Career Development

Career Development Skill

Resume crafting, interview preparation, job search strategy, and professional growth planning.

Core Principle

Career development is a repeatable skill, not luck. Strong candidates prepare systematically: they know their story, they practice delivery, and they treat the job search like a project.

Resume & CV

Resume Structure (1–2 pages)

Writing Accomplishment Bullets

Formula: Action verb + What you did + Measurable result

Action Verbs by Category

ATS (Applicant Tracking System) Optimization

• Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills — not jargon)
• Include exact keywords from the job posting
• Avoid tables, columns, headers/footers, text boxes (ATS can't parse them)
• Save as PDF unless specifically asked for .docx
• File name: FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf

Cover Letter

Structure (3–4 paragraphs, <1 page)

1. Opening: Specific role + why this company + brief hook
2. Body 1: Your strongest relevant accomplishment → their need
3. Body 2: Second accomplishment or cultural/mission fit
4. Close: Express enthusiasm, mention availability, thank them

Rules

• Address a specific person when possible (LinkedIn research)
• Never repeat the resume — expand on 1–2 highlights with context
• Mirror language from the job posting
• Show you researched the company (product, mission, recent news)

Interview Preparation

STAR Method (Behavioral Questions)

Common Interview Types

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Questions to Avoid Asking Early

• Salary (wait until they bring it up or you have an offer)
• Vacation days (wait for offer stage)
• "What does the company do?" (shows zero research)

Job Search Strategy

Search Channels (by effectiveness)

Application Tracking

Track every application with:

• Company, role, date applied, source
• Contact name and email
• Stage (Applied → Phone screen → Interview → Offer → Accepted/Rejected)
• Follow-up dates
• Notes from each interaction

{
  "applications": [
    {
      "company": "Acme Corp",
      "role": "Senior Engineer",
      "applied": "2026-04-01",
      "source": "referral",
      "contact": "Jane Smith (jane@acme.com)",
      "stage": "phone-screen",
      "followUp": "2026-04-08",
      "notes": "Strong culture fit, team uses similar stack"
    }
  ]
}

Networking Without Being Awkward

• Give before you ask: Share an article, make an introduction, congratulate achievements
• Be specific: "I'd love to learn about your experience leading remote teams" (not "Can I pick your brain?")
• Follow up: Send a thank-you within 24 hours of any conversation
• Stay visible: Comment on industry posts, share your own insights

Salary Negotiation

Preparation

1. Research market rates (Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, Payscale, industry surveys)
2. Know your minimum acceptable number before the conversation
3. Factor in total compensation (base, bonus, equity, benefits, flexibility)

Negotiation Framework

What to Negotiate Beyond Salary

• Signing bonus
• Equity / stock options (ask about vesting schedule)
• Remote work flexibility
• Professional development budget
• Start date
• Title
• Review timeline (6-month instead of 12-month review)

Professional Growth Planning

Individual Development Plan (IDP)

Career Transition Patterns

Anti-Patterns

• Sending identical resumes to every job (no tailoring)
• Applying to 100 jobs instead of targeting 15 with research
• Preparing STAR stories the night before the interview
• Accepting the first salary offer without negotiating
• Ghosting after receiving a rejection (the contact may help later)
• Listing responsibilities instead of accomplishments on a resume
• Ignoring LinkedIn as a professional brand