<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[HeadHunter Corey Blogsite]]></title><description><![CDATA[Unfiltered Conversations About Work and the World.]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/my-blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:40:07 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[About Me]]></title><description><![CDATA[Pleasure to meet you, thanks for stopping by. I am so excited about this site and the info that I get to share with you, the reader. Please keep your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the vehicle at all times, and remain seated until the ride comes to a complete stop. Personally, I’m actually a laid-back guy—believe it or not. I’ve been married to a beautiful Southern woman since 2003. It’s both of our second rides on the marriage rollercoaster, and honestly, the best times of my life. We...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/about-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68fe8288e3b0149559cf49ec</guid><category><![CDATA[Corey's Corner]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 26 Oct 2025 20:31:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_68936a9b56484e97888b4db6be622535~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_700,h_495,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[At some point, persistence stops being grit… and starts becoming a warning sign.]]></title><description><![CDATA[You’ve done everything “right.” You’ve applied to hundreds of jobs. You’re qualified. Experienced. Proven. And still—rejection after rejection, silence after silence. So here’s the uncomfortable question no one wants to say out loud: When is it time to walk away from the career you love?  When effort stops producing opportunity Hard truth: if you’ve put in sustained, strategic effort—not just spraying applications, but networking, refining your story, targeting roles—and nothing is...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/at-some-point-persistence-stops-being-grit-and-starts-becoming-a-warning-sign</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c7ed31a937958fa7df67af</guid><pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:02:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_19d47fd1b1d945aa8815acd598d34181~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_500,h_349,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[AI Is Making Some Parts of Hiring Easier — But It’s Also Making Managers Lazy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Artificial Intelligence is everywhere in hiring right now. AI writes job descriptions. AI screens resumes. AI drafts outreach messages. AI summarizes interviews. And yes — in many ways, it does make parts of recruiting faster and easier. But there’s a growing problem that not enough people are talking about. AI isn’t just improving hiring processes… it’s also making hiring managers and HR teams lazy. Not intentionally. But the impact is real. The Illusion of Efficiency AI tools promise speed...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/ai-is-making-some-parts-of-hiring-easier-but-it-s-also-making-managers-lazy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69aaf2a1191ecc36dbbd223f</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:32:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_e2ffb748813f49fdbffc793d21bcddf5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_270,h_187,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Job Search Lie We Need to Talk About ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hiring companies say they care about the candidate experience - then they don't. “Do all the right things,” they said. “It’ll pay off,” they said. Apply for the job. Even if you’re overqualified. Find the hiring manager on LinkedIn. Send the connection request. Track down their email. Follow up. Send another message. Call the office. And then… Nothing. No response. No rejection. No acknowledgment. Just silence.  Let’s talk about the reality no one wants to admit. The Advice Isn’t Wrong —...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/the-job-search-lie-we-need-to-talk-about</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a0acc535595910ad5d7b7e</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:34:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_53705ef60be74ca187004e6eb22ccf92~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_400,h_308,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Confidence Erosion in the Age of Daily Rejection.]]></title><description><![CDATA[No one really talks about this part - as they try and build something of their own. We talk about the leap. We talk about the freedom. We talk about “betting on yourself” like it’s a clean, cinematic moment where the music swells and everything clicks into place. But there’s another side—especially when you’re doing this later in your career, after you’ve already proven you can do the work, lead teams, deliver results, and carry real responsibility. It’s the slow, daily erosion of confidence....]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/confidence-erosion-in-the-age-of-daily-rejection</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6993729d884976137daa8994</guid><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 19:51:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_35f20e0d4e5f4e7eab468abfe745554b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_798,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[You Found the Perfect Candidate. Now What?]]></title><description><![CDATA[They check every box. Experience? ✔ Industry knowledge? ✔ Leadership background? ✔ Cultural alignment? ✔ Track record of results? ✔ They are exactly who you said you needed. The person who could take your team from where you are… to where you want to be.  And then it happens. You don’t hire them. Instead, you hire someone with half the experience. Half the exposure. Half the track record. Why?  Let’s talk about it. 1. “They’re too expensive.”  This is the most common reason. You wanted...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/you-found-the-perfect-candidate-now-what</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698caa6fa396cee89ab7e66b</guid><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:24:23 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ There Is No Magic Wand: The Rise of “AI Job Search” Scams]]></title><description><![CDATA[Every few years, the job search world gets a new miracle cure ✨ A secret script  A guaranteed shortcut ️ A “proven system” recruiters don’t want you to know about  Right now, that miracle cure is AI  More specifically: people claiming they can wave a magic wand , drop your resume into ChatGPT, and presto—you get a job  Let’s be crystal clear   There is no magic wand. And anyone selling one is selling hope—usually at a premium .  What’s Actually Happening We’re seeing a...