Job Search Tips 2026

Based on recent research:

·       Apply directly on the company’s website rather than through LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.

·       Make your resume computer readable and easy to for software to ingest.

·       Avoid including your address, especially if you don’t live near the company. Just contact info.

·       Write short declarative sentences in your submission materials.

·       Quantify achievements with specifics.

·       Include a special skills section, especially soft skills.

·       Active verbs.

·       Make sure the resume includes most but not all the keywords in the job description.

·       Resume headings: Summary, experience, education, skills, certifications, special skills.

·       Avoid breaks in job employment (especially more than six months).

·       Don’t use prompt injections.  

Based on material from Hilke Schellmann, Associate Professor of Journalism at New York University and author of the book The Algorithm

28 Articles about using LinkedIn

3 Brilliant LinkedIn Summaries That Will Inspire You to Update Yours Right Now - The Muse

4 Tips for Reaching out to Someone you admire on LinkedIn - The Muse

4 ways you should be using LinkedIn to take the next step in your career - Fast Company

Before you use the 'Open to Work' badge on LinkedIn, read this - Fast Company

Finding Freelance writing on LinkedIn - Twitter

How to Craft the Perfect LinkedIn Profile - (infographic)

How to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out - Entrepreneur

How to Promote Yourself on LinkedIn as a Writer: 7 Tips and Tools - MakeUseOf

How to use LinkedIn after being laid off - The Washington Post

How To Write A Bio For LinkedIn: Introduce Yourself With A Story - Forbers

How to Write an SEO-Enhanced LinkedIn Profile - SHRM

Job seekers: A 50-year-old social theory could be the key to your success on LinkedIn - Fast Company

LinkedIn Author Has Strategic Advice To Improve Your Profile - Forbes

LinkedIn expands its generative AI assistant to recruitment ads and writing profiles – Tech Crunch

The LinkedIn job scam is global. The hook is local - Rest of World

The LinkedIn Makeovers That Actually Get People Hired - Wall Street Journal

LinkedIn Profiles Vs. Resumes: What You Need To Know - Forbes

LinkedIn taps AI to make it easier for firms to find job candidates – Reuters

LinkedIn’s ‘career break’ feature - Washington Post

LinkedIn’s job-matching AI was biased. The company’s solution? More AI - MIT Tech Review

LinkedIn's new feature offers people 13 ways to explain their career gap - Business Insider

A Massive LinkedIn Study Reveals Who Actually Helps You Get That Job - Scientific American

The Perfect Professional Headshot is worth $1000, and maybe even a job - WSJ

This is what an A+ LinkedIn Summary Looks like - GirlBoss

What Really Works On LinkedIn? Answers From The Experts - Buffer

Why are women gender-swapping on LinkedIn? - The Washington Post

Your LinkedIn network’s huge! Here’s why that’s a red flag - SmartBrief

Your LinkedIn Profile Probably Features These 5 Mistakes - Entrepreneur

Job Interview Tips

When to Show Up

Wait until 10 minutes before your scheduled interview time to announce yourself. Arriving any sooner shows that you're not respectful of the time the hiring manager put aside for you. A candidate who arrived an hour early made workers uncomfortable. Companies really don't want someone camped out in their lobby.

The Interview

Signal confidence by offering a firm handshake.

Avoid looking around the room, tapping your fingers, or other nervous movements.

No matter how you're feeling, keep your personal woes out of the interview process. For example, if you were laid off, instead of lamenting the situation, you might say the experience prompted you to reassess your skills, and that's what led you here. "You want to demonstrate resilience in the face of unpredictable obstacles."

Show you've done your homework on the company by explaining how your background and track record relate to its current needs.

Find out how recent changes in the marketplace have affected the firm, its competitors and the industry overall. Read recent company press releases, annual reports, media coverage and industry blogs and consult with trusted members of your network.

Questions to be Ready to Answer

What are your positive leadership qualities?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Can you describe a time when you had to make a decision in a crisis?

Tell me something about you that I can’t read on your resume?

Questions to Ask

What would be your highest priority for me to accomplish?

What does success look like in this position, and how do you measure it?

How can I best contribute to the department’s goals?

What would you say are the top two personality traits someone needs to do this job well?

What improvements or changes do you hope the new candidate will bring to this position?

I know this company prides itself on X and Y, so what would you say is the most important aspect of your culture?

Do you like working here?

Is there anything that stands out to you that makes you think I might not be the right fit for this job?

What were the best things about the last person who held this position?

To whom do I report, and what does that mean in terms of authority?

Who will I be working most closely with?

Are there opportunities for professional development?

Salary

Your best bet is to wait until you're extended a job offer before talking pay.

Come prepared—having researched the average pay range for a position in case you're pressured to name your price. You might say, for example, that money isn't a primary concern for you and that you're just looking for something fair. You can try turning the tables by asking interviewers what the company has budgeted for the position.

