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FIG. 00 / FIELD INDEX

The Hiring Field Manual

Working notes on how hiring actually works. I've been through a few hiring loops in my day, so I'm sharing what I've learned.

NINE CHAPTERS · 23 NOTES · UPDATED WEEKLY
Featured sheets

Featured sheet · CH 09

Did I actually do well, or were they just being polite?

Look for a shift from evaluation to mutual planning, where the interviewer starts pitching the company or discussing…

  • 01How do I read their body language and tone?
  • 02What does a shift in the timeline actually mean?
  • 03Is a long interview always a good sign?
  • 04How can I test their interest before I leave?
Read the sheet →

Featured sheet · CH 09

How do I actually connect with a hiring manager through a screen?

Shift the screen from a barrier to a shared workspace by presenting a concrete plan instead of just answering questions.

  • 01How do I stop looking like a talking head on their screen?
  • 02Where should I actually look when I am speaking?
  • 03What do I do if they ask a question I am not prepared for?
  • 04Why is most virtual interview preparation advice completely useless?
Read the sheet →

Featured sheet · CH 09

I'm facing a panel interview soon. How can I really stand out?

Prepare for a panel by mapping the room before you enter it: learn each interviewer's role and what their department…

  • 01What are panel interviewers actually trying to assess?
  • 02How does my Blueprint help me prepare for a panel?
  • 03When I answer, should I look at everyone or just the person who asked?
  • 04What if one interviewer seems disengaged or skeptical during the panel?
Read the sheet →

Featured sheet · CH 09

What should I ask them when they say, 'Do you have any questions for us?'

Ask questions that show you've already started solving their problems, not just learning about the company.

  • 01How do I show I've already started thinking about their problems?
  • 02Should I ask about the 30/60/90 day plan?
  • 03What's a question that shows I'm thinking long-term?
  • 04Is there anything I should absolutely NOT ask?
Read the sheet →

Featured sheet · CH 09

How do I answer "tell me about yourself" without rambling?

Frame your response as a brief, three part story that starts with your current focus, connects your past success to t…

  • 01How long should my opening answer actually be?
  • 02What is the hiring manager actually looking for?
  • 03How do I connect my background to their posting?
  • 04Can a great introduction save a bad resume?
Read the sheet →
The chapters, in the order of a real search
CH 01
Decode the Job Description

What the posting is really asking for, behind the buzzwords.

2 notes + the chapter brief →

What problem do they really need me to solve?

Identify the real problem by looking for pain points, repeated challenges, or desired outcomes in the job description.

Inside this sheet
  1. 01What is a job description really for?
  2. 02How do I find the hidden problem they want solved?
  3. 03What if the job description is vague or generic?
  4. 04How does finding the problem change my application?
Inside this sheet
4 MINRead →

What does 'fast-paced environment' actually mean for my day to day?

Translate 'fast-paced environment' as a warning that the company lacks clear processes, has shifting priorities, and…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01Is 'fast-paced' just code for understaffed and chaotic?
  2. 02How do I prove I can thrive in this kind of chaos?
  3. 03What are the red flags to watch out for in the interview?
  4. 04How does a 30/60/90 day plan help me address this?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →
CH 02
The 30/60/90 Day Plan

Walk in with a plan for the job, not just answers about your past.

1 note + the chapter brief →

How do I build a 30 60 90 day plan that actually gets me hired?

Build your 30 60 90 day plan by mapping the actual duties in the job posting to concrete milestones for your first th…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01Where do I find the information to write this?
  2. 02What should I actually commit to in the first 30 days?
  3. 03Will the hiring manager actually hold me to this plan?
  4. 04How do I present the plan without sounding arrogant?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →
CH 03
Prepping With AI

How to actually use AI to prepare, past pasting your resume into a chatbot.

2 notes + the chapter brief →

Can your AI assistant read this site?

Yes.

