Resources for job seekers

  • Every job search is different but they all share one thing in common: it’s a lot of work.

    The collection below is a set of things to help make that easier with tips, templates, and guides for all sorts of questions.

    Feel free to make a copy of the guides and use/edit/ignore anything as appropriate.

    You can also view the remote jobs archive doc, which includes a rolling list of ~20-30 jobs I share to social media each week, including salary/pay information.

    Note: I’ve created, collaborated on, or personally tested everything listed on this page. Last updated on March 19, 2024.

  • Sign up to receive one email per day for a week with tried and true tips, templates, and advice on topics like customizing your resume/cover letter, screening companies for red (and green!) flags, interviewing, negotiating salary/benefits, and more.

    There is no cost, and anyone is welcome to take the course.

    Sign Up

  • 3 ways to structure your time & tasks (16:25) – this video screenshare provides tips on using a calendar, Asana or similar project management software, and a jobs tracker to manage your time.

    Salina Mendoza’s job opportunities tracker & Airtable template – this is a brilliant how-to from one of my favorite product leaders on how to track applications and interviews, plus an accompanying template that’s super easy to copy and use.

    Resume Worded's Job Search Checklist – an easy-to-use, visually appealing way to organize and track your search.

    8 Weeks To Employed Bootcamp (open source materials) – a set of templates & guides for interviewing, networking, and organizing your job search that I’ve used for 3+ years as co-lead of the Albert’s List job search bootcamp.

    How To Recession-Proof Your Job Search in 2023 (recording via YouTube) – this is a webinar I co-led for the Albert’s List Careers & Job Search Community, and you can also access slides from the presentation as well as the chat message log.

  • Below are some common platforms and techniques to find job opportunities - you can also scroll to the bottom of this page for a spreadsheet with 20+ job boards that feature remote work and transparent salary/pay.

    Crunchbase – aggregates news & data about startups and tech companies.

    Yield Giving – this is the investment vehicle of Mackenzie Scott, who is donating billions to social impact & community organizations.

    LinkedIn – professional networking, learning, and jobs listing platform that operates globally.

    Google Alerts – visit google.com/alerts and experiment with using Boolean search, Workable’s Boolean How-To also has a good overview (+you can see how recruiters search for candidates, too)

    Example: e.g. “startup AND seed round AND hiring” or “Microsoft AND launches new program”

    Wellfound (formerly Angel List) – primarily features jobs at venture-funded startups, often with transparent salary/pay.

    Demo - quick overview of how to search Wellfound jobs (3:47)

  • How to Find & Reach Out To Hiring Manager / Team Members about a job (10:15)

    Most people don't love doing cold outreach, but anytime you apply for a job, it can help to get extra eyes on your application from the hiring manager and team – this video sceenshare shares tips on how to find and reach out to hiring managers and people on the team around a role.

    Networking is one of those things everyone feels different about… whether you love it, hate it, or just want to speed up your job search, networking can help.

    There is no “right” way to network, and what works for one person may not work for another due to personal style, language, or bias.

    In general, the best networking happens when it feels like a conversation, and you keep the stakes low and don’t ask for too much too soon.

    Here’s some additional background and ~20 outreach/networking templates to get you started:

    Outreach Templates, Messages, Scripts (open source)

    Informational interviews are a form of networking that’s all about learning what people do, and can be especially helpful when transitioning industries, roles, or career areas.

    Ideally, you’ll reach out to people you know, or ask someone you know for a referral. That said, a short, relevant message to someone via email or LinkedIn DM can go a long way.

    For example, "Hey X, would you be open to a 15-20 minute informational interview? I notice you did X, which led to Y, and I'm trying to make a similar transition."

    Placement’s blog also has good advice and templates on this topic:

    How to Identify Your Informational Interview Target

    Sending an Outreach Message To Your Informational Interview Target

  • Customizing your materials (resume, cover letter, etc.)

    On average, I recommend spending a max of 15-20 minutes customizing your materials for each job application. The exception is if it is an executive-level position or government job, as those can function differently and require more detail.

    Below is a screenshare video example of how to do that with Jobscan, but there are other ways to do it. Also, make sure to sign up for the 7-day email course for job seekers (mentioned above) because day 4 includes extra tips and tools on the topic.

    Demo: How to optimize your resume in 15 minutes with Jobscan (9:48)

    Answering “Tell Me About Yourself” and preparing for interviews

    One of the most difficult elements in applying and interviewing is answering the dreaded “tell me about yourself” question.

    I often call this the “why now” question because a good narrative/story answer goes a long way to answer the questions and position you as a great candidate throughout the process.

    You don’t need to write fan fiction about an organization or company, but you do need to share a brief narrative that ties how your past experience has led you to where you are now, and what’s next for you, which should connect to the job you’re applying for.

    There are two examples of how to do this in the interview prep template below:

    Customizing your materials and preparing for interviews (Google doc, feel free to create/download a copy)

  • Scammers and spammers are getting more sophisticated, so here are some ways to protect yourself.

  • Morganne Howell outlines the basics of the WARN Act via LinkedIn – when large companies undertake a mass layoff or plant closing, the Department of Labor requires them to notify local government and the public. If it’s a big one, odds are you’re already hearing about it internally, but WARN notices can help you answer questions like “who else did this happen to” and “which teams were cut/restructured,” etc.

The Big List ‘o Job Boards

There are a lot of job boards out there – this is a list I’ve curated over the years, most are remote-first or remote-friendly and include transparent salary/pay. Items marked with a star (*) are active within the last year but have a limited number of listings currently.