Resume3 min read
PDF vs Word: The Best File Format for Your Resume
Send a text-based PDF by default and Word when it is requested. What ATS can read, when plain text makes sense, and file mistakes to avoid.
Career Blog
Career advice that gets you hired
Older articles, newest first. Use the categories below to narrow the list.
Page 9 of 11
Career3 min read
How to Write a Resume for a Staffing Agency
Agency recruiters match you to several clients, so make skills, availability and job types easy to see. How to list temp work and what file to send.
Career3 min read
How AI Resume Builders Work (and How to Keep Your Voice)
AI resume builders combine your data, a language model and templates. What each part does, where they go wrong, and how to keep the result yours.
Cover Letter2 min read
How to Write an Email Cover Letter
An email cover letter is shorter than a document letter: a clear subject, three brief paragraphs and a signature, with your resume attached.
Career3 min read
Job Search Strategy: A Weekly Plan That Gets Replies
A job search works best as a system: a clear target, a master resume, tailored applications, a mix of channels, tracking and weekly adjustment.
Interview3 min read
How to Prepare for a Job Interview: A Step-by-Step Plan
A step-by-step interview prep plan: what to do the week before, the day before and on the day, plus how to follow up afterwards.
Resume3 min read
Resume Red Flags Recruiters Notice and How to Fix Them
Red flags are things that make a recruiter wonder: gaps, short stints, mismatched titles, vague claims. How to address each honestly on the page.
Career3 min read
How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile: A Section-by-Section Guide
Work through your LinkedIn profile section by section, aimed at the role you want next: photo, headline, About, experience, skills and settings.
Career3 min read
How to Apply to Jobs Online and Actually Hear Back
Online applications go unanswered when they look generic. Prepare each one for its posting, apply through the right channel, then follow up and track.
Resume3 min read
Resume Examples by Job Title: What Changes Role to Role
The basics of a resume stay the same, but what goes at the top changes by role. What to emphasize for six role families, with full examples.
Resume5 min read
ATS Resume Optimization: A Step-by-Step Guide
ATS optimization is two jobs: make your file easy to parse, and make your fit for one posting easy to find. Eight steps, in the order that pays off.
Career3 min read
How to Write a Career Change Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide
A career change resume proves you can do a job you have not held yet. Seven steps: target, map, format, summary, translated bullets, gaps, tailoring.
Looking for an older guide? Browse the full archive of 129 articles, grouped by category.
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