Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #66 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Congrats to the 20 winners of our LinkedIn Premium trial giveaway last weekend! That’s 220 3-month LinkedIn Premium trial memberships we’ve given out this year to help you get networking in 2024!

Thanks to all the winners who’ve emailed me to tell me how their job search has benefitted from the memberships. Networking is vital to the job search, so I’m glad the memberships are being used! If anyone is looking for info on how to leverage LinkedIn for your job search, click on the “LinkedIn” tag on our homepage to read all of our LinkedIn advice.

If anyone has any ideas for giveaways, reply to this issue and let me know what you think would be helpful! And keep an eye out here, on my LinkedIn, and my Twitter for future giveaways!

Speaking of emails, after putting it off for a while, last week I spent waaaaayyyyy too long working on some internal IT stuff for the newsletter…and I need your help.

New email security mandates set by Google and Yahoo are going into effect in February 2024 to fight spam. They mandate bulk senders to authenticate their emails and comply with a designated spam complaint threshold. 

Unfortunately, as a newsletter, we're a bulk sender. And, if anyone uses Gmail or Yahoo for email, you know how well their filters work 😒

How you can help:

• Click a link in this email. Any link. Preferably not "unsubscribe" 😅

• Gmail app mobile readers: Navigate to the menu at the top right corner of this email, and select "Move to" then "Primary."

• Desktop Gmail readers: Navigate away from this email and the message from your "Promotions" tab to the "Primary" tab near the top left of your screen.

• iOS / Apple Mail app: Tap our email address at the top of this email (next to "From:" on mobile) and click "Add to VIPs."

• Mark our domain/email as safe: Be sure to mark [email protected] and [email protected] as "Not Spam" or as a "Safe Sender." 

And the easiest way you can help?

• Reply back to this email!

"Reply back to this email? That sounds like a lot of work."

Fair enough. Let's make it fun. One reply will win something. What will it be? That's between the winner and I. Extra consideration will be given for creativity :) Good luck!

It's hard to help people if we aren't in your inbox, so we appreciate your help. Thanks everyone! 

Everyone seems to be SUPER excited about our new feature, "Job Scams!" The number of people sending me scams they've encountered in their job search is unreal…not to mention how many of you are experiencing the same scams.

Keep 'em coming! If you've been a victim of a job scam or someone has tried to scam you, send it to [email protected] and I'll share it with the community.

This week, I'm warning you about a resume/ATS compliance scam.

Let's get to it!

STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

"If you were forced to go to the moon, what are the 3 things you would bring to survive."

If you were forced to go to the moon, I bet your employer would finally allow you to work remotely.

“What would be your survival strategy if you were in the Hunger Games?”

Moon banishment, Hunger Games…what kind of companies are you people interviewing with?!?

"What's better: an unsafe driver in a safe vehicle or a safe driver in an unsafe vehicle?"

For context, I am in the Sales Support realm.

Honestly it’s still better than asking you to sell them a pen.

Now I’m curious…

Speaking of polls, last week I asked you “Are you a ninja or a pirate?” with “ninja” winning with >65% of the vote. I loved the logic behind some of your answers:

But my favorite is:

I like the use of “a whole lot,” meaning they occasionally say, “Argh, Matey.”

Also, 4 of you stated you were pirates because you liked rum, and it’s hard to argue with that logic.

Want to share your stupid interview questions? Reply or email [email protected] 

COMMUNITY CATHARSIS

Hi, something stupid from a recent job interview: One of the interviewers winked 5 times at me.

For example, he told me how another department dumps work on his and winked while saying, "And you just have to pick your battles."

I thought it was odd.

He then asked me where I saw myself in 5 years (I wanted to say in a mirror or other reflective surface). I said, "In my 40s, I thought I'd be retired, and since my husband decided to return to school, here I am working on a 2nd career.”

At which point the 2 people in the room laughed...and he winked again.

The HR representative commented, "We will contact you early next week with a proposal." I thanked them and left..that was a week ago.

