01 / 30 guides
Job search
Where to look, how to plan a search you can keep up, who to talk to, and what to change when the search stalls.
How to find a job: a step-by-step plan
A seven-step plan to find a job: set a clear target, search three channels at once, shortlist, apply well, follow up once and adjust using your own results.
10 min readJob search plan: a weekly routine you can keep up
A weekly job search plan: a time-boxed schedule, a one-week setup, the four numbers to track and clear rules for what to change when replies are slow.
8 min readHow to get a job fast: what actually speeds up hiring
How to get a job fast: the four things that really shorten a search, which industries hire most often, a 14-day sprint plan and the delays you can remove.
8 min readJob search websites: which ones to use and how
The types of job search websites and what each is for, how to set up searches and alerts that save time, and how to verify a posting on the employer’s own site.
8 min readRemote jobs: how to find roles you can work from where you live
How to find remote jobs you are eligible for: reading location and time-zone limits, proving you work well remotely, and spotting fake work-from-home offers.
8 min readJobs near me: how to find local openings worth the commute
Finding work close to home: set a commute limit first, search by ZIP code and route, look past the big job boards, and price the trip before you apply.
8 min readEntry-level jobs: where to find them and how to qualify
Where entry-level jobs are really posted, which listed requirements are flexible, and how to make coursework, shift work and volunteering count as experience.
8 min readHow to get a job with no experience: build proof you can do it
No experience is an evidence problem. How to build proof in weeks with projects, volunteering, certifications and internships, then apply skills-first.
8 min readPart-time jobs: how to find one that fits your schedule
Part-time work that fits around the rest of your week: which roles hire for which hours, where they are posted, how to talk about availability, and US pay basics.
8 min readHow to get an internship: when to apply and how to stand out
An internship search from first application to offer: when each field recruits, where openings are listed, what makes a student stand out, and US rules on pay.
8 min readWhen do summer internship applications open? A calendar by field
When summer internship applications open in finance, consulting, tech, engineering, government, nonprofits and media, with a plan for what to do each season.
8 min readHow to turn an internship into a full-time offer
How to turn an internship into a full-time job offer: what managers weigh, a week-by-week plan, how to ask for feedback and a script for the conversion talk.
8 min readNetworking for a job: who to contact and what to say
How to network for a job without forcing it: who to contact first, message templates for close and distant contacts, a follow-up schedule and ways to give back.
8 min readInformational interview: how to ask for one and what to ask
Informational interviews from first message to follow-up: who to approach, a request you can send, 29 questions sorted by goal, and what to do with a referral.
8 min readHow to message a recruiter: templates for LinkedIn and email
Messages to recruiters that get answered: who to write to, what to include, and templates for following an application, a cold approach and an inbound note.
8 min readHow to get recruiters to notice you and contact you first
How recruiters search for candidates and how to show up: the right profile keywords, Open to Work, searchable resume settings, steady activity and direct outreach.
8 min readLinkedIn Open to Work: how to turn it on and whether you should
How to turn on LinkedIn Open to Work on desktop and mobile, who can see each visibility setting, and when the public photo frame is worth using.
8 min readHow to research a company before you apply or interview
A step-by-step way to research an employer: what to find out, where to look, from the careers page to SEC filings, and how to turn it into interview answers.
8 min readJob scams: the warning signs and how to check an offer is real
Fake job offers and how to catch them: the warning signs the FTC lists, five checks to run on any offer, and what to do if money or ID has already changed hands.
8 min readHow long does it take to find a job? What the data shows
In BLS data the median unemployed person has been looking for 11.5 weeks, and over a quarter for six months or more. How to read the numbers and plan your search.
8 min readJob search statistics: what the official data says
Sourced U.S. job search statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: openings, hires, time unemployed and search methods, plus popular numbers with no source.
8 min readWhy am I not getting interviews? Nine things to fix
Not getting interviews usually comes down to targeting, resume match, timing, volume or application errors. Find the stage that is failing and fix it.
8 min readCan’t find a job? What to change first
A reset for a stalled job search: find what is failing, widen or narrow your target, change channels, take bridge work and use the public help and benefits on offer.
