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!
What good is a resume REALLY? 6 answers
Question Let me cut you off at the pass. I know you’re not a fan of resumes and you tell us not to rely on a resume to get a…
Stay or Pay: How employers TRAP you when you quit
When you accepted that job offer, did you agree to stay or pay? SPECIAL EDITION Can your employer trap you into paying thousands of dollars when you quit your job?…
My backstabbing co-worker
Question I’ve made lateral moves to align my interests and strengths with the emerging needs of my employer. It requires concerted effort in an environment that lacks any real professional…
6 signs it’s time to quit your job
Question I’m feeling very “bleh” about my job but I can’t put my finger on the problem. I think I want to quit and move on. But I don’t want…
Have I been blacklisted in my job search?
Question I work in legal compliance in a growing industry. My skills are in demand and up to date. But I’m struggling to get anyone’s attention and I remain unemployed…
When hiring, don’t send in the clowns
Question It happened again last week. We brought in a candidate for a senior marketing position that pays very well. The candidate showed up, met with our personnel office for…
Maybe you shouldn’t hire me?
Question So we all know the “What’s your salary expectation?” question. I was talking to a very nice recruiter who asked me that on our first call. I said $X….
Enthusiasm, Persistence & Intelligence
Question The prevalence of the “keyword approach” to selecting job candidates to interview seems to leave a gaping hole in how companies recruit — and it certainly doesn’t reveal the…
The job-offer fallacy: A deadly assumption
Question A friend ignored my advice and fell into the job-offer fallacy. He was so thrilled to get a job offer he wanted that he cancelled two other interviews. I…
Forced to sign a Non-Compete Agreement (NCA)?
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…
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…
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)…
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 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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
You’re happy at work. Should you interview anyway?
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…