Career advice: resumes, interviews and getting hired
Most hiring follows the same path: an employer posts a job, screens applications, interviews a short list, checks references and makes an offer. If you know what happens at each step and what the employer is looking for, you can prepare for it instead of guessing.
The guides below are written for job seekers in the United States. They are free, independent and practical: templates you can copy, sample answers you can adapt, and the main laws that protect you as an applicant, with links to the government pages that explain them. This site does not list jobs or act as a recruiter.
The hiring process in 6 steps
- Pick your target. Decide which job titles you are aiming for and collect 5 to 10 real postings. The words that keep showing up in them (skills, tools, certifications) tell you what to put on your resume. If you are still deciding, read how to change careers or getting your first job.
- Write your resume and cover letter. One base resume, adjusted for each application, with results you can measure. See how to write a resume that gets interviews and how to write a cover letter.
- Apply and get introduced. Apply through the employer's own careers page when you can, and look for someone who can refer you. Many jobs are filled through people who already know the candidate. See job search strategies, networking and job fairs.
- Screen and interview. Usually a short phone or video screen, then one or more longer interviews. Prepare stories with the STAR method and questions of your own. See job interview tips and video and phone interviews. Send a thank-you note the same day.
- References and checks. The employer calls your references and may order a background check. You have legal rights in that check. See references and background checks.
- Offer and negotiation. Research the pay range before you name a number, then negotiate politely and get the final offer in writing. See how to negotiate salary.
Real employers do not charge you. If a "recruiter" asks you to pay for training or equipment, deposit a check, or give your Social Security number before you have even interviewed, stop. Read how to spot job scams.
Free local help. The Department of Labor's network of about 2,300 American Job Centers offers job search help and referrals. You can find the nearest one through the CareerOneStop American Job Center Finder or by calling 1-877-872-5627.
All career advice guides
- Writing a resumeHow to write a US resume: which format to use, how to get through applicant tracking systems, how to show achievements with numbers, plus a worked example.
- Cover lettersA simple four-paragraph cover letter structure, a fill-in template, a full example and an email version, plus when you can skip the letter and mistakes to avoid.
- Interview tipsHow to prepare for a job interview, answer with the STAR method, handle common questions (with sample answers), what to ask, and which questions employers should not ask.
- Video and phone interviewsHow to prepare for phone screens, live video interviews and one-way recorded interviews: tech setup, lighting and sound, what to say, backup plans and scam warning signs.
- Thank-you notesWhen and how to send a thank-you note after a job interview, email or handwritten, with five ready-to-adapt examples and a polite follow-up message if you hear nothing.
- Salary negotiationResearch pay with BLS data, answer the salary expectations question, counter an offer with a script, and see which states ban salary history questions.
- References and checksHow to choose and prepare job references, a reference list template, what background checks include, and your Fair Credit Reporting Act rights if a report is wrong.
- Job fair adviceHow to prepare for a career fair, what to bring, a 30-second introduction template, virtual fair tips, and the follow-up email that turns a chat into an interview.
- Social media and jobsHow employers recruit and screen on social media, building a LinkedIn profile recruiters find, cleaning up public accounts, your privacy rights and fake recruiters.