8 min readBest time to apply for jobs: day, hour and season
There is no proven best day or hour to apply for a job. What does help: applying early in a posting’s life, knowing the hiring seasons and staying ready all year.
7 min readJob search after 50: how to get hired and what your rights are
A job search after 50 that plays to experience: update how your resume reads, prove current skills, work your network, and know what US age-bias law covers.
8 min readHow to get a good job without a degree
Jobs that pay well without a bachelor’s degree, with 2025 BLS pay data, and how to qualify through apprenticeships, certifications and skills-first applications.
8 min readHow to get a tech job without coding
Tech roles that need no programming, from support and sales to product, design and technical writing, plus how to show transferable evidence and where to apply.
8 min readOverqualified for a job? What to say to get hired anyway
Why employers pass on overqualified candidates and how to change their minds, with resume edits, cover letter lines and interview answers you can adapt.
8 min readHow to get a job at a startup: find roles, pitch and weigh equity
Where startups post jobs and how to find their Greenhouse, Lever and Ashby boards, how to pitch a small team, and what to ask about runway and equity.
8 min readVisa sponsorship jobs: how to find H-1B sponsors and time your search
Find H-1B sponsors in USCIS and Department of Labor data, tell cap-subject from cap-exempt employers, plan around registration and raise sponsorship early.
8 min read
02 / 22 guides
Applying & following up
Sending applications that get read, keeping track of them, reading the status messages, and following up without pestering.
How to apply for jobs online: from posting to confirmation
Every step of an online job application: checking the posting is real, creating the account, filling in the form, answering the questions and getting confirmation.
10 min readHow to apply to jobs faster and keep the quality up
Cut the time each job application takes without lowering its quality: write your answers once, save your profiles, tailor in three places and batch similar roles.
8 min readHow many jobs should you apply for each week?
There is no proven number of job applications to send each week. Set your own from the hours you have, the time one application takes and the reply rate you measure.
8 min readJob application tracker: what to track and a simple template
A job application tracker that stays useful: the few columns worth keeping, what each status should mean, follow-up dates and a filled-in example to copy.
8 min readHow to apply for jobs on Indeed: step by step
Apply for jobs on Indeed step by step: set up an account and resume, tell Apply with Indeed from company-site listings, answer employer questions and track it all.
8 min readLinkedIn Easy Apply or the company website: where to apply?
LinkedIn Easy Apply or the company website? What the employer receives each way, the trade-offs, when each route makes sense and what to check before you submit.
8 min readApplying to multiple jobs at the same company: is it OK?
Applying to multiple jobs at the same company is fine when the roles are related and you fit each. How recruiters see it, when it backfires and how to do it well.
8 min readHow to email a resume: subject lines, messages and examples
How to email a resume to a recruiter, a hiring manager or a referral: subject lines, short message templates, the right file name and format, and a final check.
8 min readJob references: choosing them, asking them and listing them
Job references explained: who to choose, how to ask with an email template, what to send your references so they can help, and how to format a reference page.
8 min readLetter of recommendation: how to ask for one (with templates)
How to ask for a letter of recommendation: who to choose, when to ask, an email template, what to give the writer, how a strong letter is built and the waiver rule.
8 min readPortfolio website: how to build one for your job search
A portfolio website shows employers the work behind your resume. Who needs one, what to include, how to write a case study, what you may show and where to link it.
8 min readFollowing up on a job application: when, how and what to write
When to follow up on a job application, who to contact and what to say, with five copy-ready messages and a clear point at which to stop.
8 min readHow long after applying should you hear back from a job?
There is no standard wait after a job application. See the timelines employers publish themselves, what silence usually means, and when to follow up or move on.
7 min readHow long after a job posting closes do you hear back?
What happens after a job posting closes and how long it takes: the 15-to-30-day federal window, state and university timelines, and what to do while you wait.
7 min readHow long does a job application review take?
What happens between submitting a job application and getting a reply: receipt, screening and hiring-manager review, how long each stage takes and when to ask.