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/there-is-no-magic-wand-the-rise-of-ai-job-search-scams</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698a353341590511a3441887</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:39:55 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[. Recruitment Scams Are Exploding — And Job Seekers Are Paying the Price]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is not paranoia. This is not fear-mongering. This is reality. Recruitment scams are on the rise at a dangerous rate , and fraudulent job postings are being copied, cloned, and reposted on shady websites every single day. Scammers are impersonating real companies, real recruiters, and real jobs — and they’re getting smarter, faster, and harder to spot. If you’re a job seeker, you’re a target. If you’re an employer, your brand is being hijacked. And most people don’t realize it until it’s...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/recruitment-scams-are-exploding-and-job-seekers-are-paying-the-price</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697a3c0b55d806ef8a1d235e</guid><category><![CDATA[The Candidate Experience]]></category><category><![CDATA[Real Talk On Recruiting]]></category><category><![CDATA[For The Job Seeker]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:44:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_79fed293a3e34935a86a570b21df862a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_628,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Cheap Talent Is Expensive: The Real Cost of Hiring “Less Experienced” Employees]]></title><description><![CDATA[More companies are making the same decision right now:  Hire cheaper, less experienced employees  Avoid paying higher salaries to seasoned professionals  “Train them up” and save money On paper, it looks smart. In reality? It’s costing companies far more than they realize.   The Short-Term Savings Trap Yes, hiring junior or less experienced staff saves money today. Lower salaries. Lower benefits. Lower initial costs. But here’s what rarely makes the spreadsheet: Longer ramp-up times...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/cheap-talent-is-expensive-the-real-cost-of-hiring-less-experienced-employees</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6978ee79da77a8ffff04cdcd</guid><category><![CDATA[Market Trends]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hiring Strategies]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:01:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_2a1f078da5c14688b248d800de3b87d2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[You Don’t Have a Hiring Problem—You Have a Leadership One.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stop blaming the talent. Start fixing the leadership. Most companies don’t fail at hiring because they can’t find good people. They fail because leadership refuses to evolve. The hiring market didn’t suddenly break. Talent didn’t disappear. What changed is the way people work, what they tolerate, and what they expect from leadership — and most organizations are still hiring like it’s 2005. Same job descriptions. Same posting strategy. Same untrained hiring managers. Same outdated...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/you-don-t-have-a-hiring-problem-you-have-a-leadership-one</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6970f543cf778e0a7c38a273</guid><category><![CDATA[Hiring Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Real Talk On Recruiting]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:49:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_2dfafcbe4b1a46fbb584a4979cb25ee5~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Job Search Burnout: When “Just Keep Applying” Breaks the Human Spirit.]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s a version of job searching that career blogs love to talk about. The optimistic one. The “polish your resume, network more, stay positive” version. And then there’s the real one. The one where you’ve applied to hundreds—maybe thousands—of jobs. The one where you check every box in the job description. And still… nothing. No reply.  No acknowledgment. No respect. Just silence. The Cycle That Wears You Down It usually starts with hope. You see a role that fits you perfectly. You...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/job-search-burnout-when-just-keep-applying-breaks-the-human-spirit</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696a56fa44e01db33a019dd7</guid><category><![CDATA[The Candidate Experience]]></category><category><![CDATA[Real Talk On Recruiting]]></category><category><![CDATA[For The Job Seeker]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:34:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_783bb4fb5bcc4b9ab8e3b34842792b6a~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_540,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Communication Isn’t a Soft Skill—It’s The Skill.]]></title><description><![CDATA[People ask me all the time about my leadership style. Am I hands-on? Do I micromanage? How do I deal with difficult candidates? Tough hiring managers? Different personalities? What about employees, business partners… even spouses, family, and friends? My answer is always the same: It comes down to communication. Real communication. Human communication.  Not scripts. Not corporate buzzwords. Not emails written by fear or ego. Actual conversations between actual people.  I’m Not a...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/communication-isn-t-a-soft-skill-it-s-the-skill</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6967f45b0ef3e0e1c07f0f46</guid><category><![CDATA[Corey's Corner]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2026 19:58:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_bba693dc9aa04b91a5dc25f905163314~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Here’s to a Hopeful 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[If I’m being honest, the past few years have been some of the most volatile I’ve seen in my career. Layoffs next to labor shortages. Ghosting on both sides of the hiring table. AI promises, broken recruiting processes, burned-out recruiters, frustrated hiring managers, and job seekers who feel like they’re shouting into the void. It’s been loud. It’s been messy. And at times, it’s felt more transactional than human. But as we step into 2026, I’m choosing something different: hope with...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/here-s-to-a-hopeful-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">695eb1cd184e8f9f17b32c67</guid><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:25:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_d2c7fec09e434210baefba17ae9db13d~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_672,h_372,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The End of 2025, the Beginning of 2026: We Have to Believe It Gets Better.