, badges, and training show that you’re actively improving. That matters. It tells employers that you’re the kind of person who doesn’t wait to be told what to learn.

You can include anything that shows growth and initiative. It doesn’t have to be a formal degree or something you paid a lot for. Examples include:

• Certificates or certifications like Google Analytics or HubSpot Academy

• Online courses from platforms like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning (Good thing there’s a 40% off Coursera Plus sale!)

• Six Sigma, Lean, or Agile certifications

• Professional association workshops

• Free programs like Google Career Certificates or Harvard Online

All of it shows curiosity and commitment to growth. Employers don’t care if it’s free or paid. They care that you’re taking the initiative to keep learning. It also builds confidence in you as an employee. If you don’t know something on the job, you’re not going to shrug your shoulders or hand it off to someone else. You’ll figure it out. And that mindset is exactly what companies want.

I interviewed for a role last year that I really wanted, but didn’t get. The company and the work were a perfect fit, and I’ve kept thinking about how much I’d love to be part of what they’re doing. I’m now considering reaching back out to the hiring manager to express continued interest, maybe offering freelance or project-based help to get my foot in the door. Is that a good idea? And if so, what’s the best way to approach it without coming across as desperate or pushy?

Reconnecting with a company after a rejection isn’t desperate...it’s strategic if you do it the right way. You just need to make sure the message isn’t “please hire me,” but rather “I’ve kept an eye on what you’re doing, and I’d still love to contribute if the timing ever works out.”

Start by re-establishing the relationship. Send a short, professional note to the hiring manager. Mention that you interviewed last year, that you’ve continued to follow the company’s work (give a specific example), and that you’re still really into what they’re doing. Keep it conversational and genuine. The tone should be about interest...not urgency. Something like:

That kind of message works because it’s confident and low pressure...you’re not asking for a job. Reaching back out like this does 2 important things: it reminds them who you are, and it shows persistence in a positive way. Even if nothing’s available now, it keeps you top of mind for when something opens up.

And project work is a great idea. Just because they don’t have any public job openings doesn’t mean they don’t need help. I always recommend offering project work to get your foot in the door of a company you’re interested in…as long as it’s paid project work.

I’ve spent the past few years running my own business and now want to transition back into a full-time role. The challenge is that many employers don’t seem to value my entrepreneurial experience the same way they would a traditional job.

How can I present that background in a way that feels credible and relevant to hiring managers? What’s the best way to show that my time as a business owner built skills that translate into being a strong employee again?

The biggest challenge you'll face isn't your experience...it's the bias that comes with it.

When companies see "business owner" on a resume, they don't question your skills or work ethic. They wonder how you'll take direction. How you'll work with others. How you'll fit into an existing structure instead of doing things your own way. So your job is to calm those concerns before they even form. Focus on demonstrating the skills that are relevant to the role you want, not the business you ran.

Frame your experience around collaboration, leadership, problem-solving, and execution. Instead of talking about "managing a business," talk about how you "partnered with clients," "executed initiatives," "built processes," or "guided teams (if it's a supervisory role)." Tailor your examples to what matters most for the job you're applying to. Make your experience feel like an obvious fit. Those phrases make you sound like someone who can thrive within a team, not being the ultimate decision-maker.

You don't need to hide that you were an entrepreneur; you just need to make it easy for a hiring manager to picture you as part of their team. Focus less on ownership and more on contribution. That's what shifts the perception from "owner" to "employee."

Hope you found this issue helpful!

Got more questions? Send them along. I’ll be putting together another Q&A issue soon, and I’d love to include yours. You can reply directly to this issue or email [email protected] and I’ll add it to the list.

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PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

“I worked for a company that went through several re-orgs, and my title changed a few times, even though my role stayed mostly the same. Can I just pick one title that best represents what I did, as long as it matches what’s on my LinkedIn?”

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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