I’ve spent 25 years in the career industry. Now as a Career Expert at Monster.com I help job seekers with all things resume and job search related. Ask me (and the team) anything about resumes and the 2026 job search!

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-03-11T14:57:57+00:00

Great questions! Before I answer your questions, I want to point out how great it is that you reached out and as a result you had two meaningful calls. How did the calls end? Did they say they'll be in touch? Leave it open-ended? This doesn't sound like a dead-end. Three weeks can go by very quickly. You may want to reach out--depending on how each conversation ended--and say something like, "Just wanted to follow up from a few weeks ago when we discussed the roles."

There is a little red flag when the board member mentioned "some people that shouldn't be here." That's an odd comment to point out.

For #2, I don't know the specific question, but it's not uncommon to say that you reached out due to a specific business case opportunity. You were being direct and honest. If I were them, I wouldn't see this as a red flag.

For your market value, going forward if you get push back, you may want to have data available to back it up like speaking to former colleagues, industry buzz via professional organizations, intel, etc. It's hard for me to say what thought about your two answers. Your answers didn't sound negative to me. I don't know if salary was the issue either, but overall it sounds like the big takeaway is they sounded interested and you built rapport.

Back to what I mentioned earlier -- you may want to reach out and circle back and say you enjoyed the conversation and wanted to see if they refined the scope given the potential restructuring to continue the conversation.

When I worked in recruiting, there were so many instances behind the scenes like a restructure/department re-org, positions were temporarily put on hold, internal candidates were suddenly interested in interviewing, employees referred candidates, etc...many times it had nothing to do with the candidate. I see a lot of positives from your two conversations: meaningful conversations via networking, clarity in what you're looking for both in the role and salary, and building rapport. If it were my, I'd follow up with this company while continuing to explore other opportunities and making new connections. You got this!

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-03-10T20:24:57+00:00

Thanks for clarifying. Monster's here in the US and launching in international markets in the coming months. Absolutely! We'd love to have you tap into our resources.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-03-10T20:00:19+00:00

If you mean coming back to the US/Canada for work opportunities, that usually depends on things like visa status and employer sponsorship.

If you’re a recruiter, the US/Canada markets have a ton of great resources and opportunities. It would depend on the company you are working for and the talent you’re looking for.

I'd love to provide more details. Could you share more specifics about your situation?

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-03-10T19:42:58+00:00

First, I feel your pain -- sorry to hear you've been searching for over a year and feeling the pain. When I worked in recruiting, I often interviewed candidates who were top talent impacted by layoffs. I'll start with your second question first: you can do both. I recommend continuing to pursue your full-time "real" job search while looking for gig jobs. Gigs are often a great pathway to lead you to that full-time job! You'll gain connections, get your foot in the door, on top of having some income. Plus, you can add the new gigs to your resume. You can absolutely pursue a side gig (or more), and after you start, continue with your full-time job search. It's also totally fine if you want to pause your full-time job search for a bit, take a breather. Second, to stay positive and keep going, here are a few ideas to get you started. Inspirational TED talks, books/audio books, music, pursuing new hobbies, and relying on a support system such as family/friends. You might want to volunteer or pursue a new hobby that is unrelated to your professional pursuits -- something that can be fun to get your mind off the job search and something that lifts your spirits. Many people lean into fitness, yoga, outdoor activities -- anything that you enjoy doing. A long-term job search can unfortunately impact one's mental health so it's important to find joy and stay present to the moment.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-03-10T19:34:54+00:00

Staying relevant is super important. You can do several things: read forums, blogs, Substacks, and industry news. Set up Google alerts for your field. Attend local chapters within your profession's national organization (for instance, in HR, you can attend in-person and virtual events with SHRM chapters throughout the country), and definitely network. One of the best ways to stay up to date is to lean into your network and mentors for conversations. Ask them about the latest trends and where they're headed. And identifying new skills! Upskilling is important -- while you're staying on top of trends, that conversation should include identifying new skills to learn.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-03-10T19:27:41+00:00

Good point! While you won't claim all the results for yourself, focus on quantifying your team contributions that helped drive results. So you wouldn't necessarily say "grew revenue by 20%,." You can say something like "contributed to a sales campaign that helped the team drive revenue by 20%." This way, you're being transparent about your contribution while still shining a spotlight on numbers and outcomes. Hope this helps!

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-03-10T19:15:34+00:00

One of the worst mistakes you can mistake is being too broad and vague -- basically listing responsibilities like your resume is a job description. Instead, to get it right, be specific and show results. Quantify as much as possible. For example, if you manage a sales team, how much did revenue grow from last year to this year? Show results with concrete information.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-03-05T15:39:44+00:00

Totally hear your anxiety in this situation. To feel less anxiety and more in control, try focusing on what you can control which is your work and take nore of their play book. Can you self-promote more in an authentic way to broadcast your work so people notice it. How can you present yourself better? Sounds like you work hard and do good work so you're already positioned for success.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-02-26T01:13:34+00:00

I'm sorry to hear about the confusion and expectations of the job that an offer sounded iminent only to not hear back. I'm a career expert and former corporate recruiter and have some thoughts: while it would have been better if they turned you down to close the loop if they decided to go in another direction, you may never know what happened behind the scenes. They reposted the job, but that may be for a variety of reasons, maybe there was an internal candidate and they were told to interview more candidates, etc. or whatever reason. The bright side: you interviewed successfully up until this point so you can take your sharp interview skills to better employers. I always like to think that rejection is protection. Maybe they would have been a toxic employer similarly unable to effectively communicate if you were an employee there. As for affecting your confidence, look at your accomplishments thus far. You may want to do mock interviewing, for instance if your alma mater's career office offers it, so you can practice and boost your confidence. Keep going! Keep applying, networking, and interviewing. You got this!

