Ask The Headhunter Q&A

Question When will we be free from the cursed NCA (Non-Compete Agreement)? I got sucked into one years ago. When I left the company, I was barred for a year…

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…

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)…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

Question I’ve worked for my company for five years. I get assigned to different jobs often enough that I never get bored, and I keep learning new skills. So I’m…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

Question I got really good vibes from the manager that interviewed me. The offer was very good, and everything went so well that I turned down another offer to take…

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…

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…

Question Is there a trick to making LinkedIn connections pay off? I’ve got over 1000 LinkedIn connections, but it almost seems the more I have the less chance anyone is…

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…

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…