Blog · page 7
Resumes, ATS, and the rest of the job hunt
Practical, no-fluff guides written for people actually applying for jobs.
6 min readHow to talk about getting fired in an interview without losing the job
Being fired is one of the harder interview conversations. There's a way to frame it that doesn't trigger the recruiter's risk reflex.
interviewsfired
6 min readFollowing up after applying: the message that gets a reply (and the one that doesn't)
Most follow-up messages do nothing. A small number get replies. The difference is structural, not magical.
applicationsfollow-up
6 min readDesign resume vs. portfolio: which one is actually doing the work?
Designers usually have two artifacts working for them. They do very different jobs — and one of them gets misused constantly.
designportfolio
5 min readResume margins and spacing: the layout decisions that actually matter
Margins and white space are where most resumes go wrong before a word is read. Here are the numbers that work.
resumelayout
5 min readThe LinkedIn #OpenToWork badge: real tradeoffs, real signal
The green 'Open to Work' frame is a real signal in both directions. Here's when it helps and when it costs you.
linkedinjob-search
5 min readInterview clothing by industry: what to wear without overthinking it
What you wear to an interview is read as a signal of fit. The signal differs across industries — here's the working map.
interviewsappearance
6 min readWhy do you want this job? An answer that doesn't sound like every other candidate
The 'why this role' question rewards specificity. Generic enthusiasm sounds like a script. Here's how to answer in a way that lands.
interviewsquestions
6 min readRSU and equity in your offer: how to actually evaluate what it's worth
Equity is the line on the offer most candidates misread. Here's how to value RSUs honestly without the company's slideshow.
negotiationequity
5 min readThe engineering resume: what technical recruiters and hiring managers actually scan for
An engineering resume is read differently than a generalist resume. Here's what the two-tier scan looks like and how to optimize for it.
engineeringresume
5 min readSystem design when you haven't drilled it: a survival framework
If you have a system-design round in two weeks and no prep time, here's the minimum-viable approach that won't get you screened out.
interviewssystem-design