Job search guides

Short, practical guides to help you decide which jobs are worth applying to.

15 Job Posting Red Flags to Spot Before You Apply

The warning signs hiding in job postings, from "we're a family" to unpaid trials, what each one usually means, and what to ask about it.

Is My Salary Fair? How to Check Your Pay Against Real Data

How to tell if a salary or job offer is fair using free government wage data: percentiles, local pay, hourly versus yearly, and what to do with the answer.

What Does "Competitive Salary" Really Mean in a Job Posting?

Why job postings say "competitive salary" instead of a number, what it usually means, and how to find out the real pay before you waste time on interviews.

How to Spot a Fake Job Posting (and Common Job Scams)

The warning signs of job scams: upfront payments, check scams, text-only interviews, too-good-to-be-true pay, and how to check if a job is real.

Unpaid Trial Projects: Free Labor or Fair Test?

When a take-home test is reasonable and when an unpaid trial project is free work, plus how to push back politely and protect your time.