Follow Up

After an interview, make sure to address thank-yous to the right people. Look closely for spelling and grammatical errors.

Don't stalk the interviewer. Wait at least a week before checking on your candidacy.

Leave a message if you get voicemail.

Job Interviews: What you do

Be prepared to answer:

What are your values, goals, weaknesses?
What don't you like to do?
What work environment do you NOT like?
What's your passion for life and career?
Describe yourself.

What to do before the interview:

Take deep breaths.
Remember, they want to find the right person; They want you to do well.
Listen, eye contact, sit up straight, enthusiasm, confidence (sound authoritative).

3 Types of Interview

1. Behavior-specific skills (ex: “Tell me about a time where…”).
2. Case-specific problems (ex: “Here is a business case for you to work through.”).
3. Stress (more than one interviewer firing questions, i.e., let's see how you do under stress).

Questions to ask about the company:

Where do you see the company in the next 5 years?
How would you describe the atmosphere here? (formal or informal, etc)
How does the company support work-life balance?
Are things handled differently for in-office and hybrid workers?
How does the company determine salary levels?

Questions to ask about the position:

What was the reason last person left? How long was she in that position?
Why is this position available?
How far along in the interview process am I?
Have there been any changes in the company I should know about—such as layoffs or changes in leadership?
What did you like about the last person in this position?
How many times has it turned over in the last 5 years? (if a lot, ask why)
Who do I report to? Who would work under me?
What are my responsibilities?
Describe a typical day.
Do you have a written job description (get a copy)
What is the potential for promotion?
What is the greatest challenge I will face?
What problems might I face in the job?
How would you describe your management style?
How soon do you hope to make a decision?
Can I take a tour of the facilities?
Do you have any hesitancy in hiring me?

Questions to ask about Benefits:

Health benefits booklet?
holidays and vacations?
Do you have any “employee resource groups” (eg.)?

"Thank you for meeting with me."

More Job Tips

12 Common Job Interview Questions

› What do you know about our company?

Or, are you a consumer of our product?

The employer hopes to learn:

Did you prepare for this interview? Did you do your homework?

Be ready to offer specifics.

› Why should we consider you for this position?

Or, why do you think you are a good fit for this position?

The employer hopes to learn:

Are you confident in your abilities? What does the company gain by hiring you?

› What are your strengths and weaknesses?

The employer hopes to learn:

Companies expect honesty in answering this question. You should be able to articulate what you are best at and areas you are working to improve.

› What do you want to be doing 5 years from now?

The employer hopes to learn:

Are you goal-directed? Or will you be satisfied with an entry-level position?

› What other job experiences have you had?

The employer hopes to learn:

Have you held a job before? How long have you been working? Did you get along with others?

› What people have been important influences in your life?

The employer hopes to learn:

People who are quick to credit others often work well with others and are not driven by ego. 

› Are you a self-starter?

The employer hopes to learn:

Can you work alone and without direct supervision? If you're not given a task, are you the type of person who takes the initiative to find something to do?

› What are your interests apart from work?

Or, what’s special about you? What do you bring to the job that will help you succeed?

The employer hopes to learn..

Hobbies, activities and other interests indicate that people are well-rounded and can manage their time and work. It’s an opportunity to sell yourself.

› Tell me about a problem you solved recently.

The employer hopes to learn:

Insight into your problem-solving skills.

› Tell me about a goal you recently achieved. What did your initial plan look like? What worked particularly well?

The employer hopes to learn:

Can you talk in detail about a goal you have achieved—where you created your own plan and not only followed those plans but also adapted to circumstances and changing conditions.  

› Tell me about a goal you failed to achieve.

The employer hopes to learn:

If you take responsibility for failing without blaming other people or outside factors. Can you admit you were wrong and that you are willing to change your mind? This will also indicate whether you learned from your experience: can you describe in detail what perspectives, skills, and expertise you gained from that training?   

› How do you handle stress?

More Job Tips

20 Articles about Cover Letters & Personal Statements

43 Articles on Career Advice

5 skills young professionals should master - Glassdoor

5 Ways to Demonstrate Your Value — Remotely - HBR

Actionable Advice For Young People Starting Out Their Careers - Forbes

The best way to show off your emerging A.I. skills to land a job - CNBC

Building Your Intellectual Toolbox: Career Advice from the Experts - Council on Foreign Relations

The Career Advice No One Teaches High Achievers - Inc

Common misconceptions about MBAs - ZDnet

Don’t Focus on Your Job at the Expense of Your Career - Harvard Business Review

Don’t Just Pay Interns, Help Them Build Networks - Harvard Business Review

Essential advice for landing your dream job - Fast Company

Find Work You Love by Identifying Your Unique Angle - LifeHacker

Gen Z is Hungry for Career Advice. But Their Parents Are Lost Themselves - TIME

Giving Career Advice to Kids Has Never Been Harder - Wall Street Journal

Google’s ‘Career Dreamer’ uses AI to help you explore job possibilities – Tech Crunch

