01 / Explore
Know Your Strengths: A Practical Career Self-Assessment
A step-by-step way to map your skills, interests, values, and work conditions so you can choose a direction with more confidence.
7 min read
The guide library
Career guides, written plainly.
18 guides across six topics. Each one is free, independent, and written to be read in one sitting.
01 / Explore
Informational Interviews: How to Learn From People Already Doing the Work
What an informational interview is, how to ask for one without feeling awkward, the questions worth asking, and how to follow up.
7 min read
01 / Explore
Career Paths That Don't Start With a Four-Year Degree
How skilled trades, healthcare support, technology, and other fields offer routes in through certificates, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.
8 min read
02 / Resumes
Resume Basics: A Plain-Language Guide to a Clear, Honest Resume
The sections every resume needs, how to write bullet points that show results, which format to choose, and the mistakes that get resumes skipped.
8 min read
02 / Resumes
Cover Letters That Sound Like You: Structure, Examples, and Tips
When a cover letter matters, a simple four-part structure, a sample you can adapt, and the phrases to avoid.
7 min read
02 / Resumes
References and Work Samples: Gathering Proof Before You Need It
Who to ask for a reference, how to prepare them, and how to put together a simple portfolio of work samples for any field.
7 min read
03 / Interviews
Interview Preparation: A Step-by-Step Checklist
How to research the employer, prepare STAR stories, answer common questions, and plan the day so you walk in ready.
9 min read
03 / Interviews
Video and Phone Interviews: Setup, Etiquette, and Backup Plans
How to set up your space, camera, and sound, what changes on video and phone, and what to do when technology fails.
7 min read
03 / Interviews
Following Up After an Interview: Thank-You Notes and Check-Ins
What to write in a thank-you note, when to check in if you haven't heard back, and how to respond to any outcome gracefully.
6 min read
04 / Skills
Industry Certifications Explained: What They Are and How to Choose
The difference between certificates, certifications, and licenses, how to tell whether a certification is recognized, and how to plan your study.
7 min read
04 / Skills
Apprenticeships Explained: Paid Training on the Job
How Registered Apprenticeships work, which fields offer them, what to expect day to day, and how to find and prepare for a program.
8 min read
04 / Skills
Soft Skills That Matter at Work, and How to Show Them
The people skills employers mention most, what they look like in practice, how to build them, and how to prove them on a resume and in interviews.
7 min read
05 / Workplace
Your First 90 Days in a New Role: A Practical Plan
How to handle onboarding, learn the unwritten rules, build relationships, and check in with your supervisor during your first three months.
8 min read
05 / Workplace
How to Read a Pay Stub, Line by Line
What gross pay, net pay, withholding, FICA, and pre-tax deductions mean, and how to spot and fix a mistake on your paycheck.
7 min read
05 / Workplace
Workplace Rights Basics: Where to Find Official Answers
An overview of common federal protections on wages, safety, discrimination, and leave, plus the agencies to contact if something goes wrong.
8 min read
06 / Career Change
Planning a Career Change: Mapping Skills and Testing a New Direction
A step-by-step approach to changing fields: clarify why, map transferable skills, close gaps, test the path, and reposition your resume.
8 min read
06 / Career Change
Returning to Work After a Gap: Explaining Time Away With Confidence
How to refresh your skills, rebuild your network, address an employment gap on your resume, and answer questions about it in interviews.
7 min read
06 / Career Change
Remote and Hybrid Work Basics: Setup, Habits, and Spotting Scams
What remote and hybrid roles involve, how to set up your space and routine, how to communicate well from a distance, and how to recognize fake postings.
8 min read
