Blog · page 9
Resumes, ATS, and the rest of the job hunt
Practical, no-fluff guides written for people actually applying for jobs.
6 min readComparing multiple offers: a framework that isn't just a spreadsheet
Stacking offer totals in a spreadsheet hides the dimensions that actually matter. Here's a working comparison framework for the multi-offer decision.
offersdecisions
5 min readThe take-home assignment: budgeting time when 'a few hours' means 12
Take-homes routinely take 3-4x the stated time. Here's how to scope, decide whether to do it, and finish without losing a week of your life.
interviewstake-home
5 min readResume gaps: how to explain them without sounding defensive
Most candidates over-explain their gaps and end up emphasizing them. Here's how to address gaps cleanly on the resume and in the interview.
special-situationsgaps
5 min readLinkedIn connection requests: messages that don't get ignored
Most LinkedIn connection requests are sent without a note. The ones with notes are mostly bad. Here's what actually gets accepted and replied to.
linkedinnetworking
5 min readTailoring resumes for startups vs. corporates: what each side actually reads for
Startups and large companies read resumes through different filters. The same resume rewritten for each can have notably different callback rates.
tailoringstartups
5 min readQuestions to ask the interviewer: a working bank, sorted by interview stage
'Do you have any questions for us?' is graded. Here's a bank of questions that work, sorted by who you're talking to and when in the loop you are.
interviewsquestions
6 min readInformational interviews: a script that doesn't waste anyone's time
Most informational interviews accomplish nothing because both sides default to vague chat. Here's a script with a specific ask and a 25-minute structure.
networkinglinkedin
5 min readSalary expectations: what to say when the recruiter asks first
The salary expectations question is a test, not a survey. Here's a working answer that avoids both anchoring too low and ending the call.
salaryinterviews
5 min readResume fonts that survive ATS parsing (and the ones that don't)
Most font advice is aesthetic. The real question is which fonts parse cleanly into ATS systems — and which ones quietly break your dates and bullets.
resumeats
4 min readLinkedIn headlines: patterns that pull recruiter searches and don't sound cringy
Your LinkedIn headline does most of the search-surface work. Here are the patterns recruiters search for — and the ones they actively skip past.
linkedinheadlines