Ask The Headhunter Q&A

Question I am currently involved in two interviews. One is a bit stalled and the other is moving too fast. That is, one employer is moving about a week or…

Introduction There are lots of smart, solid HR folks who work hard to maintain high standards in recruiting and hiring. They are progressive and focused on making their companies successful….

Question I had a behavioral interview with a company that I was dying to work for. If you’ve never had one, they can be brutal. They ask questions like: Describe…

Question I need to hire someone with some specialized skills that my team does not currently possess (a cross between a business analyst and a project manager). I have interviewed…

Question I have a new job lined up, so I am getting things in place to give notice at my current job.  My primary concern is bad references from this…

Question I am a fan and am so glad I’ve followed your advice to not do an exit interview. I started working at a medical start-up two years ago as…

Question I have not been back to your forum in about a year or more, since you advised me to move on after I lost my job as a manager…

Question In my LinkedIn profile, I have listed that I manage Windows servers, file servers, mail servers, database servers, and web servers, specializing in Microsoft Server software and technology. So…

Question Your advice is very, very upper management biased. Presenting a “business plan” in a job interview just isn’t possible in most non-management jobs! I’m trying to picture a waiter…

Question I am now working at a company that is loosely affiliated with a large university that happens to have a prominent think tank. I have the right education for…

Question I have a client who has a stained record, both in regard to work experience and some run-ins with the law. She keeps getting fired when employers eventually find…

Question I’m a federal employee. The mass firings have shaken all of us up. I’m trying to keep my head down and just do my job but it’s nerve-racking. “You…

Question Nick, in various networking sessions we are told that maintaining a positive attitude is the most important thing that we can do when trying to land a job. This…

Question You have one the best websites devoted to the job search and career development. I have spent over 25 years in Human Resources working for Fortune 100 companies. One…

Question Are there any statistics about the success rates of the major job boards? Thanks much. Nick’s Reply I’ve written about the success rates of job boards many times over…

Question I am underemployed at two days a week as a dental hygienist. I used to work part-time in two practices at one time (40-55 hours a week) with partial…

This marks the 1,000th edition of this weekly newsletter, first published September 20, 2002. Over all these years, one idea continues to permeate all of Ask The Headhunter: To win…

Question I had an interview over the phone since the manager was out of state. Things went okay and then he asked me to put together a 30-60 day business…

Question Can I hedge job offers? Here is the deal: I got a job offer with company A. I am coming up on the end of the interview process with…

Question I have an interview scheduled next week with a leading bank, and I am a very good fit for the role in corporate middle management. Based on conversations I’ve…

Question What do you think of the desperation tactics people are resorting to on LinkedIn to beg others to help them land a job? (I’ve seen offers of cash for…

Question The Technical Director quit and my manager was promoted to that position. I was promised that there would be room for promotion when I was hired, however I was…

Question I’ve begun an intense job search, but now I’m keeping in mind your helpful hints, including from your books. I’ve found some online resources that have given me a…

Question I’d love to hear your take on LinkedIn’s new AI (Artificial Intelligence) assistant for recruiting and hiring. Nick’s Reply They call it Artificial for a reason. And I’ll let…