7 min readWhat “under consideration” means on a job application
“Under consideration” means your application is active, not that it has been read. A glossary of common application statuses and what to do for each one.
7 min readIndeed application status: what each one means
A plain-English guide to Indeed’s application statuses, including Application viewed and Response seems unlikely: who sets each one and what to do next.
8 min readWhat does “Application viewed” mean on LinkedIn?
“Application viewed” on LinkedIn means the job poster opened your application. What it does and does not tell you, why some jobs never update, and what to do next.
7 min readThe job you applied for was reposted: what it usually means
Why a job you applied for shows up as newly posted, how to read it before and after an interview, and how to decide whether to apply a second time.
8 min readJob rejection email: how to reply and what to do next
What to send back after a job rejection, with a template for each stage, plus how to ask for feedback, when a second application makes sense and what to review.
8 min readWhat shows up on an employment background check?
What an employment background check covers, how far back it goes, and the notices U.S. employers must give you before and after they use a background report.
8 min readCan employers find out you were fired?
A new employer can find out you were fired. How it comes out, what a former employer may say, how to learn what yours will say, and how to answer honestly.
8 min read
03 / 13 guides
AI & auto-apply
What automation can honestly do for a job search, where it goes wrong, and how employers use AI on their side of the application.
Can AI apply to jobs for you? An honest answer
Yes, software can fill in and submit job applications for you. What it automates today, where it stops, the real risks, and how to stay in control of what is sent.
10 min readAuto-apply to jobs: how it works and what to check first
How auto-apply tools fill in and submit job applications, step by step, what to check before you switch one on, and how to keep every answer sent for you accurate.
8 min readIs AI auto-apply safe? What employers actually see
The real risks of AI auto-apply, from wrong answers to job-site terms and duplicate applications, what an employer receives, and the safeguards that help.
8 min readHow to choose an AI auto-apply tool: ten things to check
A vendor-neutral checklist for choosing an AI auto-apply tool: where it applies, how it answers, what it logs, how it treats your data and what it bills you for.
8 min readMass applying to jobs: does it work?
Does mass applying to jobs work? What the evidence says about volume versus targeting, when sending more applications helps, and how to keep quality up as you do.
8 min readPaying someone to apply for jobs: options, costs and risks
Four ways to pay for help applying to jobs: reverse recruiters, virtual assistants, application services and software. How each charges, and how to vet one.
8 min readHow to use AI in your job search without sounding like a robot
Where AI helps in a job search and where it hurts: research, tailoring, drafting and interview practice, plus how to keep your facts true and your details private.
8 min readChatGPT prompts for your job search: copy-ready examples
Copy-ready ChatGPT prompts for a job search: research an employer, improve a resume, outline a cover letter, practice interviews and prepare to negotiate pay.
8 min readChatGPT prompts to tailor your resume to a job description
Four ChatGPT prompts, used in order, that tailor a resume to one job description without inventing anything: requirements, evidence, rewrite, fact check.
8 min readChatGPT cover letter prompts that don’t sound like AI
A four-step ChatGPT prompt sequence for a cover letter that sounds like you: let it interview you, outline, draft in your voice, then edit against a checklist.
8 min readShould you use AI to write your resume?
Should you use AI to write your resume? What it does well, where it invents and inflates, and a safe workflow that keeps every line true and in your own words.
8 min readCan employers tell you used AI on your resume or cover letter?
Can employers tell you used AI? Detection software is unreliable, but generic writing and facts you cannot explain give it away. What employers check and what to do.
8 min readAI resume screening: how it works and how to get through
How AI resume screening works: ATS ranking, knockout questions and AI matching, whether a person still reads your resume, which rules apply and how to get through.
8 min read
04 / 33 guides
Resumes
Format, wording, keywords and length, with examples you can adapt, plus what to do about gaps, career changes and thin experience.
How to write a resume: every section, in order
How to write a resume from a blank page: which sections to include and in what order, what goes in each, a full worked example and the checks to run before sending.
10 min readResume format: chronological, functional or combination?
The three resume formats compared: who should use chronological, combination or functional, what each one looks like, and how hiring software reads them.
