In partnership with

For Those Who Seek Unbiased News.

Be informed with 1440! Join 3.5 million readers who enjoy our daily, factual news updates. We compile insights from over 100 sources, offering a comprehensive look at politics, global events, business, and culture in just 5 minutes. Free from bias and political spin, get your news straight.

Join for free today!

Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #100 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Today's issue is brought to you by 1440 Media! 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 a chaotic interview with a series of unfortunate events

• Transforming a generic resume into a powerful tool, structuring your experience for maximum impact

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

• And a scam involving a bait and switch with fake profiles

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Debunking an article about the “ATS match rate score” and explaining how the ATS works

• Explaining why different companies have different stances on salary flexibility and offering guidance on navigating negotiations, especially in a challenging job market

• Telling you how to get the hiring manager’s email address for a thank you email, and why sending one, while not a game-changer, is still worth doing

• Answering a Premium subscriber's question about how to craft a compelling resume when changing roles or industries. I’ll explain how to highlight transferable skills and relevant experiences without drawing attention to a lack of direct industry experience.

Let’s get to it!

STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

The VP of HR asked me, "Can I come to your master's graduation ceremony?"

Hey, as long as they’re bringing a gift, why not.

I was asked about M&Ms during my interview.

The person interviewing me asked me several questions. How did they get the color coating on the M&Ms? How did they get it so there weren't any drips? Then he wanted to know how they get the little stamp on each one.

I had initially thought these questions were asked to see my thought process. But the interviewer was clearly analyzing my actual answers, not my logic.

This conversation went on for 15 minutes. He was obsessed with M&Ms. 

Me reading this:

My potential boss asked me, ”Would you rather have a slightly sticky desk or a squeaky chair and why?”

So many questions. Can I clean the desk? Is the chair randomly squeaking, or only when I move? Am I the one who made the desk sticky? Am I in my own office or an open floor plan?

Most importantly, what kind of operation are they running here? What's with the crappy furniture? They've made a huge mistake with this question. I don't know how much time they have allocated for this interview, but I can stretch this out for at least 70 minutes.

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 be willing to ‘eat’ lunch with your company via Zoom when working remotely?” More than 87% of you said you wouldn’t, including 52% who responded “H*ll no.”

Some of the best responses:

But my favorite was:

Poor Carl.

COMMUNITY CATHARSIS

My son had a 10am phone interview scheduled for an LA-based job. The recruiter called him for the interview at 9am, which threw him (he was still prepping).

The first thing she tells him is the job isn't in LA; it's in Seattle. The call quality on the recruiter's end was horrible, and the call dropped. Called back. The call quality is still bad, and she says it's all on him (but he had no issues on the 2 interviews from the same spot yesterday). He hears her say she will email him to reschedule, and then the call drops again. 

About 30 minutes later, he got on LinkedIn, and she posted, "I'm looking for work if you know of anything." 

She quit or got fired within the hour of his interview.  He's not expecting a reschedule. 

Wow, that’s beyond frustrating. It’s already stressful enough to get ready for an interview, but getting a call an hour early? And then finding out the job isn’t even in LA like he thought? Total letdown.

Blaming him for the bad call quality is just ridiculous. It’s not his fault the call kept dropping...it’s like he didn’t even get a fair shot from the beginning. And then the recruiter’s now looking for a job herself! What a mess. He got caught in this weird chain of events that was completely out of his control.

It’s stuff like this that makes job hunting so exhausting. You put in the effort, do your prep, and then get hit with one unexpected thing after another.

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 realize the things that can make a difference, like this client 🤷‍♂️

So how did I help this resume review client?

Relevance.

A resume shouldn't be a generic list of duties. It should be a powerful, relevant showcase of their achievements and skills.

Having the experience and presenting it in a way that resonates with hiring managers are 2 different things.

Using job titles that align with the positions you're targeting is important, rather than sticking rigidly to your internal or official titles. This client was applying for roles that differed slightly from their current position, and by adjusting the title on their resume to better match what hiring managers are looking for, they can position themselves as a more direct fit. The goal is to show that you're ready to step into the job you want, not just that you've done something similar in the past.

Another key strategy was focusing on relevant skills and achievements from their entire career, not just their most recent role. The trick is to emphasize the parts of those roles that matter for the position you're aiming for. For instance, if you're shifting into a client-facing role, you don't need to list every technical task from a previous job. Instead, focus on the communication and project management aspects that would appeal to a hiring manager.

Formatting and structure also make a huge difference. Their original resume listed duties without context or quantifiable results, which made it hard for the reader to quickly grasp their value. By rephrasing their achievements (such as highlighting a project), it's easier for hiring managers to see the impact they've had. Your resume should serve as a quick, powerful snapshot of your career highlights: the more specific and relevant your examples, the more you'll stand out.

This client had multiple promotions, so restructuring their resume under a single company to best demonstrate growth helps to clarify progression. Just be sure to prioritize bullet points that reflect the most relevant skills and responsibilities for the job you're targeting.

The bottom line is your resume should be a strategic tool, not just a list of past jobs. Tailor it to the role you want, highlight your most relevant achievements, and structure your experience in a clear, impactful way.

