Ask The Headhunter Q&A

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…

Question I’ve been applying to job postings for which I meet all the criteria, and I mean all of them. I figure that’s one way to beat my competition —…

Question I’m getting conflicting advice about giving notice before I resign my job after accepting a new job offer. A career coach told me I have to give notice or…

Question New laws in New York and California require employers to include the salary range of a job in job ads. Theoretically this will help applicants apply for jobs that…

Question Hiring great people is a noble goal but it raises two challenges: how to attract candidates with those rare, valuable qualities into your pipeline, and how to identify them…

Question I am currently employed full-time and grateful to have a job. I am in the finance department of a small but unethical company which has no accountability, multiple “hands…

Question I know you have addressed this in the past but it’s the first time I’ve encountered an employer that wants me to do free work to earn a job…

Question My question relates to these firms that allege to provide an executive career coach who will work with you to help you attain higher positions with higher earnings within…

The first edition of the Ask The Headhunter newsletter was published 20 years ago. This was the Q&A column subscribers received via e-mail on September 20, 2002. I haven’t changed…

Question I wanted to get your perspective on trying to use Twitter to get attention from a hiring manager. I’m interested in a role that is a great fit and…

Question The last two times I accepted a job I soon regretted it. In both cases I was happy with the money, I liked the manager, and the job seemed…

Question My husband and I were both downsized. Each of us has a good personal referral to a “hot” networking contact to whom we plan to send e-mails along with…

Question In your experience, is a broad liberal arts background an asset or an albatross? (I know, I know, I’m grossly glossing over differences in markets, technologies, regional employment issues,…

Question How long should I wait before checking in on a late-stage interview process that’s gone silent? I’m interviewing for a top software engineering management role after being asked to…

Question I really can’t decide between two good job offers that require a career choice. Each would take me deep into a career dramatically different from the other. I’ve done…

Special Edition I started Ask The Headhunter many years ago as an “open mic” and invited anyone with a job search problem (as well as managers, HR, and recruiters with…

Question Can I use a job offer to get a raise out of my employer? After 22 years of military service, I’ve been working the last 14 months for a…

Question When it rains, it pours! Two of my friends got new jobs and both were offered signing bonuses. Is this common now? I have a few questions about signing bonuses….

Question It’s always a relief when I get a job offer, but that’s also when I think I’m most vulnerable to accepting a job that maybe I should not. Face…

Question Okay, Mr. Smarty-pants. You criticize how HR and hiring managers treat applicants. You say we don’t respect job candidates. You seem to think we’re here to baby them and…

Question I haven’t yet joined the “great resignation” but I’m tempted because it’s a good way to get a raise nowadays. I like my job, my boss and my team,…

Ask The Headhunter online began publication a long time ago. The newsletter launched soon after. This Q&A column marks the 900th edition of the newsletter — that’s 900 weeks of…

Question I’m going to be talking with a manager who just made me a job offer. I’m going to say yes, but I’m inclined to ask, “Can you do any…

Question Part of the compensation in my job offer will be in stock options. The company is a start-up a few years old that’s backed by private equity. I know…