8 min readResume templates: how to pick one that passes ATS scans
How to choose a resume template that hiring software can read: the safe features, the ones to avoid, a two-minute test and a plain-text skeleton you can copy.
8 min readHow long should a resume be? One page vs. two
How long a resume should be at each career stage, when a second page is justified, what to cut to get back to one page, and the rules for CVs and federal jobs.
8 min readHow far back should a resume go? Years, roles and old jobs
How many years and jobs to put on a resume: full detail for the last ten years, what to do with older roles and short jobs, and when to leave dates off.
8 min readResume summary examples for every experience level
Resume summary examples for students, career changers, mid-level and senior candidates and people returning to work, plus a four-part formula for writing your own.
8 min readResume objective vs. summary: which one to use
The difference between a resume objective and a summary, when an objective still makes sense, and examples of both written for the same candidates.
8 min readResume headline examples and how to write your own
Resume headline examples by field and by situation, a three-part formula for writing your own, and the mistakes that make a headline worthless.
8 min readHow to write the work experience section of a resume
How to format the work experience section of a resume: what goes in each entry, how to order jobs, show promotions and overlapping roles, and what to leave out.
8 min readResume bullet points: a formula and examples that work
How to write resume bullet points with an action, scope and result formula, before-and-after examples for eleven kinds of work, and how many bullets each job needs.
8 min readResume action verbs: a list by skill, with examples
Resume action verbs grouped by the kind of work you did, each with an example bullet, plus the weak verbs to replace and how to pick one that is accurate.
8 min readAccomplishments for a resume: examples and how to find yours
Find accomplishments for your resume even if your job had no targets: ten questions to ask, ways to quantify without exact numbers, and examples by role.
8 min readSkills to put on a resume: how to choose and list them
Which skills to put on a resume and how to list them: hard vs. soft skills, pulling the right ones from the job posting, section layouts and proficiency labels.
8 min readTransferable skills: what they are and how to show them
What transferable skills are, a list by category, how to map your old role onto a new one, and how to prove each skill on your resume and in interviews.
8 min readResume keywords: where to find them and where to put them
Resume keywords are the skills, tools and titles a job posting names. How to spot the must-haves, where each one goes, and why exact wording beats stuffing.
8 min readHow to tailor your resume to a job description in 15 minutes
A 15-minute method for tailoring your resume to a job description, with a worked before-and-after example and a clear list of what you can and cannot change.
8 min readATS-friendly resume: formatting rules that actually matter
ATS resume formatting rules checked against vendor help pages: file type, layout, headings, fonts, tables, headers and footers, plus the myths you can ignore.
8 min readResume with no experience: what to put on it, with an example
How to write a resume with no work experience: an education-first layout, how to turn projects, coursework and volunteering into entries, and a full example.
7 min readRecent graduate resume: what to include and examples
What goes on a recent graduate resume and in what order: where education belongs, how to write up internships and projects, and summary examples to adapt.
8 min readShould you put your GPA on a resume?
When to put your GPA on a resume and when to leave it off: the 3.0 guideline, how to format it, major GPA, honors, and what to say if your grades are low.
8 min readEmployment gaps on a resume: how to explain them
Gaps in work history and how to present them: resume layouts that help, honest wording for layoffs, caregiving, health and study, and what to say if asked.
8 min readCareer change resume: how to reframe your experience
How to write a career change resume: a summary that explains the move, bullets rewritten as transferable evidence, a better section order and a before-and-after.
8 min readHow to write a technical resume: skills, projects and impact
How to write a technical resume: group skills by category, show projects with the stack and the result, quantify your impact, and link GitHub or a portfolio.
8 min readHow to list certifications on a resume, with examples
Where certifications go on a resume, the format for each entry, and how to handle in-progress, expired and license entries, with examples to copy.
8 min readHow to list freelance and contract work on a resume
How to list freelance, self-employed and agency contract work on a resume: what to call yourself, how to group clients and how to name the agency, with examples.
8 min readHobbies and interests on a resume: when to include them
When hobbies and interests help a resume and when they waste space: who should include them, which ones to pick, how to format the line and what to skip.
