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Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #99 of Jobseeking is Hard!

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

This week we’re talking about:

• Stupid interview questions

• A jobseeking horror story about waaaaaay too many interviews

• Why your resume needs more context

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

• And a scam involving evaluating your resume for ATS

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Debunking a post about phone greetings when looking for a job

• Giving you tips on transitioning from nonprofit to profit roles

• Telling you why re-posted roles aren’t always a red flag and what your strategy should be when/if applying

• Answering a Premium subscriber's question about the #opentowork banner on your LinkedIn photo. I’ll explain how most recruiters feel about the banner, as well as issues to watch out for.

Let’s get to it! But first…

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STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

"How would your best friend describe you in three words?"

Deserves a raise.

"What's the most physically demanding thing you have ever done in your life?"

Trying to stay awake during this interview.

“Even though this is a remote role, we all like to have lunch at the same time with our audio and video on, just like we were all together in an office break room. Would you have a problem with that?”

I don’t care if it’s remote or in-person…if I see or hear a co-worker eating a tuna salad sandwich, I’m updating my resume.

Now I’m curious…

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

SPEAKING OF POLLS

Last issue, I asked you, “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?” The winner? “Mime” with ~73% of the vote.

Some of the best responses:

But my favorite was:

Pretty sure that HR will have an issue with any obscene communications, whether spoken or gestured. Gesture accordingly.

COMMUNITY CATHARSIS

Thanks so much for this newsletter. It’s the ONLY newsletter I take the time to read in full rather than just scan. Here’s my interviewing horror story:

Back in 2020, I applied for a role at a large university system.

I made it into the final 2. After 3 rounds of interviews, they told me they had decided on someone from a different university (I hadn’t worked in an academic system).

I understood that decision even though I was obviously disappointed as this was my dream job. Two years later, they let me know that this specific role was about to open up and that I should apply.

Clearly, I jumped on this opportunity and had great contact with the hiring manager. Well, at least so I thought.

They put me through 19(!) interviews dragged out over 6 months. I am not exaggerating. It was a huge red flag, but after I had already been a final candidate, I thought I had a good chance of landing this job I wanted so much, even though some of the interviewers were flat-out hostile.

I again made it to the final two. But guess what? I didn’t get the job. The signs pointed to them promoting from within or having made a decision before my rounds of interviews concluded.

To this day, I’m still bitter about it. It feels like they used me to CYA and show that they interviewed others before offering to an internal candidate.

Oh. My. God. 19 interviews over 6 months?! For a job you already interviewed for two years prior?! I don't even know where to start with this.

Honestly, how does anyone think that's a reasonable process? The audacity. The hoops they made you jump through—for months—only to likely promote from within anyway, reeks of complete disrespect for your time and effort.

Let's not even gloss over the fact that some interviewers were hostile. You're showing up, giving your best, navigating this ridiculous maze of a hiring process, and they can't even extend basic human decency? How do you expect to hire the best people if you can't even treat them with respect during the interview process? The red flags were practically screaming at you, and you're right—it sounds like they just needed to check a box before going with their internal candidate all along. Classic CYA.

You have every right to still be bitter. It wasn't just a rejection—it was a marathon of nonsense. This kind of behavior from organizations is beyond infuriating, and it's one of the reasons so many people hate the hiring process. They strung you along, wasted your time, and treated you like an afterthought. That's not just frustrating—it's downright insulting. I'm sorry you went through that.

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 move forward in your search like this client 🤷‍♂️

So how did I help this review bundle client?

Context.

When you're applying for a job, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that recruiters will just "get" your experience based on your job title or industry. You might think, "Of course I've done that—it's part of the role."

Well, recruiters don't have the same deep knowledge of your job or field that you do. They're often handling multiple job postings across a variety of industries, and they're trying to assess candidates quickly. Their first introduction to you is your resume, and they're not going to fill in the blanks if something's missing...they don't have the time (or the knowledge) to do that. This is why context is everything when you're applying for a role.

