In partnership with

Don’t get SaaD. Get Rippling.

Disconnected software creates what we call SaaD, or Software as a Disservice: wasted time, duplicate work, and stalled momentum. From onboarding checklists to reconciling expenses, SaaD slows every team down.

Rippling is the cure. With one system of record, you can update employee data once,and it syncs everywhere: payroll, benefits, expenses, devices, and apps.

Leaders gain real-time visibility. Teams regain lost hours. Employees get the seamless experience they deserve .

That’s why companies like Barry’s and Forterra turned to Rippling – to replace sprawl with speed and clarity.

It’s time to stop paying for inefficiency.

Don’t get SaaD. Get Rippling.

Stop SaaD in its tracks

Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #158 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Today's issue is brought to you by Rippling! If you're a free subscriber and value our content, give it a click and check ‘em out! Show our sponsor some love for supporting Jobseeking is Hard! Thanks!

Last week, I got a message from someone who’d applied to over 1,000 jobs without luck. They saw one of my posts, reworked their resume using the advice, and finally landed their first job offer, an entry-level role they were actually excited about.

That message was a good reminder of why I do what I do. It’s easy to get caught up in client work, deadlines, and everything else, but moments like that bring it back into focus. Helping people get unstuck and finally feel seen by recruiters never gets old.

It also made me realize it was a good time to pull together some recent resume advice I’ve shared…the same tips and strategies that helped paying clients.

This advice isn’t theoretical and it’s not dated. These are the same strategies that turned “no interviews” into job offers, salary bumps, and career pivots. They worked for real people we’ve helped through our resume services, and I hope they work for you too.

If your resume looks fine but you're still not getting interviews, give these tips a try.

This week we’re talking about:

• Why your resume should be written for people, not the ATS

• How to stop sounding like a job description and start telling your story

• The formatting choices that actually get you interviews

• How to make your career feel like progress, not chaos

• What recruiters really think about employment gaps

• How to turn your experience into a pitch that actually works

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Telling you how to make your achievements mean something to recruiters

• Answering a Premium subscriber’s question about long resumes. I’ll explain how to decide what to include (and what to cut).

Let’s get to it!

Write for People, Not the ATS

A lot of jobseekers believe if they just include the right keywords, their resume will finally start getting attention.

I get it. Everyone’s been told about the Applicant Tracking System like it’s this mythical gatekeeper that decides your fate. And yes, keywords matter. But the truth is, once a human being opens your resume, it’s not just about keywords.

Recruiters aren’t hiring words. They’re hiring proof. They’re reading your resume to figure out whether you can actually do the job. If your experience reads like a collection of disconnected buzzwords, you’ve given them no reason to trust you can deliver.

If you’re listing “project management,” explain what that actually looked like. Did you coordinate multiple teams or vendors? Were you responsible for budget oversight, timelines, or execution? What kind of outcomes did you deliver because of that work?

One Comprehensive Resume Review client came in with a resume full of solid skills, but it was written like a checklist. Keyword dumps aren't a value proposition.

Take those keywords and add context: what type of projects, how large they were, who they worked with, and what changed because of their contribution. Once those details are in place, the resume can do its job.

Within a few weeks, that client went from no traction to multiple interviews and an offer.

Keywords get you found, but context gets you the interview.

Don’t Just List Tasks…Tell a Story

If your resume reads like the job description for your position, you’re not standing out.

“Responsible for,” “managed,” and “oversaw” are fine, but they don’t tell anyone what you actually did with that responsibility. They may be accurate, but they don’t explain what you offer.

Recruiters already know the basic responsibilities. They’ve probably filled similar roles. What they want to see is how you performed within that structure. What did you accomplish? What challenges did you face and overcome? What did you improve or build?

When we worked with one Comprehensive Resume Review client, they had strong experience but a resume that sounded flat. It listed everything they were responsible for, but not what made their work different or valuable.

Restructure every bullet with context to focus on process and results. “Managed accounts” can become “managed 25 national accounts and implemented client feedback loops that increased renewals by 18%.” “Led process improvement initiatives” can be “identified workflow bottlenecks and reduced processing time from 3 days to 1.”

That clarity can change everything. Suddenly the same experience reads like evidence of success, not a list of duties.

You can’t assume a recruiter will connect the dots. Spell out what you achieved and how it benefited the business. That’s what gets attention.

Your Format Should Help You, Not Hurt You

I see candidates obsess over templates and designs when the real problem is that their resume is exhausting to read.

Recruiters aren’t designers. They’re evaluators. If they have to hunt for information or get distracted by graphics or have difficulty navigating a wonky layout, they’ll move on.

The more visual clutter your resume has, the less time they’ll spend trying to understand your experience. The best resume designs are the ones that aren’t designs at all. Clean formatting, clear section headers, consistent spacing, and short, skimmable bullet points do more for you than any font trick ever will.

White space matters. It gives the reader’s eye a break and makes the content easier to process. One Comprehensive Resume Review client told us that even years later, recruiters still comment on how clean and readable their resume is. It’s not because it looked trendy. It’s because the information was easy to find and the value was impossible to miss.

Even if you work in a creative industry, the resume isn’t the place to show off design. That’s what a portfolio or website is for. The resume is about clarity. Its only job is to help the reader understand your impact as quickly as possible.

If your format gets in the way of your message, you’re losing interviews you should have had.

Resumes Should Show Progress, Not Chaos 

Resumes that just list responsibilities don’t engage readers because they don’t tell a story.