7 min readShould you put LinkedIn on your resume?
Yes, if your profile is complete and matches your resume. How to set a custom LinkedIn URL, where the link goes, how to format it and when to leave it off.
7 min readCan you change a job title on your resume?
You can clarify an unclear job title on a resume, but not upgrade it. Where the line is, four honest formats, and what employment verification will show.
8 min readWhen to capitalize job titles: rules and examples
Capitalize a job title before a name and in resume headings and signatures; lowercase it after a name and in general use. Rules with right and wrong examples.
8 min readResume mistakes that cost interviews and how to fix them
The resume mistakes to fix first, each with a fix: a generic target, duties instead of results, typos, hard-to-read layouts, plus a proofreading checklist.
8 min readResume buzzwords to avoid and what to write instead
Words like “results-driven” and “team player” claim a quality without proving it. A table of resume buzzwords with concrete replacements, and how to fix yours.
7 min readFree resume builders: seven checks before you start typing
Seven checks to run on any free resume builder before you type a word: free export, readable output, privacy and later editing, plus a no-cost alternative.
8 min readCV vs. resume: what’s the difference?
A resume is a one- or two-page summary for one job; an academic CV is a full record of scholarly work. How the terms differ by country and which to send.
8 min read
05 / 7 guides
Cover letters & LinkedIn
The letter that goes with the resume and the profile recruiters check next: what to write, how to open, and examples to work from.
How to write a cover letter, step by step
How to write a cover letter: when you need one, the four-part structure, opening lines that work, how to match the job, the right length and a full example.
10 min readCover letter examples: five complete letters to adapt
Five full cover letters to work from, one each for a first job, a career change, an experienced hire, an internal move and a referral, with notes on each.
8 min readHow to address a cover letter and how to sign off
How to address a cover letter: where to find the hiring manager’s name, which greeting to use when you can’t, how to sign off, and what changes in an email.
8 min readHow to write a cover letter with no experience
How to write a cover letter with no experience: what counts as evidence when you have no job history, a simple structure, a fill-in template and a full example.
8 min readLinkedIn profile tips for job seekers: a full checklist
LinkedIn profile tips for job seekers: what to put in your photo, headline, About, experience and skills, which settings to check, and a checklist to finish.
8 min readLinkedIn headline examples for job seekers
LinkedIn headline examples for job seekers, with formulas for when you are employed, unemployed, a student or changing careers, and the mistakes to avoid.
8 min readHow to write a LinkedIn About section that gets you found
How to write a LinkedIn About section: a four-part structure, where keywords belong, how to write the first two lines, and four full examples to adapt.
8 min read
06 / 16 guides
Applicant tracking systems
How the hiring systems behind most applications work, one platform at a time: accounts, uploads, screening questions and the errors people hit.
What is an ATS? How applicant tracking systems work
An applicant tracking system stores and sorts job applications. Learn what it does with your resume, how knockout questions work and which ATS myths to drop.
10 min readWorkday job application: how to apply, step by step
How to apply on Workday: create the candidate account, work through My Information, My Experience and the question pages, and fix the errors people hit.
8 min readGreenhouse job application: how to apply, step by step
How to apply on Greenhouse: the one-page form, resume file types, custom questions, the emailed security code and what MyGreenhouse does and does not show.
7 min readLever job application: how to apply, step by step
How to apply on Lever: the one-page form with no account, resume auto-read, custom question cards, voluntary surveys and what happens after you submit.
7 min readAshby job application: how to apply, step by step
How to apply on Ashby: the job board at jobs.ashbyhq.com, resume autofill, custom questions and surveys, and what happens to your application afterward.
7 min readiCIMS job application: how to apply, step by step
How to apply through an iCIMS career portal: one profile per employer, uploading your resume first, screening questions, the candidate dashboard and login fixes.
8 min readTaleo job application: how to apply, step by step
How to apply on an Oracle Taleo career site: creating an account, the page-by-page application, saving drafts, session timeouts and fixes for common errors.
8 min readSmartRecruiters job application: how to apply, step by step
Applying on SmartRecruiters as a candidate: how the form and resume pre-fill work, the screening questions, the candidate portal and fixes for common problems.