Let's take an example. Say you're a project manager. You might think that by listing your title, anyone reading your resume will automatically understand that you've done things like stakeholder management, budget oversight, and timeline creation. But if none of those things are spelled out on your resume, the recruiter could assume you haven't done them. They'll compare your resume directly to the job posting. If a critical skill from the job description isn't mentioned on your resume, they assume it's because you don't have that experience.

This is why I tell people not to rely on job titles to do the heavy lifting. You've got to fill in the gaps and connect the dots for the recruiter. Make sure every bullet point on your resume aligns with what's being asked for in the job posting. If the posting lists 5 key responsibilities, and you've done them all but haven't spelled them out, it's a missed opportunity. Recruiters will move on to the next candidate who made it obvious.

Another thing to keep in mind is that resumes are usually scanned in seconds. So it's not just about including the right information but about making it easy to find. You've got to be specific and concise. For example, instead of saying, "Managed projects for a tech company," be more specific: "Led cross-functional teams to deliver $1M+ tech projects on time and within budget, including stakeholder management and process improvements." See how much more information that conveys? It shows exactly what you did and how it aligns with common project management tasks.

And remember, if it's not on the resume, it didn't happen. Even if you think something is obvious or implied, the recruiter isn't going to assume. They'll take what's written at face value. So, take the time to really think about what each job posting is asking for, and tailor your resume accordingly. It might feel like extra work, but it's far better than risking being overlooked because the recruiter didn't have enough context to see how perfect you are for the role.

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!

Lost me at "feats of strength" tbh

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!

As if jobseeking isn't hard enough. Please make others aware of this scam! I have been messaged by individuals on Indeed and LinkedIn with the following ploy.

(BTW I have the "open to work" banner on my profile)

Scammer: Are you aware of ATS? And how it affects your ability to get a job?

Me: Yes

Scammer: What jobs are you currently seeking

Me: [sends job description]

Scammer: Could you provide me with a copy of your resume that fits that job description?

Me: [naively sends resume]

Scammer: I ran your resume through my ATS software. [attaches a screenshot of how poorly their software rated my resume] You only scored 35%.

(NOTE - He did not even have a complete job description to rate my resume against)

Me: Wow 🤩 I just used that resume and got an interview in a single day! Please do not try to sell me something.

Scammer: Good for you. But for $50 I could use my software to improve your resume for future job opportunities!

Me: Thanks but re-read my previous comment.

[reported and blocked]

You’re not alone—I’ve gotten at least 10 similar messages this week, all using the same ATS screenshot tactic. Scammers are preying on jobseekers with the “I ran your resume through ATS and it scored poorly” trick. They claim to have some magical software that will boost your score for a fee (in this case, $50), but it’s all nonsense. These scammers don’t have access to any legitimate ATS systems, and they’re certainly not going to improve your resume for any future job opportunities. They just want your money.

Let’s break it down:

Once they’ve got your resume, they’ll try to legitimize their scam by sending back a screenshot showing a low ATS score. But here’s the issue: there’s no specific ATS system behind this "score." Different companies use different ATS platforms, and they all work a little differently. It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. So, the first question you should ask is: Which ATS are you supposedly using to evaluate my resume? Because, you know, ATS isn’t a monolith.

And while you’re at it, ask what program this person is using to assess your resume. Ask for details—where and when has this person worked with ATS? Which systems, and in what capacity? I’m betting you won’t get a straight answer because these scammers are just using generic fear tactics to make you feel like you’re missing something.

The truth is, legitimate career coaches and resume writers don’t sell ATS nonsense. They know that real recruiters evaluate resumes, and effective resumes are written with that in mind. It’s not about impressing some “AI” or “bot”—it’s about making your experience, skills, and accomplishments stand out to a human being who’s making the hiring decision.

Thank you for sharing this, and I’m glad you reported and blocked them. To everyone else—if you get one of these messages, don’t even bother responding. Report, block, and keep moving forward with your job search. You’ve got enough to deal with!

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

Is adding the #opentowork banner to your LinkedIn picture a good or bad idea?

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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