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Welcome to Issue #196 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Today’s issue is brought to you by Wati! It helps you manage customer conversations in one place, automate the repetitive stuff, and make sure leads reach the right person before they assume you’ve entered witness protection. If you’re a free subscriber and enjoy Jobseeking is Hard, it costs $0 to support the newsletter by clicking the ad and checking it out. Thanks!

Happy Wednesday!

The titles on your resume may not accurately reflect your work. That can create problems when recruiters are using titles as a quick way to judge whether your background matches the role.

That’s what I want to talk about this week. I’ll explain how job titles can create the wrong impression, and how your resume can give recruiters the context they need without lying or inflating your experience.

I’ll also share client feedback on the Basic Resume Review before the sale ends Friday. This is the last week to get the discounted price and apply the cost toward any Rewrite service purchased by the end of the month!

And the next week, Premium Jobseeking is Hard subscriptions are 50% off! That gets you access to 190+ past issues, exclusive Q&A for your job search questions, occasional discounts on Karpiak Consulting services, and 20 bonus job search tips delivered over 20 days! If you’ve been reading for free and keep telling yourself you’ll upgrade eventually, this is probably the week to do it: https://www.jobseekingishard.com/upgrade

This week we’re talking about:

• When your job title doesn’t match your experience

• How the Basic Resume Review can identify the five biggest issues holding your resume back (plus details on the sale ending Friday)

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

• The meme of the week

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Debunking a list of things hiring managers supposedly never want to see on your resume

• Answering a Premium subscriber’s question about changing a job title when it doesn’t reflect the work. I’ll explain when it’s appropriate, how to clarify the title without inflating your experience, and where you should still use the official version.

Let’s get to it!

WHEN TITLES CREATE THE WRONG IMPRESSION

Job titles aren’t standardized. A Director at one company may lead a large team, own a budget, and make decisions across the business, while a Director somewhere else may be an individual contributor with a narrower scope.

The same problem exists with titles like Manager, Vice President, Program Lead, and Chief of Staff. Companies create titles around their own structures, compensation bands, and internal politics, so the title alone rarely tells a recruiter exactly what someone did.

Why does that matter? Because recruiters tend to favor lateral hires.

Recruiters are usually looking for someone whose current role appears close to the role they’re trying to fill, since that requires fewer assumptions and feels easier to understand. When the title on your resume doesn’t resemble the title they’re hiring for, they may decide the move looks like a promotion, pivot, or stretch even when the actual work is nearly identical. The mismatch creates risk because the recruiter has to look past the title and evaluate the scope, which isn’t something every recruiter will take the time to do. Ok, fine, most won’t.

Your resume has to explain the work well enough to make the move feel lateral. That means showing the level of responsibility behind the title, including the size of the team, decision-making authority, budget ownership, reporting relationships, geographic reach, executive exposure, and the complexity of the work. A Manager title can still support a Director-level target when the resume clearly shows that the person already operated at that level. Without that context, the recruiter is left comparing titles instead of responsibilities.

The same issue comes up when someone wants to focus on one part of a broader role. An Operations Manager may have spent years building training programs, improving processes, leading compliance work, or managing workforce planning, but none of those specialties appear in the title. When that person applies for a more specialized role, the resume needs to bring the relevant part of the work forward. The “official” title can remain accurate while the summary, role description, and bullet order can make the specialization obvious.

Acting supervisors are another common example. Someone may have managed schedules, handled performance issues, trained employees, approved work, and kept a team running without receiving the permanent supervisor title. Recruiters won’t know that unless the resume says it. Titles such as “Acting Supervisor” or phrases like “assumed interim leadership responsibility for a team of 12” give the reader the missing context without changing the official title or overstating the role.

A title is only one piece of evidence. Recruiters may start there, but the resume has to show that the work already matches the level, function, or specialty of the role being targeted. The goal is to make the next move look familiar rather than asking the recruiter to take a chance on a different title.

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

My Basic Resume Review sale ends on Friday!

I’ll review your resume and identify the 5 biggest issues that could be preventing you from getting interviews, explain why they matter from a recruiter’s POV, and tell you how to fix them.

If you’re not sure whether your resume is working against you, this review will give you a much clearer answer.

The sale price is only available through July 31. And, for the first time ever, if you purchase a Basic Resume Review, the cost can be credited toward any Resume Rewrite service purchased by the end of the month!

Clients are loving it! Here’s a sampling of what they’ve said:

The sale ends Friday, so this is the last chance to grab the discounted price! Check it out here: https://www.karpiakconsulting.com/product-page/mini-resume-review

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!

the job market has officially introduced a subscription model

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.

Today’s issue is also brought to you by SureThing! It turns one idea into content for multiple platforms, which is helpful if your current social media strategy is “post once, disappear for three weeks, then blame the algorithm.” C’mon, give it a click…it costs $0 and helps support your favorite job search newsletter 🙂

One idea shouldn't take six rewrites to post.

Posting everywhere means rewriting one idea six times, so you post to one, or none. SureThing turns one idea into native posts for every platform.

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PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

“Can I change my job title on my resume if the official title doesn’t reflect what I actually did? If so, how? Won’t recruiters feel misled?”

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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