Today, the recruiter emailed me to say my paperwork is waiting for the VP to sign and return it, and they don’t know when that will be. Also, the IT Department also had the job listed as hourly, not salary.

Not to mention they also sent me the old address for the interview, lol.

Signed,

A lukewarm enchilada. Love that term.

That's so weird. I don't know how you kept your composure. After the 3rd or 4th wink, I'd have to wink back as a power move to confuse him. It's not looking too good between that, not following through on the provided timeline, the salary/hourly shenanigans, and forgetting where they actually worked.

Keep us updated! I need to know if the offer ever came and if the offer letter contained a ";)" or not. Good luck, Enchilada!

If there's a jobseeking horror story *you’d* like to share, reply or email [email protected] 

HR & RECRUITING JOBS!

Attention HR and Recruiting Jobseekers!

Courtesy of Mike Wood from iCIMS, here’s a job board with more than 2,000 available HR and Talent roles with their customers, including 300+ remote roles! You can find the list here:

https://hrjobs.icims.com/

Know of any other good job boards? Send them along so we can share with everyone! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what job boards you use!

SHAMELESS PLUG

If your job search needs a little more help, Karpiak Consulting offers resume and LinkedIn services, as well as career coaching.

Who knows…maybe it can help you rethink your value and find confidence like it did for this person 🤷‍♂️

JOB SCAMS!

I'm pretty sure this whole thing was a scam. She has me send my resume, then says she can't use it because it isn't ATS compliant and I need to use this specific resume service to get a resume she can use. She never actually shares any information about a real job. Here is the email thread.

[Note - I’m redacting names, but I am pasting the scammer’s messages word for word so you can take note of their phrasing and tone, helping you recognize it if they message you. I am NOT including the link to their ATS resume service, as I do not want to promote it, or for it to be picked up in search engines. If you want to know the name of the website to avoid, email me and I’ll send it to you.]

The website the scammer sent the applicant to is a paid service to make your resume "ATS compliant." This is a really tricky scam because the scammer uses the name of an actual recruiter on LinkedIn (but the companies don't match up).

Remember - A recruiter will not request an "ATS-compliant" resume. When applying, an ATS might parse a resume wonky, or it may not upload it due to a format issue, but a recruiter will have no problems reading it. If a recruiter can't open it, odds are it's a corrupted file or a weird format…not an ATS issue. If a recruiter tells you your resume isn't ATS-compliant, something's up. And if a recruiter is sending you to a paid service to proceed with your candidacy, move on. They're trying to sell you a service, not get you a job.

Stay safe out there!

If you’ve been a victim of a job scam or someone has tried to scam you, send it to [email protected], and I’ll share it with the community.

SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

Loving the newsletter and your LinkedIn posts. You've truly created a community for the people who have spent years feeling like (or being made to feel like) they are the problem.

Should my side hustle be on my resume? I'm concerned that it will confuse those reviewing my resume. Worst case, I'm concerned recruiters and hiring managers will think I'll moonlight while working for them and not consider me.

For context, I spent the last year working full-time, sourcing physicians for a healthcare system. Then, a company I had temped for previously asked if I'd like some part-time work while one of their recruiters was on maternity leave. I love the manager and the company, and the extra money was nice, so I said yes. There was no conflict of interest since they are an agribusiness. I worked the second job in the evenings and weekends. Both jobs are very relevant experience-wise.

To include or not and how, that is the question.

Hey there! Thanks for the kind words! That's exactly what I was going for when I created this newsletter. I wanted people to know that it's not just them that this stuff happens to. Everyone is asked stupid interview questions. Everyone has a jobseeking horror story. And it's hard to play a game when you don't know the rules. There's only so much you can control in the job search, so do what you can: control your narrative and hold your breath waiting to see how the ATS parses your info.

As for side hustles, that's a great question! And you're right; some employers will judge you for having a side hustle. They think, "How much time will they devote to our job?" or "Will they be distracted?" or "Will they leave and pursue that job FT?"