Inside this sheet
  1. 01What is llms.txt and why does this site publish one?
  2. 02What can an AI agent actually do here?
  3. 03Why does honest machine readable pricing matter?
  4. 04Which parts can you try without an account?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →

Can I actually use AI to prep for my interview without sounding like a robot?

Use AI to analyze the job posting for hidden business pain points instead of asking it to write generic answers.

Inside this sheet
  1. 01How do I prompt AI to find what the hiring manager really wants?
  2. 02Can AI help me practice my actual answers?
  3. 03How do I stop the AI from making me sound like a robot?
  4. 04What is the fastest way to turn a job posting into a complete prep strategy?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →
CH 04
Behavioral & STAR Answers

Turn your real experience into answers that land.

2 notes + the chapter brief →

They asked about my biggest failure. How do I answer without looking bad?

Choose a real, resolved failure where you learned.

Inside this sheet
  1. 01Why do they ask this question?
  2. 02What kind of failure should I choose?
  3. 03How do I structure my answer using STAR?
  4. 04What's the biggest mistake people make answering this?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →

How do I pass a behavioral interview when I have never done this job before?

Borrow authority from academic projects, volunteer roles, or adjacent life experiences by mapping your transferable s…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01Where do I get stories if I have never held this job title?
  2. 02How do I format a non-work story using the STAR method?
  3. 03Will the interviewer know I am stretching my experience?
  4. 04How do I prepare these stories without guessing what they will ask?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →
CH 05
Getting Past the Filter

How resumes really get screened, and how to survive it.

1 note + the chapter brief →

How do I get my resume past the applicant tracking system?

Align your resume directly with the nouns and verbs in the job posting to clear the automated filters.

Inside this sheet
  1. 01Why is my resume getting rejected instantly?
  2. 02How do I match the job description without lying?
  3. 03Is keyword stuffing the secret to beating the system?
  4. 04What should I do once my resume gets through?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →
CH 06
Why You're Not Hearing Back

The honest reasons applications go silent, and what changes it.

2 notes + the chapter brief →

How do I actually get noticed by a hiring manager?

Stop sending generic resumes that look like historical archives and start presenting yourself as a forward looking bu…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01Why is my resume getting ignored by employers?
  2. 02How do I grab a hiring manager's attention immediately?
  3. 03What is the truth about applicant tracking systems?
  4. 04How can I prove I understand their business before the interview?
Inside this sheet
4 MINRead →

Why am I sending dozens of resumes and hearing nothing?

Stop sending generic resumes to automated portals and start proving you can do the actual job from day one.

Inside this sheet
  1. 01Why does my resume keep getting rejected automatically?
  2. 02Is the job market really as bad as it looks right now?
  3. 03How do I show I can do the job before they interview me?
  4. 04Will a better application guarantee an interview every time?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →
CH 07
Negotiating the Offer

You got the yes. The next ten minutes decide what it pays.

4 notes + the chapter brief →

Will they pull my job offer if I ask for more money?

Expect to keep your offer if you negotiate reasonably, as employers rarely rescind offers unless you make unreasonabl…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01Why do employers rescind job offers during negotiations?
  2. 02How do I ask for more money without sounding greedy?
  3. 03What is the safest way to deliver a counteroffer?
  4. 04When should I accept the initial offer without negotiating?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →

I have two job offers, how do I choose the right one?

Compare job offers by creating a weighted scorecard that goes beyond salary, evaluating benefits, growth opportunitie…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01What's the first step to comparing offers?
  2. 02How do I evaluate total compensation?
  3. 03What about company culture and fit?
  4. 04How do I project future growth?
Inside this sheet
4 MINRead →

They offered me less than I expected. What do I do now?

Assess the offer against your market value and the job's true scope.

Inside this sheet
  1. 01Is this offer really 'low' or am I overvaluing myself?
  2. 02How do I frame my counter-offer without sounding greedy?
  3. 03What if they can't meet my salary expectations?
  4. 04When is it time to walk away from a bad offer?
Inside this sheet
4 MINRead →

They finally made an offer. How do I ask for more money without losing the job?

