Ask The Headhunter Q&A

We talk a lot here about how the Employment System is broken. We talk about how Human Resources isn’t actually looking for resources, and how the “Apply” button on LinkedIn…

Question I was laid off again. I know it’s not just me. Many tech pros are posting on sites like Reddit, Quora and Stack Exchange about being laid off two,…

All year long I take your questions. At the year’s end it’s good to summarize — so here’s the “Short Course” on landing a job! (For more, please read The…

Question I just got rejected at the end of a job interview. I don’t know what hit me harder, that the manager made a decision on the spot or that…

Question Despite all the online job application tools, most employers still want my resume. (Though I’m not sure they read the applications or the resumes!) You’ve written a lot about…

Question How about some smart tips for the hiring managers out here? I have a Ph.D. in Physics but there doesn’t seem to be a calculation for selecting the best…

Question Have you ever seen a situation where a person takes an offer for a new job at another company and someone at his old company tries to block the…

Question You’re very firm about not disclosing your salary when applying or interviewing for a job. But let’s just say, for whatever reason, you’re forced to give the company something…

Question I bombed an interview for an engineering job I know I’m qualified for. I was well-prepared but after the first few minutes it all went south. The hiring manager…

Question I have heard some recruiters are pulling back on job boards usage because of the number of candidates they are getting, AND fake candidates. They would rather post solely…

A discouraged college student I have a soft spot for college students because no matter what school they attend they get precious little career advice that’s worth a hoot. Life…

Question While looking for a job, I started a consulting project for a company that wanted to launch a new European operation. The company had just one person in Europe,…

Question – Part 2 Last week [see Part 1] I tried a version of your advice to send a letter offering 10 minutes of my time to to a hiring…

Question – Part 1 Nick, can you direct your followers to good advice on networking, or consider writing about it? I find that many people in my network don’t seem…

Question The VP made me a same-day offer contingent on a background check, a physical and a drug test. He gave me a tour of the business, showed me where…

Question A news article reports that in just one year the number of job applicants that say employers ghosted them jumped from 30% to 40%. The tariffs and economic uncertainty…

Question Every day I read about frustrations of people looking for work. It’s usually some version of this: “I sent out X number of resumes (usually in the low 100s)…

Question I read your books after I saw you do a presentation at Cornell University’s Executive MBA program. Some of your methods for career success have worked really well for…

Question I just finished my second year working for an information technology (IT) company. It’s my first job. I have seen my interests change from the tech side of the…

Question I interviewed for a position at a manufacturing plant and had an excellent rapport with the CEO who interviewed me. The location of the company is not exactly what…

Question I am 20 years old and going into my senior year of college shortly. I’ll be facing a tough job market. I am looking to work in the finance…

Question I recently hired the best employee I’ve ever had. Was catching up with an old friend and he told me about someone he ran into at a conference, said…

Question I am a degreed accountant and a mom who has taken off a few years to raise the kids. I haven’t been idle, but my resume isn’t getting me…

Question I try to keep my head down and not stress too much while looking for a new job. But there’s no avoiding the really weird news reports. For example,…