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Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #192 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Today's issue is brought to you by beehiiv! 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!

Hiring managers aren't usually looking for the highest-risk, highest-reward candidate. They're looking for the safest bet. Someone they can confidently explain to their boss, defend to their team, and trust to solve the problem they were hired to solve.

That's what I want to talk about this week, and more importantly, how to position your resume so you become that safer bet.

I'll also share how a former Premium Resume Review client realized a previously successful resume needed a second look and came back years later for a Premium Rewrite Bundle.

One quick note before we jump in: Karpiak Consulting’s Basic Resume Review Flash Sale is wrapping up, and only a few discounted services are left. It's normally $119, but it's currently $99.

Even better, there's something we've never offered before. Normally, the Basic Resume Review is a standalone service and isn't eligible for upgrades. But every Basic Resume Review purchased during the Flash Sale can be upgraded to any Resume Rewrite package, with your $99 applied as a credit toward the cost of the rewrite.

If you're wondering why your resume isn't generating interviews, this service identifies the 5 biggest issues that may be holding it back, explains why they matter from a recruiter's perspective, and gives you practical recommendations you can implement yourself. It's designed for jobseekers who want an honest assessment of what's missing without investing in a full rewrite. You can learn more here: Basic Resume Review Flash Sale ($99)

This week we’re talking about:

• Why reducing uncertainty gets interviews

• When a successful resume needs a second look

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

• The meme of the week

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Debunking misleading ATS keyword advice

• Answering a Premium subscriber's question about decoding job descriptions. I'll explain how to identify what hiring teams are actually looking for.

Let’s get to it!

THE ROLE OF UNCERTAINTY IN HIRING

One of the biggest misconceptions about hiring is that decision-makers are trying to identify the candidate with the most potential.

It sounds reasonable. Companies talk about growth, adaptability, and developing talent. If those things matter, it seems logical that the person with the highest upside would get the offer. But that's usually not how hiring decisions are made.

When a position opens, there's already a problem that needs to be solved. Someone resigned. A team is overloaded. Projects have stalled. Clients are waiting. Revenue targets aren't being met. Whatever the reason…the business has already decided it needs help.

Now someone has to decide who that person should be, and that decision comes with a surprising amount of pressure. If the new hire struggles, the team loses time (and money). Managers spend months coaching instead of executing. If the hire ultimately doesn't work out, the process starts over. Besides being expensive, hiring is extremely disruptive. And that's why hiring decisions are about reducing uncertainty. Decision-makers don't get rewarded for discovering someone who might become exceptional. They get rewarded for making hires that work. The safest decision isn't always the best decision, but when people have limited information, it's the easiest one to justify.

That's why candidates with direct experience frequently have an advantage over candidates with transferable experience, even when both are capable of doing the job. It's because one background requires fewer assumptions and feels “safer.”

The same thinking carries into interviews. Notice how many questions begin with, "Tell me about a time when..." or "Can you give me an example of..." Interviewers aren't looking for hypothetical answers. They're looking for evidence. Every specific example gives them a little more confidence that you've handled similar situations before.

This is also why resumes that clearly connect past experience to the role you're pursuing tend to perform better. You're not trying to convince someone that you'll figure it out once you're hired. You're showing them that you've already solved similar problems, made similar decisions, or worked in similar environments. The less imagination your application requires, the easier it becomes for someone to picture you succeeding.

Don’t get me wrong…potential still matters. Companies absolutely hire people with room to grow, especially in entry-level roles or when they're willing to invest in development. But when several qualified candidates are competing for the same position, the offer often goes to the person who creates the least uncertainty. That's an important distinction because it changes how you think about your job search. Instead of asking, "How do I convince them I can do this?" a better question is, "How do I make it easier for them to believe I've already done something similar?"

Reducing uncertainty doesn't guarantee an offer, but it does make it much easier for someone to say “yes.”

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 you’ll love your shiny new resume like this client 🤷‍♂️

So how did I help this former Premium Resume Review client from early 2024 with a Premium Rewrite Bundle years later?

One of the things I love most is when former clients come back. The market changes, careers evolve, and sometimes a resume that worked a few years ago simply needs to evolve with them. When purchasing the service, this client wrote:

That immediately told me where their head was.

This wasn't someone trying to figure out what they wanted to do next. They had a clear target. The challenge was positioning a broad leadership background for senior opportunities while addressing the reality of a 10-month employment gap in one of the toughest hiring markets we've seen in years.

Instead of trying to document every accomplishment from a long career, we focused on reducing uncertainty. We built the resume around the experiences that best supported the roles being targeted, strengthened the narrative, clarified the scope of the work, and made it easier for recruiters to understand where this client fit.

Sometimes the most valuable part of a rewrite is changing what people notice first.

If you're not getting the response you expected from your resume and want an honest assessment of why, our services can help. 

Curious what the process has been like for other clients? Check out our testimonials here!

BEST (WORST?) JOB POST

OF THE WEEK

Here’s the job post that got the most people talking on my Instagram this week!

some recruiters will reject your resume for looking “too AI-generated,” and then turn around and post job descriptions like this.

rules for thee, but not for me.

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!

MEME OF THE WEEK

This meme got more reactions on my Threads than anything else I posted this week.

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PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

“You said the challenge is deciding which part of your story the hiring team needs to understand first. But how are candidates supposed to know that? Job descriptions rarely say, ‘Here's the business problem we're trying to solve.’ Instead, they throw sixteen bullet points at you and expect you to figure out what actually matters. It often feels like a guessing game. Isn't there a better way to do this for everyone involved?”

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.

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