This is especially true if your side hustle is more than just an additional PT job. If you have a business, there's a massive bias against this. Besides worrying if you'll be distracted or leave, employers are also worried about how well you take direction or work with others.

There are so many biases out there, especially when hiring managers and recruiters evaluate resumes, so the idea is to eliminate as many biases as possible at the resume review stage and get your foot in the door for an interview. I call it "jerkproofing the resume," avoiding being rejected without engaging you in a discussion.

But, as I always say, there are no absolutes in career advice. There are scenarios where your side hustle can make you more attractive to the recruiter or hiring manager, such as when that is the relevant experience for the job. If that is the case, create a separate section for your side hustle(s) titled "Additional Experience" so it doesn't make your "Professional Experience" section look too wonky with overlapping dates, etc.

As always, it depends on relevance.

I hope that helps!

**Premium Subscribers! Below in the Premium section I'll tell you 1) What scenario you shouldn't include your side hustle and 2) Who can really benefit from including side hustles on your resume!**

Have a question you want answered? Please reply to this email or email [email protected] for a chance to have me answer it in a future issue. If I still need to answer *your* question, don't worry. It's still in the inbox...no need to resubmit!

PREMIUM SUBSCRIBERS!

This week, I'm discussing:

• How to call attention to experience relevant to the job posting, when it isn’t at your current/most recent job.

• When you shouldn't include your side hustle on your resume.

• Why I don’t like the “Career Break” option on LinkedIn.

• Who can really benefit from including side hustles on the resume.

• And in “Debunking Career Clickbait,” I’m debunking advice about declaring being #OpenToWork on LinkedIn.

Not a Premium Subscriber? Sign up here! www.jobseekingishard.com/upgrade 

AFFILIATES

NOTE: As an affiliate to these services, we may receive compensation if you purchase products or services through the links provided.

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Interested? Here’s my affiliate link! And when you get your new profile pic, be sure to post about it to kickstart the networking!

Take advantage of discounted launch pricing!

 https://secta.ai/?via=adam

PLURALSIGHT: FREE STANDARD OR PREMIUM 10-DAY TRIAL

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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.

PREMIUM SECTION

Hey all! Thanks for being a premium member! I hope you find the additional info helpful as you navigate your job search.

DEBUNKING CAREER CLICKBAIT

Last week, I read an article from a career coach stating that employed people should use the green banner on LinkedIn to let everyone know they’re #OpenToWork. Why? If employers know their employees are looking, it’ll keep them on their toes and inspire them to try to keep the employee.

Look, I’m all for employee empowerment, but I’m also a big fan of logic. Like it or not, your employer has all the leverage, especially in an at-will employment scenario. If your employer finds out you’re open to exploring new opportunities, they’ll look to replace you. And considering a gazillion people are looking for work, odds are they can find your replacement quicker than you can find a new role.

If your employer suspects you are going to leave, they aren’t going to magically offer you a raise or a promotion, suddenly appreciating all that you bring to the company. Ultimately, they don’t want to be caught shorthanded and would be proactive and try to find your replacement before you leave.

Or, in this environment of cutting costs for any reason, broadcasting to your employer that you’re willing to leave makes you a top candidate to be included in a layoff.

Bottom line? If you’re employed, keep your job search confidential.

Protect your paycheck.

Read a post or watch a video with questionable advice? Send it to [email protected] and I’ll debunk it!

When you shouldn't include your side hustle:

When it's your current (and only) role. I know the popular idea is to fill your unemployment gap on your resume by showing the reader how you've been "keeping busy," but from a recruiting POV, it's flawed.