8 min readJobvite job application: how to apply, step by step
Applying through a Jobvite career site, start to finish: the form, what happens to the resume you upload, screening questions, confirmation and status checks.
8 min readWorkable job application: how to apply, step by step
How to apply on Workable: the apply.workable.com form, resume autofill, yes/no questions that can screen you out, the confirmation email and how to withdraw.
8 min readBambooHR job application: how to apply, step by step
How to apply on a BambooHR careers page: the form on the posting, standard questions such as desired pay and date available, custom questions and what follows.
8 min readJazzHR job application: how to apply, step by step
How to apply on a JazzHR careers page at applytojob.com: the one-page form, attaching or pasting a resume, questionnaires, knockout questions and what follows.
8 min readPaylocity job application: how to apply, step by step
How to apply on a Paylocity careers page at recruiting.paylocity.com: resume upload, work history, screening questions, text messages and fixes for common errors.
8 min readGreenhouse security code: why you get one and what to do
Greenhouse asked for a security code? Find the email, enter the code and submit again. Why it is sent, where it lands and what to do when it fails.
7 min readHow to withdraw an application in Workday
Withdraw a Workday application from Candidate Home in a few clicks. What to do when the option is missing, an email to the recruiter and how reapplying works.
7 min readWorkday resume upload not working? How to fix it
Workday will not take your resume, or autofill scrambled it? Fix the file type and size, switch browser, re-enter fields by hand and know who to contact.
8 min read
07 / 35 guides
Interviews
Preparation, the questions you will almost certainly be asked, answers you can adapt, every interview format, and what to send afterwards.
How to prepare for a job interview: a complete checklist
An interview preparation checklist, from invitation to thank-you note: research the employer, build your stories, plan your questions and settle the logistics.
10 min readCommon interview questions and how to answer them
Twenty interview questions you are likely to be asked, what the interviewer wants from each, and how to shape an answer, with links to the in-depth guides.
8 min read“Tell me about yourself”: how to answer, with examples
A simple structure for “Tell me about yourself”: where to start, what to leave out and how long to speak, with four sample answers for different situations.
8 min read“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”: how to answer
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?” answered honestly: how to pick strengths you can back up and a weakness you are fixing, with six sample answers.
8 min read“Why do you want to work here?”: how to answer it well
Answering “Why do you want to work here?”: connect the company, the role and your own direction, with the research to do first and four sample answers.
8 min read“Why should we hire you?”: how to answer, with examples
How to answer “Why should we hire you?” with their need, your proof and your difference, plus sample answers for entry-level, mid-career and senior candidates.
8 min read“Where do you see yourself in five years?”: how to answer
What interviewers want from “Where do you see yourself in five years?”, a three-part way to answer truthfully, four sample answers and the replies to avoid.
8 min readBehavioral interview questions and sample answers
Behavioral interview questions grouped by competency, three full sample answers, and a step-by-step way to build a story bank that covers whatever you are asked.
8 min readSTAR method: how to answer behavioral interview questions
The STAR method explained: what Situation, Task, Action and Result mean, how much time to give each, a worked example, common mistakes and a blank template.
8 min readSituational interview questions and how to answer them
Situational interview questions ask what you would do in a hypothetical case. How they differ from behavioral questions, a four-step answer and four sample answers.
8 min readQuestions to ask in an interview and which ones to skip
The best questions to ask in a job interview, sorted by interviewer and by what you want to learn, plus the ones to hold until later and scripts for closing.
8 min readElevator pitch for interviews: examples and a formula
How to write an elevator pitch for a job interview: a four-part formula, 30- and 60-second examples for different situations, and how to deliver it naturally.
8 min readPhone interview tips: how to prepare and what to expect
What a recruiter phone screen is for, the questions to expect, how to use notes and answer the salary question, and what to do when the call ends.
8 min readVideo interview tips: setup, delivery and common mistakes
How to set up for a video interview: the tech check, camera height, light and background, eye contact on camera, and how one-way recorded interviews work.