A recruiter or hiring manager should be able to read your resume and understand how your experience connects from one job to the next, what you learned, and how that growth positions you for the role you want now.

Every section of your resume should feel intentional. Each bullet should build on the last. That’s what creates flow and keeps the reader interested.

One Review Bundle client had great experience but no structure. Their resume jumped between industries and roles, with different job titles and functions. It felt scattered.

Find a common thread and focus your narrative on it. My client’s thread was leading through change and improving team performance. Rebuild your narrative around the theme and everything should click.

Our client said they finally felt “empowered” by their resume because it sounded like their professional story, not just a summary of jobs.

Storytelling in a resume isn’t about flair or personality. It’s about focus. It’s about intention. You’re showing the throughline that explains who you are as a professional and what makes you valuable. You’re demonstrating the skillset you are building and strengthening.

If the reader has to piece together your career, they won’t see the value. Make it easy for them to follow your path.

Recruiters Don’t Hate Gaps…

They Hate Guessing

Everyone’s career path has detours. Layoffs, family responsibilities, contract work, burnout, relocations, etc., it’s all normal. Recruiters know that. What worries them isn’t the gap itself; it’s when the gap is left unexplained.

If your resume jumps from 2020 to 2022 with nothing in between, they’ll start guessing. You don’t want them guessing.

A short line of context solves the problem immediately. For example, if you took time off for caregiving, list something about a sabbatical. If you did freelance or consulting work, include a short entry that lists the type of projects or clients. If you used the time to pursue training or certifications, include that. Otherwise it just looks like you were unsuccessfully looking for work.

The worst thing you can be is appear “unhirable.”

One Premium Resume Review client came in with a resume full of contract roles and gaps. On paper, they looked unstable. Once we reframed it, emphasizing the skills they gained and the results they delivered in each engagement, the entire picture changed. It’s hard to argue with activity and success.

Don’t let recruiters imagine what you’ve been up to. Show them. Go from looking inconsistent to looking versatile and capable.

Within weeks of doing that, my client landed their dream job.

Recruiters don’t expect a perfect story. They just need one they can understand. Own your path and control how it’s interpreted.

Your Resume Isn’t a Biography…

It’s a Sales Pitch

The biggest misconception about resumes is that they’re meant to document your entire career. They’re not. They’re meant to sell the version of your career that fits the job you’re applying for.

Think of your resume as a pitch deck. You’re presenting evidence that hiring you will solve a company’s problem. The job posting already tells you what that problem is. Use it.

When we worked with one Comprehensive Resume Review client, they were aiming for senior-level roles but weren’t getting interviews. The issue wasn’t qualifications. It was focus. Their resume covered everything they’d ever done, and most of it didn’t match what employers were actually asking for.

Cut the noise and build each section around the themes in the job posting.

For our client, the difference was night and day. They landed a leadership role with a $25K raise.

Think of the job posting as a rubric…it’s how your resume is going to be graded by recruiters. The job posting is showing you the information that should be on your resume. That’s the scope of your experience they’re looking for.

Your resume’s job isn’t to impress everyone. It’s to convince the right person that you’re the solution they need right now.

If your resume isn’t getting interviews, it’s probably not because you’re unqualified. It’s because your story isn’t being told clearly enough for recruiters and hiring managers to understand the value you bring.

That’s the pattern I see every day. Candidates with solid experience who just need to translate their background into language that sells. Turn your timeline of jobs into a focused, strategic story that makes sense to hiring teams.

These fixes worked for real clients who went from “no responses” to multiple offers. And they can work for you too. They’re not tricks or shortcuts. They’re just clarity…and clarity gets attention.

(And if you nee a little more help, check out our services.)

Today's issue is also brought to you by HubSpot! C’mon give it a click…it costs $0 and helps support your favorite job search newsletter 🙂

Turn AI into Your Income Engine

Ready to transform artificial intelligence from a buzzword into your personal revenue generator

HubSpot’s groundbreaking guide "200+ AI-Powered Income Ideas" is your gateway to financial innovation in the digital age.

Inside you'll discover:

• A curated collection of 200+ profitable opportunities spanning content creation, e-commerce, gaming, and emerging digital markets—each vetted for real-world potential

• Step-by-step implementation guides designed for beginners, making AI accessible regardless of your technical background

• Cutting-edge strategies aligned with current market trends, ensuring your ventures stay ahead of the curve

Download your guide today and unlock a future where artificial intelligence powers your success. Your next income stream is waiting.

Get Your Guide

PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

"If I try to cover everything listed in the job posting, my resume ends up being anywhere from 2 to 4 pages long. Is that a problem? Will recruiters or hiring managers see that as a red flag? How do I know what to leave out?"

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.

SALE! SAVE 40% ON COURSERA PLUS FOR 3 MONTHS!

$35.40 per month, for 3 consecutive months (regularly $59 per month)

You can save 40% on 3 months of unlimited access to thousands of top-rated learning programs with a Coursera Plus monthly subscription. That’s over $70 in savings—and more than a month of free learning!

Make this the start of something new for your career. Build in-demand skills, discover new career paths, and earn multiple job-ready certificates through expert-led instruction from leaders at Google, IBM, and more at a special low price.

Sign up here!

https://imp.i384100.net/c/4709194/2979777/14726

BETTERHELP: 15% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH OF ONLINE THERAPY

Mental health is a massive part of your career. Anxiety, depression, self-worth issues…all become more intense the longer a job search goes on. With my link, get 15% off your first month of online therapy with BetterHelp!

​http://www.betterhelp.com/jobseekingishard

Subscribe to Premium to read the rest.