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!

“Execute like you could die tomorrow?” Hard pass.

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 contacted on LinkedIn last week by someone who claimed to be Sandra J., an HR Management Student at the University of Pennsylvania and would be able to put me in touch with someone who could help me with an "LPS upgrade" on my LinkedIn profile.

I was directed to a site called Fiverr to create an account to converse with someone with a different name (Cathy) in Nigeria and they immediately began trying to sell me a resume rewrite for $50 and other vague services for $125.

Sandra's profile has since been deleted on LinkedIn. I broke off connection with Cathy, as I smelled a rat and have been kicking myself for falling as far as I did (no money changed hands, and no personal info was provided to them). Might want to alert others since I can't find anything on LinkedIn about "LPS," so I assume that's something they made up as part of their scam.

This is a classic example of how scammers exploit LinkedIn to target jobseekers with deceptive offers that sound helpful but are actually traps. In this case, the scam started with a seemingly innocent LinkedIn message from someone posing as an HR student who promised to connect you with someone who could help with an "LPS upgrade" for your profile.

First, ask yourself, "Why is a random HR student offering to help me?" Using jargon like "LPS upgrade," which doesn't exist, is a common tactic scammers use to sound credible and make you think they have some insider knowledge that could benefit you.

The fact that you were passed off to another person, and that the original profile has since been deleted, is a huge red flag. It's clear this was never about helping you improve your LinkedIn profile. It's great that you trusted your instincts and cut off contact before sharing any personal information or money. Scammers often rely on creating a sense of urgency or confusion to push people into paying for unnecessary or non-existent services. The fact that you couldn't find any information about "LPS" indicates that this was a scam. They made it up to create the illusion of a special service you "need."

Always be skeptical of unsolicited offers from people you don't know, especially if they're promising quick fixes or secret tricks to boost your job search. Verify their credentials: check their LinkedIn history, look for consistent professional activity, and be wary if the profile looks new or has limited connections. I recommend never working with anyone who doesn't have a verified account.

Legitimate services don't rely on vague terminology or high-pressure sales tactics. If someone is offering something like a resume rewrite or profile upgrade, they should be able to explain exactly what you're paying for and how it will benefit you, without hiding behind jargon or ambiguous promises. And most importantly, trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.

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 people who are trying to change roles or industries paint a vivid enough story on their resume to grab the attention of a recruiter / hiring manager without adding details that shine a spotlight on the fact that they have not previously worked in the role and or industry of the position for which they are applying?

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.

BETTERHELP: 15% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH OF ONLINE THERAPY

Mental health is a massive part of your career. Anxiety, depression, self-worth issues…all become more intense the longer a job search goes on. With my link, get 15% off your first month of online therapy with BetterHelp!

​http://www.betterhelp.com/jobseekingishard

30% OFF! COURSERA PLUS: ONLINE COURSES

Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs—all included in your subscription. $59/month, cancel any time, OR $399/year with a 14-day money back guarantee!

From now through September 30, 2024, get 30% off Coursera Plus with my affiliate link: https://imp.i384100.net/jobseeking30

SECTA LABS: 10% OFF AI-GENERATED HEADSHOTS FOR NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS

Want a new headshot for LinkedIn? Hate having your photo taken? Don't have the time to pick out what to wear and coordinate with a photographer? With Secta you can upload 25 pics and get AI-generated headshots without leaving your bed.

Get 300+ photos with my affiliate link for just $44! Subscribers get an additional 10% off of Secta’s already discounted launch pricing!

All you have to do is upload 25 photos, enter a few prompts how you want to look in the images, and they’ll generate 300+ headshots. And with a 100% money-back guarantee, you have nothing to lose.

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

https://secta.ai/adam

PLURALSIGHT: FREE STANDARD OR PREMIUM 10-DAY TRIAL

Pluralsight is *the* technology learning platform. They help individuals evaluate their technical abilities and align courses to their learning objectives and close skills gaps in critical areas like cloud, mobile, security, data, and web development.

Try out the standard or premium subscriptions with a free 10-day trial!

http://pluralsight.pxf.io/JobseekingIsHardFreeTrial

HUNTER: FREE TRIAL FOR EMAIL ADDRESS FINDER

Want to follow up on your job applications? Looking to network? Have some target companies? Try Hunter! The Email Finder is all you need to connect with any professional. It puts all our data together — email formats, email addresses found on the web, and verification status — to find reliable contact information in seconds.

​NOTE - If you don't have a corporate email, choose the "Sign up with Google"option and use a Google account!

​Try it for free here!

https://hunter.io/?via=jobseekingishard

SKILLSHARE: GET 30% OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

Want to learn some new skills? Looking for a few new keywords to add to your resume or LinkedIn profile? Want to sharpen your expertise in Excel or Tableau? Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes on topics including illustration, design, photography, video, freelancing, marketing, and more.

Join Skillshare today with my link and get 30% off your annual membership with unlimited access to thousands of online classes!

http://skillshare.eqcm.net/jobseekingishard

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.

Subscribe to Premium to read the rest.