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!
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…
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 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,…
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…
Just Hired: New boss, salary & job eliminated!
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…
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…
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…
You have 1000 LinkedIn connections? No, you have a phone book
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…
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…
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 less job competition, avoid Fisherman’s Wharf
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 —…
Giving notice when you resign: 6 ways to avoid trouble
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…
Salary Range Law: Will it help you?
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…