For instance, if you are out of work and are currently driving for DoorDash or Uber or something like that, I totally respect that. Bills are bills. I personally wouldn’t judge someone for that. But what happens is, in this employment market, recruiters are overworked because their departments have been laid off, and there are record numbers of applicants, so they are just blowing through resumes as fast as they can. And one of the main things they focus on in those 6-10 seconds is your most recent work. So if they are reviewing Project Coordinator resumes, and they are seeing Project Coordinator after Project Coordinator, and then your resume pops up with "Driver - Uber," all that does is make you look like less of a fit. You're better off letting the recruiter see your last job was "Project Coordinator" even though it was 8 months ago and you were no longer there. It's all about relevance and they are looking for reasons to exclude you, not include you.

This is also why I advise against LinkedIn's "Career Break" option. All you are doing is pointing out to the recruiter that you are unemployed when you should showcase your relevance; not your situation. Always focus on the positive, not the negative.

Who can really benefit from including side hustles on the resume:

Career changers, students, and entry-level candidates. Career changers have so much trouble highlighting transferable skills, so side hustles provide an excellent opportunity to showcase value and discuss their experience using the skills on the job postings they are targeting.

Whether it be their own LLC/DBA or small PT side gigs, side hustles are a great example of focusing on relevance. You can highlight your successes/skillset in your Summary and Key Achievements and discuss them in detail in the cover letter.

And the same goes for students. The best way to differentiate yourself for entry-level roles is to successfully demonstrate experience in any capacity and use that to tell your story in a cover letter.

PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

Premium subscriber sent in a question regarding on of the Top 20 Premium Tips when you sign up. To refresh your memory (or to skip ahead for you new subscribers), here’s Premium Tip #18:

So LV asks:

What do you suggest if the skill is from your previous job, not the most recent? Is putting it at the top of that job listing good enough?

Good question! The best part about the resume is that it’s a marketing document, not a legal document, meaning you can control your narrative and focus on what you want to highlight.

When you see a job posting, consider it a pain point for the company. When applying for that job, your resume should position you as the solution for that pain point, not just summarize your experience in chronological format. So, while you want to do your best to use your bullet points in each role to mirror the job posting, not all moves are lateral. If your relevant experience in a skill or industry is 1, 2, or even 3 jobs back, you can still highlight it! How?

The Summary. Consider the Summary section a cover letter that can’t be ignored. Focus the Summary (4-6 sentences) on the skills you want to highlight, regardless of when you utilized them. Even if they’re from 5 years ago, bringing them to the Summary sets the stage to highlight relevance, instead of hoping the recruiter reads down to the bottom of the 1st page or onto the 2nd to see the relevant experience/success. You can summarize whatever you want in the Summary section, not just your entire background.

The Key Achievements. Much like the Summary, you can control what achievements and successes you list in the Key Achievements section. If achievements before your current/last role are “more important” to the job you’re applying for, highlight your successes in the Key Achievements section. There's no need to date them or say which job they are from. Focus on what you did, not when you did it. Don't give someone the opportunity to discount your experience.

The Technical Skills. If the job posting is looking for experience with a specific program or software, list your Technical Skills section above the Experience section to ensure it’s noticed.

So, even if your relevant experience isn’t from your most recent job(s), the reader has already read 3 sections calling attention to your value even before getting to the Professional Experience section, which is a much better scenario than hoping the reader notices the required experience/skills in the middle or bottom of the resume. In 6-10 seconds, that can make a huge difference, and recruiters tend to go with a gut feeling on who “feels” like a match based on what they’re reading.

Want to take it a step further?

The Cover Letter. I know, I know. But guess what? Where else are you going to get an opportunity for storytelling? The cover letter is literally for situations like this- when people actually have something to talk about. Cover letters aren’t just to express interest in a job. The reader knows you’re interested in the role. You applied. But here you can take 1, 2, or even 3 paragraphs to talk about the skills that matter to the job, regardless of when they occurred. And just like in the Key Achievements, there's no need to call attention to when they occurred…just that they occurred.

I hope that helps! Good luck!

That's it for now, and send in those questions! Don't forget to put "Premium" in the subject line so I can stay organized!

Do you have any thoughts or suggestions for the premium membership? Let me know! The premium tier is a work in progress, and I want to create something of real value for subscribers.

Have a good one!

-Adam