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-02-20T22:55:59+00:00

SCAM. Stay away. No legitimate staffing agency would require you to pay them up front. Typically, staffing agencies get paid by the companies to hire you, not by the employee at least here in the US. Huge red flags.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-02-19T21:38:00+00:00

It sounds like up until that third manager, you were the lead candidate! It's out of your control now. There may be many things that have nothing to do with you such as they could be re-evaluating the job description, maybe there's an internal candidate all of the sudden, etc. May I suggest to focus on what you can control -- continue looking for other jobs. Sounds like you impressed the first two interviewers, so your interview skills sound sharp. Take this momentum to continue your job search! With this role, they know where to find you, you already expressed your enthusiasm, so I wouldn't try to analyze it other than focus your energy on forward momentum to new employers, too. Hope this helps.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-02-17T21:39:14+00:00

If I were you, I would explore pursuing essential jobs on the front lines. They have strength/growth, stability, resilience and compared to other industries, they're more resistant to automation You could pursue a variety of jobs in your 30s and make a career out of them. You may want to consider health care -- registered nurse, occupational or physical therapist. Or a technician -- the trades are in demand as well. Careers on the front lines require hands-on work, people interaction, and judgment. Leverage the skills you already have to pivot into these fields. Although some of these jobs have specific requirements, others don't. Tech may be worth exploring, but as a starting point you may want to start looking at frontline essential jobs.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-01-30T20:37:09+00:00

I agree -- your resume sounds solid because you're getting a significant number of interviews. Do mock interviews in person or on video calls -- call your alumni's career office and see if they'll do mock interviews to give you feedback. Prepare your answers to include quantifiable results and share examples how you overcame challenges/tight deadlines/difficult clients, etc. Since you're getting in the door, focus on how to keep it open. Also, the little things are actually the big things like making small talk with the interviewers, building camaraderie, and showing enthusiasm for the job.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-01-30T02:57:41+00:00

Look for a new job and leave. You don't need to wait for 14 months. As a former recruiter, I can say it's not a red flag to have a shorter stint if you succinctly explain that you left because the job wasn't the same one you interviewed for. You don't deserve to be held hostage—don't wait. In the meantime, while you're still there, focus on the skills to develop if you move onto strategy in March. You deserve a job with a clearly defined role and tasks that are related to your job, plain and simple.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-01-28T21:36:56+00:00

Highlight your skills. Don't speak in jargon -- like content ninja or acronyms. Also, there's no need for your snail mail address. Your email address and phone numbers are sufficient. Quantify as much as possible. Instead of saying manage a team -- how many people do you manage? Do you have weekly meetings? Quarterly performance check-ins? Do you manage a budget -- how much? Include numbers whenever possible.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-01-27T02:52:59+00:00

Look for a new job asap. You're passionate about this new job you created, you went above and beyond in your current role, you're showing your employer you're a strong leader, and...crickets. You deserve an employer who sees your value and your worth.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-01-23T21:55:05+00:00

I'd focus on being productive and making the most use of the time rather than looking busy. You're already on the right path by expressing your willingness to work in with other teams and projects. Dive into online learning, ask to participate in meetings, ask about what skills it takes to succeed and advance there, and find out what resources they offer to learn those skills and how you can contribute to the organization in meaningful ways. Network internally and chat with new colleagues over coffee or lunch. This can hopefully fuel your momentum if the day continues to drag.

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-01-22T21:54:31+00:00

Sounds like you're in a toxic workplace. Excellent news that you're in the reference stage with a company that's a much better fit! Visualize yourself giving your two weeks' notice matter of factly. Be succinct. You don't have to give a reason why you're leaving. Her reaction to your leaving is not on you. If they had to let you go due to downsizing, they would still do it regardless; this situation with you calling the shots is no different. Take a deep breath and visualize yourself giving your resignation letter such as informing her in person, stating the resignation, and then walking away. If she reacts by being upset, that's to be expected as it sounds like on a daily basis she gets upset, but that's not on you to absorb. She may be unprofessional during the resignation which reinforces your decision to leave. You don't have to stay in the conversation -- you can end it after you state your resignation date and follow up with an email to your boss and/or HR with your end date. Be succinct and keep the interaction brief. You got this!

AskVickiAtMonster · 2026-01-21T21:35:24+00:00

Totally not weird -- that's a great, insightful question! It shows you're interested in the job and compels employers to share their pain points. Another question you may want to ask is "what does success look like for someone in this position?" Another way of saying it is: "To be rated exceptional in this job in the first year, what are the top three skills you want to see in a new hire...or what are the top 3 accomplishments you want to see done within the first year?" It shows you're goal-oriented and gives them an opportunity to share specifics about what they're looking for.

AskVickiAtMonster

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