8 min readPanel interview tips: how to handle several interviewers
How to prepare for a panel interview: who is in the room, how panels score you, where to look when you answer, taking notes, and thanking each interviewer.
8 min readFinal interview: what to expect and how to prepare
What changes in a final-round interview, the questions senior leaders ask, how to close, and what happens next with references, background checks and the offer.
8 min readWorking interviews: what to expect and whether you should be paid
What a working interview or trial shift involves, what US Department of Labor rules say about pay for real work, and the questions to ask before you agree.
8 min readTechnical interview preparation: formats and a study plan
How to prepare for a technical interview: the formats you may face, what interviewers score, a four-week study plan and how to think aloud while you solve.
8 min readAI interviews: what to expect and how to prepare
How AI-scored and AI-led interviews work, what to ask the employer, how to prepare your answers, and the rights you have in Illinois and other places with a law.
8 min readMock interviews: how to practice so it actually helps
How to run a mock interview alone, with a partner or at a career center, how to review a recording of yourself, and a scoring rubric for your answers.
8 min readInterview body language: how to look and feel confident
Practical interview body language: posture, eye contact, hands and voice, how to calm nerves before and during the interview, and what changes on video.
8 min readWhat to wear to an interview: dress codes by setting
How to work out an employer’s dress code and what to wear to an interview in corporate, startup, retail, healthcare and video settings, with a safe default outfit.
8 min readThank-you email after an interview: timing and templates
Who gets a thank-you email after an interview, how soon to send it and what belongs in it, with templates for a phone screen, a panel and a final round.
8 min readInterview follow-up email: when to send it and what to say
When to follow up after an interview, who to write to and how often, with email templates for a missed decision date, a second follow-up and another offer.
8 min readHow long after an interview should you hear back?
There is no standard wait after a job interview. See what employers do before they call, the few published timelines, and when to follow up without pestering.
8 min readSigns an interview went well and signs it didn’t
Which interview signals are worth reading, which ones mean little, and what to do next either way, so that a good or bad feeling does not steer your job search.
8 min readHow to explain being fired in an interview (with scripts)
Short, honest scripts for explaining a firing in a job interview, by reason: performance, fit, misconduct or restructuring. Plus what to write on applications.
8 min readHow to decline a job interview politely (email examples)
When to turn down a job interview, when to reschedule or ask a question instead, and short email templates for each reason that keep the door open.
8 min readEntry-level interview questions and how to answer them
Entry-level interview questions grouped by what they test, with sample answers built from coursework, part-time jobs and campus activities.
8 min readCustomer service interview questions, with sample answers
Customer service interview questions grouped by what they test, with sample answers for angry customers, refund requests, mistakes and scenario questions.
8 min readNursing interview questions, with sample answers
Nursing interview questions grouped by what they test, with sample answers on a changing patient, a near miss, conflict with a provider and new-graduate questions.
8 min readTeacher interview questions, with sample answers
The questions schools ask teaching candidates, grouped by what each one tests, with sample answers and a plan for the demonstration lesson.
8 min readData analyst interview questions, with sample answers
Data analyst interview questions on SQL, statistics, business cases and behavior, with sample answers, the topics to review and how interviewers evaluate you.
8 min readProduct manager interview questions, with sample answers
Product manager interview questions on product sense, execution, metrics and behavior, with sample answers and plain structures you can use without jargon.
8 min readSoftware engineer interview questions and how to prepare
What software engineering interviews ask in coding, system design and behavioral rounds, which topics to review, how answers are judged, and sample answers.
8 min read
08 / 11 guides
Salary & job offers
Naming a number, negotiating it, weighing the whole offer, and the emails that accept, counter or decline one.
“What are your salary expectations?”: how to answer
How to answer “What are your salary expectations?” on application forms and in interviews: when to deflect, how to give a range, and word-for-word scripts.
8 min readHow to research salary for a job: sources you can trust
How to research salary for a job using BLS wage data, pay ranges in postings and crowd-sourced sites, then adjust for location and level to set your range.
8 min readSalary negotiation: how to ask for more (with scripts)
Salary negotiation step by step: how to prepare, who should name a number first, what to say on the call, an email template and what to ask for besides base pay.