Harvard researcher shares key skill of the future—that most people don't have - CNBC

How do you launch a journalism career in the middle of a pandemic? - Poynter

How to Break Up With Your Career - Wall Street Journal

How Much Time Can I Take Off Between Jobs? - Harvard Business Review

How to get your career moving: lessons from a behavioural scientist - Financial Times

How to Improve Your Career Development - US News

How to Recover from a Toxic Job - Harvard Business Review

How to Tell You're About to be Laid Off - Life Hacker

How to Vet a Remote Workplace - Harvard Business Review

The Journalists of Color Resource Guide

Journalism Mentors

Journalist Guide to Survival: Five ways to thrive on your first job - RTDNA

LinkedIn CEO: Ignore this common piece of career advice—it’s ‘outdated’ and ‘a little bit foolish’ - CNBC

Losing Passion for Your Job? Why Quitting Might Be the Right Move - Harvard Business School

One Piece of Career Advice Changed Everything - Inc

Our Top 6 Pieces of Career Wisdom for Recent Grads - First Round

The Personal Business of Being Laid Off - HazLitt

Pros and Cons of Working From Home - US News

How to Recover from a Toxic Job - Harvard Business Review

The Secret to Retaining the Best Employees: Ask Them These Four Questions - Wall Street Journal

A Survival Guide for Dealing With a Bad Boss - Wall Street Journal

These are the signs that you're in a toxic work environment - CNN

The top 10 skills you need to land a job right now, according to LinkedIn - CNBC

These 5 skills are AI-proof and likely to become more valuable ‘over the next 5 years,’ says Oxford-trained career expert - CNBC

Tips for Using AI Tools in Technical Interviews - IEEE

Well-meaning advice to new grads often makes the job search more stressful—what actually helps: Harvard psychologist - CNBC

What Reporters Should Do Before and After a Layoff - Education Writer’s Association

What’s a good (and bad) way to leave your job? - FT

Your Career Is Just One-Eighth of Your Life - The Atlantic

More Job Tips

11 Apps for Job Hunting

Career Builder - online hiring app that allows job seekers to access tools that will help them at every point in the process.

ExpressJob - mapping that shows nearby jobs and makes applying easy with one-click applications but also offers ways to stay organized once you are hired (timesheets, schedule, etc.)

Glassdoor - search engine platform offering job openings along with company reviews.

Indeed - sort through the search engine database and stay on top of openings that interest you. 

Linkedin - the social network for professionals.

Linkup - focuses on little-known job listings. Free, iOS only. 

MeeBoss - A chat-first job matching platform.

Monster - brings jobs from other job searchers into a single app.

Snagjob - only hourly jobs. Free.

Strawberry.me - Matches individuals with professional personal and career coaches.

ZipRecruiter - offers more than 100 job boards with filters. Sends notifications about vacancies.\

More Job Tips

18 Articles about how AI is Affecting Jobs

The overlooked way AI could speed hiring and support workers - Washington Post 

How ‘Jagged Intelligence’ Can Reframe the A.I. Debate – New York Times

What "Jagged Intelligence" Could Mean for STEM Careers - Techoly 

That Meeting You Hate May Keep A.I. From Stealing Your Job – New York Times

New AI jobs risk paper posits less doom and gloom - Axios 

ProPublica journalists walk off the job in first U.S. newsroom strike over AI – Harvard’s Nieman Lab 

The Workers Opting to Retire Instead of Taking On AI – Wall Street Journal

MIT study challenges AI job apocalypse narrative – Axios

Take my job, AI! - Jeff Zych

What to do if your employer is requiring you to use AI – Fast Company

Women are getting less recognition than men for using AI - Axios 

America has no plan for managing an AI wipeout of jobs. Some investors and economists are trying to design one - Axios 

How AI Damages Work Relationships—and Where It Can Actually Help – Harvard Business Review  

Why Gen Z wants more office work - Axios

New AI tool predicts cancer spread with surprising accuracy – Science Daily

Why You Should Stop Worrying About AI Taking Data Science Jobs – Toward Data Science 

The AI employment dilemma that impacts every worker – Axios (video) 

Imagine Losing Your Job to the Mere Possibility of AI - The Atlantic  

Jobs least and most vulnerable to AI – Washington Post

This is the fastest-growing job for young workers, LinkedIn says – CBDS News

AI Job Loss Research Ignores How AI Is Utterly Destroying the Internet – 404 Media

Generative AI changes how employees spend their time – MiT

Job Cuts Driven by A.I. Are Rising on Wall Street - New York Times