Step 04Job Search BasicsStarter
How to Organize Your Job Search
Treat your search like a project: set a weekly rhythm, track every application in one place, and spend your energy on the openings that fit best.
7 min read →
Free career guides & tools
Take your next career step with a plan.
Plain-language guides and free tools for exploring jobs, building skills, writing a resume, preparing for interviews, and growing once you're hired.
- 12 step-by-step guides
- 6 printable checklists
- No sign-up needed
Your plan this week
- Explore 3 careers
- Update my resume
- Practice interviews
Where are you starting?
Pick the step you're standing on.
1
Just starting out
First job, back to work after time away, or not sure where to begin.
Explore career paths →2Switching careers
Ready for a different field and want to know which skills carry over.
Build new skills →3Moving up
Already working and aiming for more responsibility, pay, or a new title.
Plan your next move →Six career steps
Climb one step at a time.
Step 01
Explore Careers
Map out career paths, compare fields, and figure out what kind of work fits your strengths and life.
2 guides + checklistStep 02
Skills & Training
Free and low-cost ways to learn, plus how to choose between certificates, courses, and degrees.
2 guides + checklistStep 03
Resumes & Applications
Write a clear resume and cover letter, and send applications that are easy for a hiring manager to say yes to.
2 guides + checklistStep 04
Job Search Basics
Organize your search, build a network, and spend your time on the openings that fit.
2 guides + checklistStep 05
Interviews
Prepare answers, practice out loud, and walk into in-person or video interviews feeling ready.
2 guides + checklistStep 06
Growing at Work
Start strong in a new role, ask for feedback, and plan your next move up.
2 guides + checklist
Skills first
Employers hire for skills. You can build them for little or nothing.
- Find the skills that show up most in real postings
- Learn through libraries, job centers, and community colleges
- Turn what you learn into proof on your resume
Free tools
Work it out in your browser.
No sign-up, no downloads. Everything runs on the page, and nothing you type is stored.
See all tools →A
Hourly ↔ Salary Converter
Turn an hourly rate into weekly, monthly, and yearly pay, or work backward from a salary.
Open tool →BResume Readiness Checklist
Check your resume against 15 points hiring managers notice, with a live progress score.
Open tool →CWeekly Job Search Planner
Set your weekly hours and get a balanced plan for applications, networking, and skill-building.
Open tool →Latest guides
Fresh from the playbook
Step 04
Step 03Resumes & ApplicationsStarter
How to Write a Resume, Step by Step
Build a clear, one-to-two-page resume from scratch: the sections to include, how to write strong bullet points, and how to tailor it for each opening.
8 min read →
Step 05InterviewsBuilding
Common Interview Questions and How to Prepare
Answer the questions you're most likely to hear with clear, specific stories, using the STAR method and a simple practice routine.
8 min read →
Step 01Explore CareersStarter
How to Explore Career Paths That Fit You
A practical, five-step method for turning a vague sense of 'I want something different' into a short list of careers worth testing.
7 min read →
Step 02Skills & TrainingStarter
Free and Low-Cost Ways to Build Job Skills
Libraries, community colleges, workforce programs, online courses, and volunteer projects: where to learn new skills without spending much, and how to prove what you learned.
7 min read →
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