Negotiate your salary by tying your counteroffer directly to the immediate business problems you will solve in your f…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01How do I start the negotiation conversation?
  2. 02What if they say there is no budget left?
  3. 03Can a company actually rescind an offer if I negotiate?
  4. 04How do I use my Baldwin Blueprint to justify a higher salary?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →
CH 08
Switching Careers

Changing lanes without starting over at the bottom.

4 notes + the chapter brief →

How do I get hired in a new industry when my resume shows zero relevant experience?

Translate your past achievements into the specific business outcomes your target industry values, then present a conc…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01How do I get past the initial resume screen without the right industry keywords?
  2. 02What is the biggest mistake career changers make during interviews?
  3. 03How do I prove I can do a job I have never done before?
  4. 04How do I talk about my transferable skills without sounding generic?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →

Is it possible to switch careers without losing all my experience?

Yes.

Inside this sheet
  1. 01How do I identify my transferable skills?
  2. 02What does "reframing experience" actually mean?
  3. 03How does a Blueprint help me make this pivot?
  4. 04Is it realistic to expect a similar level role?
Inside this sheet
4 MINRead →

How do I explain my career change without sounding like I am starting from scratch?

Translate your past achievements into the exact operational language of the new role instead of defending your decisi…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01How do I address the gap in my industry experience?
  2. 02What is the biggest mistake pivoters make when talking to hiring managers?
  3. 03How do I translate my old job titles so they make sense to this new team?
  4. 04Will every hiring manager accept my career pivot?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →

How do I rewrite my resume for a career change without looking unqualified?

Translate your past achievements into the specific terminology of your target industry, mapping your transferable ski…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01How do I translate my old job titles to a new industry?
  2. 02Should I use a functional resume format instead of chronological?
  3. 03Why is traditional resume advice failing career changers?
  4. 04How do I find the right keywords to include?
Inside this sheet
4 MINRead →
CH 09
In the Room

Interview day itself: the first minute, the panel, and the questions you ask.

5 notes + the chapter brief →

Did I actually do well, or were they just being polite?

Look for a shift from evaluation to mutual planning, where the interviewer starts pitching the company or discussing…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01How do I read their body language and tone?
  2. 02What does a shift in the timeline actually mean?
  3. 03Is a long interview always a good sign?
  4. 04How can I test their interest before I leave?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →

How do I actually connect with a hiring manager through a screen?

Shift the screen from a barrier to a shared workspace by presenting a concrete plan instead of just answering questions.

Inside this sheet
  1. 01How do I stop looking like a talking head on their screen?
  2. 02Where should I actually look when I am speaking?
  3. 03What do I do if they ask a question I am not prepared for?
  4. 04Why is most virtual interview preparation advice completely useless?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →

I'm facing a panel interview soon. How can I really stand out?

Prepare for a panel by mapping the room before you enter it: learn each interviewer's role and what their department…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01What are panel interviewers actually trying to assess?
  2. 02How does my Blueprint help me prepare for a panel?
  3. 03When I answer, should I look at everyone or just the person who asked?
  4. 04What if one interviewer seems disengaged or skeptical during the panel?
Inside this sheet
5 MINRead →

What should I ask them when they say, 'Do you have any questions for us?'

Ask questions that show you've already started solving their problems, not just learning about the company.

Inside this sheet
  1. 01How do I show I've already started thinking about their problems?
  2. 02Should I ask about the 30/60/90 day plan?
  3. 03What's a question that shows I'm thinking long-term?
  4. 04Is there anything I should absolutely NOT ask?
Inside this sheet
5 MINRead →

How do I answer "tell me about yourself" without rambling?

Frame your response as a brief, three part story that starts with your current focus, connects your past success to t…

Inside this sheet
  1. 01How long should my opening answer actually be?
  2. 02What is the hiring manager actually looking for?
  3. 03How do I connect my background to their posting?
  4. 04Can a great introduction save a bad resume?
Inside this sheet
3 MINRead →