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- #166 - Goodbye 2025
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Hey There!
Welcome to Issue #166 of Jobseeking is Hard!
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As 2025 limps toward the exit, I’m choosing optimism.
Not the delusional kind. Not the “everything happens for a reason” kind. Not the “every rejection is a redirection” kind.
More like “please let us stop doing some of the dumbest, most dehumanizing things imaginable in the job search” kind.
Consider this a hopeful look toward 2026…and a lovingly sarcastic farewell to some hiring practices that absolutely should not make the trip with us.
Before we get into it, quick housekeeping…
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If you’ve been thinking “I’ll do it later”…this is later.
This week we’re talking about:
Everything that made the job search unnecessarily miserable this year
And for Premium subscribers I’m:
Debunking the idea that posting about your job search is “desperate”
Answering a Premium subscriber’s question about whether applying to jobs online still works. I’ll explain what’s actually broken in the process…and what isn’t.
Alright. Let’s count this down…
Things I Hope Don’t Follow Us Into 2026
Online arguments about the green #OpenToWork banner
If it helped someone get noticed, great. If someone didn’t want to use it, also great. The endless think pieces, moral judgments, and discourse about what it “signals” can stay in 2025. It’s a tool. Not a personality test.
Those creepy blurred profile views you’re not allowed to see
“Someone viewed your profile. Pay us to find out who.” It’s LinkedIn’s version of a ransom note. No thank you.
AI-written job postings that say absolutely nothing
You know the ones. “Fast-paced environment.” “Rockstar mentality.” “Must wear many hats.” Zero clarity. Zero context. Somehow still asks for 7 years of experience in a tool that launched in 2022. If a human didn’t bother to write the posting, don’t be surprised when humans struggle to apply to it.
Thank-you posts for employers who just laid you off
I understand why people do this. Fear is real. Optics feel fragile. But the genre of LinkedIn post thanking the company that just detonated your income, healthcare, and stability is bleak. You don’t owe gratitude to a profit decision.
Rejection emails sent on holidays
I heard way too much of this this year. If no one is working…If no one is reviewing applications…If no one can respond…Maybe don’t schedule the rejection for Christmas morning. Or Thanksgiving. It costs nothing to wait.
Calling laid-off candidates “damaged goods”
This one can stay buried in 2025. Layoffs say far more about corporate decisions than individual performance. Treating people like expired inventory because a spreadsheet changed is lazy hiring logic at best…and cruel at worst.
One-way video interviews
Nothing says “we value candidates” like: “Please record yourself answering these questions.” No interviewer. No feedback. No idea if a human will ever watch it. If the first interaction with your company feels like auditioning for a reality show, something’s broken.
The best candidates aren’t the ones applying
Ah yes. The classic. We want motivated candidates…but not those motivated candidates. We want proactive people…but not the ones responding to job postings. If your logic requires a riddle to explain it, it probably doesn’t make sense.
There are referrals. There are internal conversations. There are roles that never get posted. But there is not a secret vault of jobs guarded by career coaches wearing cloaks. Anyone selling that fantasy is doing exactly that: selling.
Ghost jobs
If the role isn’t funded…If the team doesn’t exist If the posting exists purely “for pipeline”… Maybe don’t post it. Jobseekers are people. Not market research.
Recruiting scammers
The email always starts the same way. “After reviewing your resume…” No you didn’t. Then comes the upsell, claiming your resume “won’t pass the ATS.” The ATS isn’t a dragon you have to slay. Does your resume have graphics? Formatting? Columns? No? Good, it’s ATS-compliant. Move on.
23-year-old life coaches sliding into your LinkedIn inbox
Nothing against being 23. Or coaching. Or ambition. But if your career advice starts with “I help high performers unlock their potential” and your longest role was a summer internship plus a podcast…we’re going to have a problem.
Remote roles that require you to live in one very specific place
Do I know why it’s requirement? Yes. But that isn’t remote. It’s location-restricted hybrid with better PR. Words mean things.
Interviewing external candidates when you already know you’re hiring internally
If the decision is made and the internal candidate is locked in, dragging outside candidates through interviews for “due diligence” is disrespectful.
The greatest hits
Automatic rejections minutes after applying. Rejections sent at 2:00am on a Sunday. Pizza instead of pay. Unpaid projects. 12-step interview processes that could qualify for a Fitbit badge. Workday.
Here’s hoping 2026 brings fewer gimmicks, fewer mind games, and a little more humanity back into hiring.
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“I keep hearing that I shouldn’t apply to jobs online because ‘the best candidates aren’t applying’ and everything is about networking or the hidden job market. Am I wasting my time applying, or is this just bad advice?”
Check out the Premium Section below for my answer! Not a Premium Subscriber? Upgrade here: www.JobseekingIsHard.com/upgrade
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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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