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- #159 - Resumes For Pivots
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Hey There!
Welcome to Issue #159 of Jobseeking is Hard!
Today's issue is brought to you by HubSpot! 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. Show our sponsor some love for supporting Jobseeking is Hard! Thanks!
This week we’re talking about:
Stupid interview questions
A jobseeking horror story about an interviewer who thought they were a therapist
How to make your resume translate when you’re pivoting careers
The best (worst?) job posting of the week
And for Premium subscribers I’m:
Debunking what your resume font supposedly says about you
Answering a Premium subscriber’s question about whether being employed still gives candidates an advantage in today’s job market. I’ll explain how hiring managers view employment status and what really matters in getting interviews.
Let’s get to it!
STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
“You’re conducting a meeting. A penguin walks in wearing a sombrero. What would you say?"
Nothing. If a penguin in a sombrero walks into the room, you’re no longer running the meeting. They are.
"If you were a potato dish, what kind would you be?"
Twice-baked potatoes. Because with interview questions like that, I'm cooked.
“Would you rather fight a dozen 5-year-olds or five 12-year-olds?”
Nope. Not weird at all. Totally normal.
Now I’m curious…
Would you rather fight a dozen 5-year-olds or five 12-year-olds? |
Bonus poll!!
Which related scene is better? IYKYK |
Want to share your stupid interview questions? Reply or email [email protected]
SPEAKING OF POLLS
Back in issue #154, I asked you, “Would you rather bathe in dishwater or wash dishes in your bathwater?” This was a close one! 51% of you would rather wash your dishes in the bathwater.
Some of the best responses:
“Can I select both? This is two birds, one stone. Jump in yourself and get the dishes done at the same time. That's master multitasking.”
“While the idea of bathing in water that has food floating around in it is disquieting, the idea of eating off of plates that have been 'washed' in bathwater is nauseating.”
"I don't even want to put my hands in dish water. I'm not putting other body parts in there. shudders”
But my favorite was:
"If I'm taking a bath, I usually rinse off in the shower first, because I don't feel like lying in my filth. Additionally, the thought of a wet noodle or some other unknown but squishy and MOIST food item touching me in very personal places makes me want to never bathe again."
COMMUNITY CATHARSIS
Last week, I applied for a job I saw on Indeed that looked promising because I had almost all the required skills and experience. A company recruiter sent me a personality assessment to take and then invited me to the office to interview for the job.
Unfortunately, the interviewer spent about half the interview negatively analyzing my resume and then regurgitating the results of the personality test, also in a negative way. He really kept trying to put me on the defensive with statements that felt almost like accusations: "You kept ending up in jobs that were not good fits." "Based on your answer to X question, it sounds like you're not assertive."
I left the interview not feeling happy. I could have done the job, but it felt to me like he was looking for an excuse not to hire me. I sent him a thank-you note indicating my interest (I hoped he just had bad interview manners), but I just now got an automated "You were not selected" email from Indeed.
I have no idea what that company was looking for, but since every employer seems to use those assessments now, interviewers think they're armchair psychologists. I wasn't there for a therapy session!
Tell me you don't know how to assess talent without telling me you don't know how to assess talent.
When interviewers fixate on personality test results or start picking apart your past instead of exploring your potential, that's just lazy.
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 help you land a new role in a different industry like this client 🤷♂️
So how did I help this Resume Creation client transition into a different role in the industry they were targeting?
By demonstrating the relevance of their skills, regardless of industry.
Pivoting into a new function or industry doesn't mean you're entry-level. You already have relevance and value; you just have to prove it.
The biggest mistake people make when trying to pivot is describing their background in a way that only makes sense within their old industry. You can't just tell the reader what you did for your employer. You can't highlight tools, jargon, or internal projects that don't translate outside that bubble. A hiring manager in another field, hiring for a different function, can't see how your background connects to what they need. And forget about recruiters seeing and understanding your transferable skills.
The key is to make your resume industry-agnostic. Strip out the insider language and focus on the skills you have experience with, such as leadership, analysis, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, execution, etc., rather than the function and environment you worked in.
Then, center your summary around those skills, not your past job titles or industries. The summary is an introduction that describes your experience using the skills mentioned in the job posting, not a summary of your career.
Start by asking: "What does this new field value?" The best part? You don't have to guess. The job posting is your cheat sheet. Those are the skills they're looking for. Build your story around them, using your past experience to demonstrate that you've already accomplished what they need done.
And don't stress about requirements like "7+ years in [specific industry]." Those aren't hard rules...they're wish lists. Hiring managers include them to narrow the field, hoping that people will self-eliminate, so recruiters have fewer resumes to review. If you can show you have the skills and can do the work, that's all that matters.
That's exactly what I helped this client do. They had a successful career in a different role, in a different industry. The resume we created focused on the skills and education they already had that aligned with what employers were looking for, even though they came from a completely different background.
By reframing their story and making their experience relevant, we made their value clear. The result? They landed the role they were targeting in a new industry.
If you want to pivot, you don't need to start over. You just need to tell your story in a way that helps people outside your industry see what you're capable of.
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!
hard pass
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!
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“I know this has been the case since forever - that it’s better to look for a new job while you’re employed. In the current brutal employment market, are companies and hiring managers more likely to want to interview candidates who are actively employed?
While this might seem counterintuitive, if someone has been recently laid off and the motivation for the job search is obvious, is it possible that companies/hiring managers would view this favorably? I'm just curious if the calculus has changed in any way due to the poor job market this year.”
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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- • 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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