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Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #98 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Today's issue is brought to you by Mood! If you're a free subscriber and value our content, it costs $0 to support us by taking .0005 seconds to click the ad and check out the service. Show our sponsor some love for supporting Jobseeking is Hard! Thanks!

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This week we’re talking about:

• Stupid interview questions

• A jobseeking horror story about a feedback request

• Streamlining your resume and cutting down on unnecessary details

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

• And a scam involving a newly set up careers webpage

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Debunking a post about car seats and LinkedIn profile photos

• Advising you on whether it’s best to disclose in your resume/interview that you’ve been laid off or lie that you're still employed at your former company

• Telling you if there’s a benefit to adding a cover letter even if it isn’t required

• Answering a Premium subscriber's question about finding a recruiter. I'll explain how to: 1) Leverage LinkedIn search filters, 2) Utilize your LinkedIn network, 3) Search LinkedIn content to find recruiters and work with them to land a job, and 4) Identify red flags.

Let’s get to it!

STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

"How would you design a chair for a giraffe?"

Is this part of the “many hats” or “additional duties as assigned” mentioned in the job posting? Because I thought this was a marketing job.

"How would you rate me as an interviewer?"

10/10…if we’re rating based on “asking useless questions and wasting my time.”

“Would you rather work on-site 5 days a week, or work remotely Fridays, but Monday - Thursday you can only communicate as a mime in the office?”

Here’s a picture of me looking for the reason this question is relevant:

Now I’m curious…

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

SPEAKING OF POLLS

Last issue, I asked you, “In the next interview round, would you rather only communicate in emojis or jog on a treadmill while interviewing?” ~53% of you chose emojis!

Some of the best responses:

But my favorite was:

I’m guessing this is the treadmill:

COMMUNITY CATHARSIS

I had an odd request from a company that I had applied for a job with.

I applied for the job on Aug. 1. The job was said to be open until Aug. 31 (and is still posted on their website).

On Aug. 3, I received the standard rejection letter - "After careful consideration of your application, we have decided not to move your application forward in the recruiting process."

Two weeks later (Aug. 15), I received an email asking me to provide feedback on the hiring process.

What? Feedback on what? The rejection email?

Was I a 1-to-1 match for the job posting? No.

Did I meet many of the requirements in the job posting? Yes.

Was AI used to read my resume/CV and weed me out? I have no idea.

But I can tell you this, had they taken the time to actually get in touch with me, they would have seen how I would have been a fit for them.

I am a firm believer that no one gets hired off of LinkedIn. Every communications job I find, the listing already says that over 100 people have applied. If AI is running the show, how can anyone stand out without either a) Using all of the keywords in the job description or b) Having a prior connection to the hiring person/someone in the company?

For the record, I did fill out the survey, giving them a 0 out of 10. I also included the following in the comments section:

"How can I rate your performance when you didn't even get in touch with me before rejecting my application? I would have been an excellent person for the (role I applied for), but you never took the time to get to know me. So in that regard, you failed. [My Name]."

Yes, I signed my name.

First off, let me say, I completely get where you’re coming from. You apply for a role, get the classic "Thanks, but no thanks" rejection, and then—two weeks later—they ask you for feedback? On what exactly? The rejection email? The part where they didn’t even give you a shot?

Your response was perfect, though. They didn’t even take the time to talk to you, yet want to know how their "process" went? AI or not (probably not…that’s not how AI is being used in hiring), this is the kind of impersonal hiring that makes people feel invisible. You hit the nail on the head with your comment—how can they know you weren’t a fit if they never got to know you?

And signing your name at the end? Keep that energy, because companies need to hear it.

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

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 it’ll help you change your life like this client 🤷‍♂️

So how did I help this resume edit client land the types of jobs they needed?

Streamlining.

This client had a clear goal in mind: landing a higher-level leadership position, ideally with titles like Global Director, National Director, or VP. She was already performing many of the duties associated with these roles but wasn't getting the recognition—either in job title or salary—that matched her skills and responsibilities.

Her current title didn't reflect the depth of work she was doing, and she needed her resume to showcase her years of experience better, especially as she navigated the job search without a degree.

When I first reviewed her resume, the challenges were clear: it needed to be shorter, focused, and proofread. The most important issue was readability. Her value was hidden in a bunch of (unnecessary) details, making it difficult for any recruiter to quickly grasp her strengths (which they will try to do in just 6-10 seconds). She listed everything she'd done without a clear, targeted narrative or focus.

Streamlining your resume and cutting down on unnecessary details highlights your relevant value. Instead of listing every task you ever did, focus on the key responsibilities that tie directly to your target roles.

Your resume should make it easy for the reader to quickly see your value, specifically for the role you are applying for. Don't leave them guessing—walk them through the story you want to tell.

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!

“Willing to train in massages to help the Boss relax” is…something

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!

JOB SCAMS!

I was recently contacted by "Robert Houston," who claimed to be a recruiter for Restaurant365 and offered a technical support role.

While I found that Restaurant365 is a legitimate company, I could not find a LinkedIn profile for Robert Houston that linked him to them (there are several hundred Robert Houstons on LinkedIn). I responded and was sent a list of interview-style questions, which I also responded to, but I was more than a little skeptical of the opportunity.

I got a response the next day that I had the job, but the additional red flags there (such as offering reimbursement for setting up a home office) had me convinced this was a scam. I checked WHOIS and found that the domain the emails were coming from (restaurant365careers.com) was registered the day before I got their initial email, and I now presume it's a scammer.

I confirmed with Restaurant365 that this is, indeed, a scam, and thought you might want to know about it, since I can't possibly be the only potential victim. I did not respond to the offer email, since I'm sure the scammer would have followed up by wanting more pertinent details about me (SS#, bank account info, etc.). Hopefully we can help prevent others from falling for this scam.

I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to see scammers target jobseekers who are already under so much pressure. It’s just wrong. First of all, I want to give you serious credit for not falling for it—what you did was exactly what every jobseeker should do when something doesn’t feel quite right.

Let’s break down why this was a scam and what you did right:

1) Verifying the Recruiter

The fact that you couldn’t find a LinkedIn profile for "Robert Houston" tied to Restaurant365 is a huge red flag. It’s basic due diligence to check the recruiter’s credentials. Legitimate recruiters want to be found—they want their name out there because they rely on their reputation to place candidates. The moment you can’t verify a recruiter’s identity, especially when there are hundreds of people with the same name, your scam radar should be going off.

2) Checking WHOIS

Looking up the domain registration is exactly what you should do when you’re suspicious about an email. The fact that it was registered just a day before they reached out? That’s a huge neon sign saying “SCAM.” Legit companies aren’t setting up random new domains to conduct hiring—they have established websites with professional HR or recruiting teams.

3) Contacting the Company Directly

Reaching out directly to Restaurant365 confirmed your suspicions and protected you from further involvement. Scammers bank on the fact that most people won’t bother contacting the company.

Sharing your story here might help someone else avoid falling for the same trap. So thank you for that.

Stay safe out there!

If you come across a potential scam, send it to [email protected], and I’ll warn the community. And if you’ve been a victim of a job scam, the FTC has job scam reporting resources listed here.

PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

How do I find the right recruiter for my job search? I've tried using online tools to connect with recruiting firms, but they don't seem to specialize in my field. Friends have also suggested using a headhunter, but I'm not sure how to find a recruiter who fits my needs or how the process works. Any advice?

Check out the Premium Section below for my answer! Not a Premium Subscriber? Upgrade here: www.JobseekingIsHard.com/upgrade

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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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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