10 min readHow to negotiate salary for an entry-level job
How to negotiate salary for an entry-level job: what is negotiable in a first offer, scripts for asking, how to handle the deadline and when to accept.
8 min readHow to evaluate a job offer: a checklist
How to evaluate a job offer: add up total compensation, compare benefits, judge the work, the manager, the growth and the risk, and ask the right questions.
8 min readCounter offers: how to make one and how to respond to one
How to counter a job offer with one clear, well-supported ask, with an email template, and how to judge a counter offer from your current employer.
8 min readHow to negotiate remote work in a job offer
How to ask for remote or hybrid work at the offer stage: what to request, the evidence that persuades, a script, an email, and how to get it in writing.
8 min readHow to accept a job offer: what to check and what to write
Before you say yes to a job offer: what to get in writing, how to accept by phone and by email, templates to send, and what happens between yes and day one.
8 min readHow to decline a job offer without burning a bridge
Turning down a job offer and keeping the relationship: how quickly to answer, phone or email, what to say for each reason, and how to withdraw after accepting.
8 min readHow to ask for a raise: timing, script and email
How to ask for a raise: build the case, choose the moment, say it in a meeting and follow up by email, with a script, templates and a plan if the answer is no.
8 min readSeverance negotiation: what to ask for and how
How to negotiate severance in the US: what to ask for, the review periods for workers 40 and older, what a release of claims means and when to get a lawyer.
8 min read
09 / 14 guides
Career advice
The decisions around the search itself: what to aim for, when to change direction, how to leave well and how to start again after a layoff.
How to choose a career: a practical process
A step-by-step way to choose a career: list your interests, skills and constraints, use the free O*NET Interest Profiler and BLS data, then test your options.
7 min readCareer goals examples and how to set your own
Short-term and long-term career goals examples, sample answers for interviews and performance reviews, and a five-step way to write specific goals of your own.
8 min readCareer development plan: a template and example
How to write a career development plan in five steps, with a one-page template, a filled-in example and a script for reviewing it with your manager.
7 min readHow to change careers: a step-by-step plan
A step-by-step plan to change careers: choose a direction, run a gap analysis, build bridge experience, rewrite your story, and budget the time and money.
9 min readCareer change at 40: how to make it work
How to change careers at 40: plan the money first, turn your experience into leverage, deal with age bias and know your rights, and choose retraining that fits.
7 min readHow long should you stay at a job before leaving?
How long to stay at a job: what BLS tenure data shows, how recruiters read short stints, when leaving early is the right call, and how to explain it.
7 min readContract vs. full-time: W-2, 1099 and what it means for you
Contract vs. full-time explained: how W-2 and 1099 pay is taxed, what each means for benefits, overtime and security, and what to ask before you accept.
8 min readJobs AI can’t replace? What the research says is least exposed
Research measures exposure to AI, not immunity. See what BLS, ILO, IMF and Pew say about the least and most exposed work, and how to judge your own role.
8 min readSigns you’re about to be fired or laid off, and what to do
The warning signs that a firing or layoff may be coming, what a performance improvement plan means, and what to do now: ask, document, check money, search.
8 min readHow to quit a job professionally, step by step
How to quit a job without burning a bridge: what to check before you resign, when to tell your boss, a script for the conversation, notice and handover.
8 min readResignation letter: how to write one (with templates)
How to write a resignation letter: the four things it must include, what to leave out, how to deliver it, and templates for standard, short and immediate notice.
8 min readTwo weeks’ notice letter: templates and what to include
Two weeks’ notice letter templates you can copy, what the letter must include, whether notice is legally required, and a plan for your last ten working days.
8 min readJob search after a layoff: a first-30-days plan
A week-by-week plan for the 30 days after a layoff: file for unemployment, choose health coverage before the deadlines, line up references and restart your search.
8 min readHow to explain a layoff: interview answers and resume wording
How to explain a layoff in an interview, on a resume, on LinkedIn and in a cover letter: a short honest script, sample answers and replies to follow-up questions.
8 min read