The Random Recruiter
Headhunter with a decade of experience; high‑engagement posts on HR/recruiting processes, compensation, and performance management realities.
Counteroffers Delay Departure but Don’t Solve Underlying Issues
Most people who accept a counteroffer leave within 12 months anyway. Not because the money wasn't real. Because the money was never the reason they wanted to leave. The manager's still the same. The (lack of a) growth path's still the same. The overall team's still the same. A raise doesn't fix any of that.
AI Devalues Tech Skills, Triggering Pay Cuts and Downgrades
Goldman Sachs just confirmed what every laid off tech worker already feels in their gut: • ~1 month longer to find the next role • 3%+ real pay cut when you land it • ~10% behind never displaced peers over a...
CEO Announces Tough Team Restructuring, Employees Brace
Me on the Zoom town hall when the CEO says “we had to make some hard decisions about our team structure”
Be Visible and Indispensable Before Layoffs Hit
Most people start protecting their job when the layoff rumors start. By then the list already exists. You can't always avoid it, but you can tilt the odds. Be visible before you need to be. Be annoying to replace. Tie your work...
HR's Buzzword Hunt Leaves Great Resumes Unnoticed
The HR Lady after Ctrl+F'ing your resume for her favorite buzzwords and getting zero results
After Endless Interviews, Rejection Still Lands
When the “we regret to inform you” email hits your inbox after 7 rounds, a take home test, and a panel with the VP
Even Grown-Ups Need Flexibility for Kids' Events
Asking another grown adult if I, also a grown adult, can leave 20 minutes early to catch the end of my kid's game
Interview Skills Matter More Than Experience for Engineers
Interviewing is a completely different skill than doing the job. Most experienced engineers don't realize this until they're already cooked. They prep at the level that worked last cycle and assume seniority will carry them. The bar has moved. Even getting your...
Prompt Interview Feedback Prevents Candidate Frustration
Candidate: "When can I get feedback on the interview I took 3 weeks ago?" Recruiter:
Only Using Three Days of Seventeen Earned Vacation Days
Asking your manager to approve 3 of the 17 PTO days you accrued this year
Exceeds Expectations, Gets 1.3% Raise: Reality Check
When she finds out you got "exceeds expectations" on your performance review with a 1.3% merit increase
Boss Prioritizes Work over Kid's Game, Not Sympathetic
Your boss when you ask to leave the office an hour early to catch your kid's baseball game
CEOs Schedule Friday Afternoon Layoffs, Mirror Self‑reflection
Tech CEOs in the mirror the morning before announcing a 20% layoff at 4pm on a Friday
Optimize Your LinkedIn Headline for Recruiter Search
Recruiters aren't using the LinkedIn you're using. We're on a $12K/year product called Linked In Recruiter. It works like a search engine, not a feed. We type keywords, scan results, and the first thing we see is your headline. Fix yours: Title | Skills |...
Too Few Buzzwords? Recruiters Will Reject Your Resume
Meet Jessica, Sr. Technical Recruiter at AWS, who rejected your resume because you didn't have the optimized amount of buzzwords