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- #162 - Make Your Case
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Hey There!
Welcome to Issue #162 of Jobseeking is Hard!
Today's issue is brought to you by Udacity! If you're a free subscriber and value our content, it costs $0 to support us by clicking the ad and checking 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 instant rejection that makes you question the whole process
How to highlight the work that matters most in your resume
The best (worst?) job posting of the week
And for Premium subscribers I’m:
Debunking what a recruiter called a major interview red flag
Giving you tips on tightening your summary so it actually frames your value
Telling you why listing every task you’ve ever done makes your resume look less valuable, not more
Answering a Premium subscriber’s question about knowing when a resume is “enough.” I’ll explain how to judge your resume by relevancy, not rules.
Let’s get to it!
STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
"Have you ever seen a ghost?"
No, and I better not after this interview either.
"If this job offered no money, would you still want to work here?"
“Would you rather have a 9am meeting every morning or a 5pm meeting every afternoon?”
I'm willing to bet both of those could just be emails instead.
Now I’m curious…
Would you rather have a 9am meeting every morning or a 5pm meeting every afternoon? |
Want to share your stupid interview questions? Reply or email [email protected]
SPEAKING OF POLLS
In issue #160, I asked you, “Would you rather always hit a red light for the rest of your life or always get slow internet after the sun goes down?”
This was a close one…54% of you would rather have slow internet.
Some of the best responses:
“Slow internet during work hours is fine, I could then blame my incompetence on it, but I wanna be able to stream a movie decently.”
“Road rage is good for no one. Slow internet means ‘Sorry, I can’t work late!’ And keeps me off my phone, meaning I’ll read more.”
“Slow internet after dark would stop me from doom scrolling or brain-rotting so I could get to bed at a decent time.”
But my favorite was:
“Red light: I already do, IRL and in the job search. I’m used to it. Put on some good tunes or a podcast and keep moving forward, just don’t F with my mindless entertainment at night that I pay hard-earned money for.”
That’s a good point. And with Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and Paramount+ running about $2,300 a month combined, it’d be a shame to waste it.
COMMUNITY CATHARSIS
So, today I found a job that appeared right up my alley. While searching a few different job boards, I noticed a Director of Sales role at [redacted]. As I have been a Director of Sales for over 12 years, I thought I'd give it a go. I navigated to their website's careers page, found the role, and applied. Took me nearly 90 minutes to adjust my resume and write a thoughtful cover letter. And then....
I hit "Submit," clicked directly over to my email, and found this response, literally one second after hitting submit:
"Thanks for your interest in the role of Director of Sales at [redacted]. However, your application has been declined.
We wish you all the best in your job search, [redacted]"
This is what we get. Makes me want to quit the search. I know it's not the norm, but this is what the market has come to. I'm sure I'm doing all kinds of stuff wrong, but isn't that the real problem? If my human mind, with all its history, experiences, loves, desires, regrets, accomplishments, lessons learned, and connections made, can't get past the algorithm of some ATS, then what are we really looking for? As an executive with a whole life of experience to offer, your ATS won't even give me 5 seconds of consideration?
The system isn't just broken. It's breaking...all of us.
Nothing crushes morale faster than spending time tailoring a strong application and then being rejected immediately.
You did the work. You showed up. You put effort into something that deserved consideration, only to get an immediate automated response. This kind of experience doesn’t make people doubt their skills...it makes them doubt the point of even trying.
No one deserves to feel that.
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 you’ll think I’m “the best” like this client 🤷♂️
So how did I help this Comprehensive Resume Review client feel ready to jump into a new search with confidence instead of burnout?
By refocusing the resume so it clearly highlighted the work that aligned with the roles they actually wanted next.
A lot of resumes fall flat not because the experience is weak, but because the presentation is.
My client wanted a role that offered healthier balance, more alignment with the parts of work they actually enjoyed, and a path back to doing work that felt sustainable. The challenge was figuring out how to tailor the resume so it supported that direction…without getting lost in buzzwords, generic projects, or the pressure to present every part of their past experience equally.
Most people list everything they did in the order they did it. But hiring teams don’t read resumes that way. They scan for relevance. They look for alignment. They want to see, within a few seconds, “this person has exactly what we need.”
That starts with putting the most relevant responsibilities and accomplishments at the top of every job. Not the tasks you spent the most time on…not the parts of the job your old boss valued…the parts that matter to the roles you’re targeting now. A clearer order makes your value much easier to recognize.
But order isn’t enough.
Hiring teams also need to see how you worked…not just what you touched. Listing “onboarding,” “employee relations,” or “workforce planning” doesn’t prove anything on its own. You have to demonstrate it. That means explaining the context: Who you partnered with. How you approached the work. What changed because of your involvement. What improved for the business.
Demonstration beats keywords every time. It turns a generic list into relevant experience.
Once this client reframed their experience with relevance, context, and clarity in mind, the rest fell into place.
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!
no thanks
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've rewritten my resume so many times that I can't even tell what version is 'right' anymore. One recruiter tells me it needs to be one page, another says two pages is better. Some say I need metrics everywhere, others say not to force numbers. I feel like I'm trying to satisfy a dozen different rules at once. How do I know when my resume is actually 'enough' and not missing something important?"
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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A subscription gets you:
- • 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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