Welcome to the weekly Q&A!

This is what Ask The Headhunter is all about! Real questions submitted by real job seekers (and employers) about real, daunting problems and challenges they face, answered by Ask The Headhunter host Nick Corcodilos. Don’t miss each column’s Comments section, where the entire ATH community piles on for lively debate and to share insights, stories and advice that’s often better than Nick’s! Got a Q? Submit it to Nick!


getting in the door

Getting in the door and past HR

Question I have changed my approach to employers. I know I’m taking a risk, but I really believe what you teach, that succumbing to “the HR screen” almost always diminishes…

job search questions

Top 5 Job Search Questions & Advice

Hello, All! The Ask The Headhunter website and weekly newsletter have been on hiatus since the end of April because I couldn’t type. Surgery for a torn rotator cuff (shoulder)…

rotator-cuff

A Special Message from Nick

Nick is broken and getting fixed! After long avoiding it, I’m finally getting surgery for a torn rotator cuff in my shoulder. (If you’ve ever had this, you know it…

compensation negotiate

Compensation: Negotiate beyond money

Question I recently decided to leave a Fortune 100 company after nearly seven years. I accepted a generous severance package and have just been offered a good job at a…

I want the job

Just Say It: I want the job

Question I had a coffee with a potential manager in his company café and we discussed my past and current experience but it wasn’t referred to as an interview. It…

recruiting-chatgpt

New Recruiting: Let’s just hire ChatGPT

Question First we had to learn to cough up the key words some Applicant Tracking System (ATS) wants to see when we submit a job application. Now we have to…

decline job offer

How do I decline the other job offer?

Question Your interviewing techniques worked too well and now I have two exciting job offers! Based on your suggestions about how to choose an employer, I have evaluated the people,…

rules of interviewing

The rules of interviewing don’t work

Question This is not a news flash to anyone that reads your website: The flood of resumes and job postings makes job seekers feel like cattle while they’re applying for…

quit without notice

Burned out, quit without notice. What now?

Question I’ve been working for a very dynamic manager who gives me lots of opportunities for advancement. I’ve learned a lot, but I think I blew it. The last three…

employment hoops

More employment hoops to jump through

Question I recently applied for a Senior Sales position for a medical device supplier, having 15 years of national experience in health industry sales across Australia and New Zealand. The…

college degrees

Ditch college degrees for the Columbo Method?

Question Some states are removing the requirement for college degrees when posting most of their government positions. Do you have any thoughts on this and how it will affect recruiting,…

return to the office

Asking workers to return to the office

Question How do you feel about companies asking workers to return to the office after three years of working from home? I’m one of the lucky ones. I don’t have…

non-compete

Only 1 reason to sign Non-Compete Agreement

Question There’s been a lot in the news about Non-Compete Agreements being outlawed. I got stuck with one when I took a job about 10 years ago. When I quit…

hire an ex-convict

How to hire an ex-convict

Question I got in trouble with the law and I spent six years in jail.  I wasn’t sure a good company would hire an ex-convict but when I got out…

go around hr

Go around HR to get the job

Question For 30+ years I’ve been going around HR when looking for a job and I will continue to do so. I want to talk directly to the hiring manager,…

screen headhunters

How to screen all those headhunters

Question How can we screen headhunters? I know you’ve spoken at length about the difference between a real headhunter and those that are just casting a huge net and hoping…

final interview

How can I stand out in the final interview?

Question I just had a series of second interviews for a management position. Feedback was very positive and they came back pretty quickly to ask me to meet with my…

start job hunting

How to start job hunting NOW

Question I always look forward to your column, whether I’m looking for a job or sitting comfortably in one. You have a way of cutting through the crap on this…

regulate job boards

It’s time to regulate the job boards

Question You don’t have to look far to find complaints about the job boards, including LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter and the rest. I’ve seen some ridiculous claims about how many jobs…

right company

Is this the right company for me?

Question When I consider doing an interview or accepting a job offer, I’ve always just picked what felt best, but how should a person decide? The money and the job…

For a complete list of all Q&A columns, please check the Q&A Archive.