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The job market is the worst I’ve seen in over 15 years. Not just slow—but confusing, exhausting, and broken in ways that don’t make sense to the people living inside it every day.]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/the-end-of-2025-the-beginning-of-2026-we-have-to-believe-it-gets-better</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69552f5e810abc752449cb57</guid><category><![CDATA[Market Trends]]></category><category><![CDATA[Corey's Corner]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:22:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_4062e07ea0bd49a882c08c6559ad309b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_880,h_495,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[DEI Is Dead — And It Poisoned the Hiring Process.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Let’s just say the quiet part out loud: DEI, as it’s been practiced over the last few years, is dead. Not “evolving.” Not “rebranded.” Dead. ⚰️ And before anyone fires up the corporate defense sirens, let me be crystal clear — this isn’t an argument against diversity, fairness, or basic human decency.  What doesn’t work is turning hiring into a social experiment driven by ideology instead of outcomes. I’ve spent nearly two decades in recruiting, executive search, and staffing. I’ve seen...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/dei-is-dead-and-it-poisoned-the-hiring-process</link><guid isPermaLink="false">695187eb6c6ab50b8de956c4</guid><category><![CDATA[Market Trends]]></category><category><![CDATA[Real Talk On Recruiting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hiring: Behind The Curtain]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 28 Dec 2025 19:57:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_6f9c0c7eaae646f499faadb27533fdc4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600,h_338,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hiring Has Become a Three-Ring Circus — And No One’s Laughing.]]></title><description><![CDATA[ If you’ve applied for a job lately, you’ve probably felt it—the process isn’t “structured,” “modern,” or “data-driven.” It’s a circus.  A chaotic, over-engineered, three-ring production where every ring is another hoop for candidates to jump through… all while employers wonder why they “can’t find good people.” Let’s walk through the madness.  Ring One: Pointless Personality Assessments Nothing says “we value talent” like forcing applicants to answer 200 multiple-choice questions about...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/hiring-has-become-a-three-ring-circus-and-no-one-s-laughing</link><guid isPermaLink="false">694957beadc391625af70fd6</guid><category><![CDATA[The Candidate Experience]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hiring Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hiring: Behind The Curtain]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:22:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_ca4e4262b5fe42ce98c15b74bf2a883b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_540,h_360,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Coaching or Cash Grab? The Ugly Truth About Career Services]]></title><description><![CDATA[Career coaching was meant to level the playing field—helping people tell their story better, navigate interviews, and move forward with confidence. Instead, it’s become an arms race of inflated promises and bloated pricing.]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/coaching-or-cash-grab-the-ugly-truth-about-career-services</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6941762bb7595e8bf6652d62</guid><category><![CDATA[For The Job Seeker]]></category><category><![CDATA[Market Trends]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:16:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_2c5b6ddce7fa4477af19fbfb2e290a16~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_612,h_448,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Support Falls Short: The Confidence People Really Need Right Now]]></title><description><![CDATA[This one is for the job seekers who feel like they’re running out of steam … for the people taking care of family members while quietly falling apart themselves … for anyone going through something heavy, unfair, or just plain shitty this holiday season .]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/when-support-falls-short-the-confidence-people-really-need-right-now</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6939a2509c4bc26e803881f8</guid><category><![CDATA[Corey's Corner]]></category><category><![CDATA[Quick Hits]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:53:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_fb1e9536a9ec47e3946efec0b191b13e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_610,h_377,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Do We Fix It? - A Call for a Job Market Revolution]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’re tired of the fight…
If you’re ready for solutions instead of excuses…
If you’re ready to change the damn game…
Welcome to the movement.]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/how-do-we-fix-it-a-call-for-a-job-market-revolution</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6938339e9086d1c9fad50969</guid><category><![CDATA[Market Trends]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hiring Strategies]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:41:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_ddd1685819ee4bb9a88fa5e9177398c6~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_298,h_169,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The World Will Always Need Ditch Diggers]]></title><description><![CDATA[I spend a LOT of time ripping on companies, hiring managers and the hiring process. So here, let me take a shot at the job seekers. Not all of them, just a certain group of them. But don't worry - I have plenty more to say on the other stuff. There’s an ugly trend ripping through today’s entry to mid-level job market — and it’s not regional, seasonal, or economic. It’s everywhere.  And it’s costing job seekers opportunities and employers sanity.  It’s the one thing you can’t fake, can’t...]]></description><link>https://coreyjlewis3369.wixsite.com/headheadhuntercorey/post/the-world-will-always-need-ditch-diggers</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69373cdf1d422bb0eb196f5c</guid><category><![CDATA[Real Talk On Recruiting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hiring Strategies]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:04:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8bcd4f_eaae384e37be40f6b1d39483cd74747c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_800,h_450,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Corey Lewis</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>