Job Search Guide | Get Hired

Resume rules

What every resume needs

One page only. Two pages is fine if you have 10+ years of experience. Otherwise one page.
Name and contact at the top. Phone, email, city. No street address needed.
Match the job title. Use the exact title from the job posting somewhere in your resume.
No tables or columns. ATS systems (the software that reads your resume first) can't read them.
Real numbers. "Managed 12 employees" beats "managed a team." Be specific.
Run the De-AI checklist. Before you send anything, check for AI giveaways.

Cover letter

The one rule that matters

Keep it under 200 words. Nobody reads long cover letters. Short and specific beats long and general.
Open with why you want this specific job at this specific company. Not "I am excited to apply."
Name one thing you actually did that's relevant. One specific thing.
End with one sentence asking for the interview. Direct. Not apologetic.

What to do today

Add a real photo. Profiles with photos get 14x more views. Any clear, front-facing photo works.
Fill in your About section. 3-5 sentences. What you do, what you're good at, what you're looking for.
Set "Open to Work." Go to your profile, click "Open to," select "Finding a new job." Recruiters see this.
Connect with people you actually know. 50 real connections beats 500 strangers.
87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates. It matters.

Know the warning signs

They ask you to pay

Real employers never charge to apply, train, or hire.

Hired without an interview

Got the job after only a text? That is not real.

They send you a check

They ask you to send part back. It will bounce.

Too much money offered

Mystery shopper, reshipping -- common scam covers.

Pressure to decide now

They need your SSN before you have signed anything.

Strange links or emails