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Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #181 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Today's issue is brought to you by Fisher Investments! 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!

Happy Wednesday!

LinkedIn has turned into a bit of a toxic positivity loop when it comes to job search advice. A lot of this advice is easy to give and easy to agree with, especially when things aren’t working. It feels like progress, even when it’s not.

“Shoot your shot.” "Don’t overthink it.” It sounds good, and it gets a lot of engagement. But it’s not always helpful.

That’s what I want to talk about this week.

This kind of inspirational, misguided advice does more harm than good. It’s uninformed, and it burns people out fast.

I’ll also share how a resume edit client changed how their experience was presented and felt empowered knowing their value was finally clear.

Oh, and want to save $50 on Karpiak Consulting’s review services? One of the perks of being a Premium subscriber is access to exclusive discounts on Karpiak Consulting services. Right now, we’re offering $50 off all review services. You’ll find the promo code in the Premium section below.

(And if you’re currently a free subscriber, $50 minus $19 is still a solid discount if you decide to upgrade and grab the code. It’s available for one week!)

This week we’re talking about:

• Why “shoot your shot” might be the worst advice for your job search right now

• What a resume is actually supposed to do and where most people get it wrong

• The best (worst?) job posting of the week

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Debunking bad resume advice about missing experience

• Answering a Premium subscriber’s question about applying to jobs when you don’t meet most of the requirements. I’ll explain how to evaluate fit, when it makes sense to apply, and how to avoid wasting time on low-probability opportunities.

Let’s get to it!

TOXIC POSITIVITY

If you spend any time on LinkedIn, you’ll see this advice everywhere. “Shoot your shot.” “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” “Go for it, you never know.” It sounds encouraging and it feels productive, especially when things aren’t working.

The problem is LinkedIn is also a bit of a toxic positivity machine. People go viral for telling you to go for it. They don’t go viral for telling you that you can’t (or shouldn’t) do something. You’ve got LinkedIn Top Voices, thought leaders, and self-proclaimed gurus posting pictures of AI-generated billboards with their own quotes on the side of buildings or holding signs with something like “Hire for heart, not skill. Agree?” That kind of content does numbers, but it's not realistic....at all

This has been coming up a lot in coaching lately. Someone has been searching for a while and not getting the response they expected. At some point the question shifts from “what am I missing?” to “should I just start applying to other types of jobs I think I can do?” They start looking at different titles, different industries, different types of roles. Not completely random, but far enough away that it’s no longer a clean fit. It feels like the logical move. If what you’re doing isn’t working, don't keep doing it...that's insanity, right? Broaden the search and increase your chances. Math!

That logic breaks down pretty quickly in this market. It’s crowded. There are a lot of qualified candidates for most roles, and many of them have already done that exact job in that exact environment. Companies aren’t sitting there looking for a feel-good story about someone taking a chance on themselves. They're not looking for that next LinkedIn success story.

They’re trying to reduce risk and make a decision that makes sense. LinkedIn posts are not real life. Don't fall for it. Stay the course.

I’m not someone who’s going to tell you not to pursue something different. If you want to pivot or go after something new, that’s fine. But you have to be realistic about how much distance there is between your background and what the role requires. The more distance there is, the more you’re asking someone else to connect the dots. It's kind of hard to do that in this hiring market.

You’ll also hear people say job descriptions are just wish lists. To a point, that’s true. No one is checking every single box. But that idea gets stretched way too far. If you check most of the boxes, or even a solid majority, it can absolutely make sense to apply. If you only check a small portion of them, you’re asking someone to take a leap of faith on you...and they have absolutely no reason to do that when they have other options.

Look, applying takes time. Tweaking your resume takes time. Writing a cover letter, if you’re into that sort of thing, takes time. Networking takes time. Following up takes time. Researching companies and preparing for interviews takes time. You can’t run an effective job search if you’re doing all of that for opportunities where you have almost no chance of moving forward.

If you’re spending hours on roles where you’re a stretch, that’s time you’re not spending on roles where you’re a clear fit. Those are the roles where you’re most likely to get interviews. Spreading your effort across everything usually just dilutes your results.

The idea that you should take every shot sounds motivating…but it burns people out faster than it helps them. You end up doing more work for less return. If you’re going to “shoot your shot,” it needs to be intentional. Not random, not based on hope, but based on whether you can actually make the case that you fit. That’s what makes the difference.

Have a topic you want me to cover in an upcoming issue? Reply or email [email protected] and tell me what you want to know!

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 I’ll help boost your ego like this client 🤷‍♂️

So how did I help empower this resume edit client?

Clarity.

One of the most common things I see when working with clients is strong experience that just isn't explained well. That was the case with this resume edit client. They had over a decade of recruiting experience, but the resume wasn't clearly positioned for the types of roles they were targeting. The issue definitely wasn't experience. They knew what they were good at. They understood the value they brought. But like a lot of people, they were too close to it. Having the experience is one thing. Getting someone else to see it quickly on a resume is a completely different skill.

The original resume had strong experience, but the content, context, and layout weren't making that value obvious during a quick read. I have no doubt they would walk into an interview and do a great job explaining their experience, how they work, and what they bring to a team. But you don't get that opportunity if the resume doesn't make someone want to interview you.

That's what a resume is...a foot in the door. In the past, a resume could be "good enough," and you could fill in the gaps and present your value proposition during the interview. Now it has to show that value immediately, or you don't get the chance to meet a human.

So the focus on this resume wasn't necessarily about adding more. It was on making what was already there easier to see. We tightened the narrative, pulled forward the most relevant work, and structured everything so a hiring team could quickly understand where they fit and why they made sense for the roles they were targeting.

That's really the goal of a. resume... to make sure your experience is understood the way it should be.

That's my favorite part of this work. This is my why. People know they have value. They're just having trouble expressing it in a way that's easy for someone else to understand. I love doing that for people.

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!

If you do not have building materials experience and say you do? Straight to jail!

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!

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

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This daily newsletter condenses everything you need to know about the latest and greatest AI developments into a 5-minute read. Squeeze it into your morning coffee break and before you know it, you’ll be an expert too.

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PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

“Should I apply to jobs even if I don’t meet most of the requirements?”

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

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