Career advice for US job seekers
Straight answers on applying, pay and the rules of work in the US. Each guide is written from official sources, the Department of Labor, the IRS and state labor departments, and lists them at the end.
Applying
How to Write a Resume That Gets Interviews
A practical guide to the US resume: what to include, what to leave off, how long it should be, and how to get past applicant tracking systems.
5 min read · 4 sources
How to Write a Cover Letter
When a US cover letter matters, how to structure it in 3 or 4 short paragraphs, and a full example you can adapt for your own application.
5 min read · 2 sources
How to Prepare for a Job Interview
Common US interview questions, how to answer with the STAR method, good questions to ask, and what federal law says employers shouldn't ask you.
7 min read · 13 sources
Pay and offers
How to Negotiate Salary
How to research pay, when to negotiate, what to say, and how US pay-transparency laws can help you see salary ranges before you apply.
7 min read · 10 sources
At-Will Employment, Offer Letters and What to Check Before You Accept
What at-will employment means in the US, what a job offer letter should cover, and a checklist of terms to review before you sign.
7 min read · 16 sources
W-2 Employee vs 1099 Contractor: What Changes for Your Pay, Taxes and Benefits
How W-2 employment and 1099 contract work differ on taxes, take-home pay, benefits and legal protections, with a side-by-side tax example for 2026.
6 min read · 11 sources
Work and benefits
Understanding Job Benefits: Health Insurance, 401(k), PTO and More
A plain guide to US job benefits: health insurance terms, HSAs and FSAs, 401(k) matching and 2026 limits, paid time off, FMLA and COBRA.
7 min read · 20 sources
Part-Time vs Full-Time in the US: Hours, Benefits and Overtime
How US employers define part-time and full-time work, which benefits depend on your hours, and how overtime rules work, with a pay example.
6 min read · 17 sources
Salary guides →
Advertised pay by field and state, from live US job ads.
Pay transparency report →
Which states make employers put pay in job ads, and how many do.
Minimum wage by state →
Every state's 2026 minimum wage, checked against official sources.