The Hiring Playbook

The rules they don't teach you.

A curated library on how recruiters think, what they notice first, and how to present yourself.

03 essentials03 sections28 pieces
01 / Start here

Essential Reading

02 / Methodology

First-Impression Signal Model

We translate early attention patterns into four scoring dimensions and map them to product decisions.

Sources and citations live inside each article. The index stays descriptive.

Scoring dimensions
Story
30%
Impact
25%
Clarity
25%
Readability
20%
See full methodology
Actionable Playbooks

Offer Negotiation Guides

Step-by-step playbooks for tech and universal negotiation.

03 / Browse research

Research Library

Browse by theme. Each section groups the sources and the product implications.

01

Inside the Recruiter's Mind

How hiring decisions actually get made

09 pieces
How People Scan Text and Bullets
F-patterns, first-word scanning, and structure for faster comprehension.
4 min
ATS: What Actually Happens
Where humans step in and where automation stops.
4 min
Where Automation Filters You Out
Exposure, eligibility, and ranking touchpoints.
4 min
Hiring Algorithms and Bias
How automated systems compound bias across stages.
4 min
Humans vs. Algorithms
How recruiters interpret machine scores versus human signals.
4 min
Spelling Errors Carry Weight
How small errors affect perceived rigor and clarity.
3 min
The Resume Error Tax
Why typos are treated as risk signals.
4 min
Discrimination in Hiring
What resumes can and cannot control.
5 min
Limits of Resume Optimization
A bounded-control view of bias and signal.
4 min
02

Resume Craft

Writing and structure fundamentals

08 pieces
The 7.4-Second Signal Model
How we score story, impact, clarity, and readability.
5 min
The STAR Method
Structure for behavioral narratives and resume bullets.
4 min
Structured Interviews Beat Vibes
Why STAR exists and why structure wins.
4 min
The Laszlo Bock Formula
How measurable outcomes shape perceived impact.
5 min
Writing Quality Changes Hiring
Clarity increases hiring outcomes in field evidence.
4 min
Signal vs. Clarity
Two explanations for why good resumes work.
4 min
The One-Page Myth
What length signals for experienced candidates.
4 min
The Page-2 Gate
Why page 2 is earned by page 1.
3 min
03

Job Search Strategy

LinkedIn, networking, and negotiation

11 pieces
LinkedIn vs. Resume
Discovery versus evaluation, and how each is used.
4 min
LinkedIn Visibility
Which profile elements influence discovery and clicks.
5 min
Recruiter Search Behavior
What LinkedIn discloses and what remains unknown.
4 min
Social Screening
What recruiters look for online across platforms.
4 min
The Skills-Based Shift
How skills-first hiring changes screening.
5 min
Skills-First: Promise vs Reality
Where skills-first expands pools and where adoption lags.
4 min
Offer Negotiation
Negotiation is coordination, not combat.
12 min
Salary History Disclosure
How disclosure shapes the first anchor.
4 min
Salary Anchors
Avoid self-discounting early in negotiations.
4 min
The Referral Advantage
How referrals shift movement through hiring funnels.
4 min
Referral Advantage, Quantified
How referrals reduce uncertainty in field evidence.
4 min
04 / Product translation

How this shapes the product

Direct lines from insights to the features inside the workspace.

First Impressions Matter

Recruiter First Impression focuses on the early window where fit signals form.

Clarity over Keywords

Our engine rewards clarity and story and penalizes keyword stuffing.

Eye-Flow Optimization

Bullet Upgrades are designed for scan-first reading patterns.

Honest ATS Education

We teach how parsers work instead of selling fear.