46 free guides

Career Guides

Practical, plain-English guides for choosing a career, picking an education path, changing careers, landing the job, growing once you’re there, and hiring and onboarding for employers.

Updated October 18, 2026By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team

Choosing a career

How to Choose a Career: A 7-Step Guide

A practical 7-step process to choose a career that fits your interests, strengths, values and budget, with free tools, real pay data and ways to test ideas before you commit.

Career Assessment Tests Explained: RIASEC, Values & More

What career assessment tests measure, how the RIASEC (Holland Code) model works, how accurate career quizzes are and how to use your results to choose a career.

How to Do an Informational Interview (With 25 Questions)

How to find people, ask for an informational interview, what to ask, how to follow up and the message templates to use: the fastest way to learn what a career is really like.

College, trade school & training

College vs. Trade School: How to Decide

Compare four-year college, community college, trade school and apprenticeships on cost, time, pay and career options, and use a simple framework to decide which path fits you.

How to Choose a College Major (Without Regrets)

A step-by-step method to choose a college major that fits your interests and leads to real careers, plus how to research outcomes, test majors and change your mind.

High School Career Planning Roadmap (Grades 9–12)

A grade-by-grade high school career planning roadmap: exploring interests, choosing classes, getting experience, earning early credentials and planning for college, trade school or work.

Is Community College Worth It? A Practical Guide

How community college works, what it costs, certificates vs. associate degrees, transferring to a university and how to decide if community college is right for you.

Apprenticeships: How Paid On-the-Job Training Works

What a registered apprenticeship is, how pay and training work, which careers offer apprenticeships, how to find and apply to one and how to prepare for the entrance test.

Paying for College and Career Training: FAFSA, Grants & More

How to pay for college, trade school and career training: the FAFSA, Pell Grants, scholarships, workforce (WIOA) funding, employer tuition assistance, GI Bill benefits and paid apprenticeships.

Gap Year Guide: How to Make a Year Off Count

How to plan a productive gap year after high school (working, earning credentials, exploring careers and saving money) and how to stay on track to return to school or start a career.

Changing careers

How to Change Careers: A Step-by-Step Plan

A realistic, step-by-step plan for changing careers: clarify why, choose a target, map transferable skills, test the work, retrain efficiently, budget for the move and land the first role.

Changing Careers at 30, 40 or 50+

How to change careers in your 30s, 40s or 50s: advantages you have, common obstacles, the best careers for mid-life changers and strategies to handle money, age bias and retraining.

Transferable Skills: How to Find and Sell Yours

What transferable skills are, a list of the most valuable ones, how to identify yours from any job and how to describe them on a resume and in interviews when changing careers.

How to Write a Career Change Resume

How to write a resume when changing careers: the best format, a strong summary, leading with skills and training, translating past experience and a before-and-after example.

Budgeting for a Career Change

How to plan the finances of a career change: estimating training costs, building a savings runway, handling a temporary pay cut, funding options and when it’s safe to make the switch.

Upskilling vs. Reskilling: Which Do You Need?

The difference between upskilling and reskilling, how to tell which one you need, the fastest ways to do each and how employers use both to grow and keep talent.

Resumes, interviews & job search

Your First Job: How to Find It and Succeed

How to land your first job with no experience (where to look, what to put on a first resume, how to interview) and the habits that make you stand out once you’re hired.

How to Write a Resume That Gets Interviews

Step-by-step resume guide: the best format, what to include in each section, how to write results-focused bullet points, beat applicant tracking systems and avoid common mistakes.

How to Write a Cover Letter (With Template)

How to write a short, specific cover letter that gets read: structure, what to say in each paragraph, a fill-in template and tips for career changers and entry-level applicants.

Job Interview Tips: How to Prepare and Stand Out

How to prepare for a job interview: researching the employer, answering common questions with the STAR method, questions to ask, what to wear and how to follow up.

How to Negotiate Salary (Scripts Included)

How to negotiate a job offer: research your market value with BLS data, choose your number, use simple scripts, negotiate benefits beyond pay and know when to accept.

Job Search Strategy: How to Find a Job Faster

A practical job search strategy: target the right roles, use networking and referrals, apply efficiently, track applications and follow up so you get more interviews in less time.

How to Read a Job Description (And What It Really Means)

How to decode job descriptions: required vs. preferred qualifications, red flags, hidden expectations, pay transparency and how to use the posting to tailor your application.

LinkedIn Profile Tips: Build a Profile Recruiters Find

How to build a LinkedIn profile that recruiters find: headline formulas, an About section template, experience bullets, skills, recommendations and simple networking habits.

How to Get a Job With No Experience

How to get hired with no experience: target entry-level and trainee roles, use transferable skills, earn fast credentials, build experience through volunteering and nail the interview.

Growing in your career

How to Ask for a Raise (With a Script)

How to ask for a raise: pick the right time, research your market value, document your results, use a simple script and handle a “no” in a way that sets up a future yes.

How to Get Promoted: 8 Moves That Work

How to get promoted faster: master your current role, solve visible problems, learn the next role’s skills, make your goals known and build relationships with decision-makers.

Certifications vs. Degrees: Which Is Worth It?

When a professional certification beats a degree (and vice versa): cost, time, career impact, how employers view each and how to pick credentials that actually raise your pay.

10 Soft Skills Employers Want (And How to Prove Them)

The soft skills employers value most (communication, reliability, teamwork, problem-solving and more) with practical ways to build each and prove them on your resume and in interviews.

Your First 90 Days in a New Job: A Week-by-Week Plan

How to succeed in the first 90 days of a new job: what to focus on in weeks one, four, eight and twelve, how to build relationships and how to get early wins without overstepping.

How to Avoid Burnout at Work

What burnout is, the warning signs, practical ways to prevent and recover from it, how to talk to your manager and when it may be time to change roles or careers.

Workplace Safety Basics Every Worker Should Know

Your rights to a safe workplace under OSHA, common hazards by industry, PPE basics, how to report hazards and the safety training (such as OSHA 10 and 30) that helps you get hired.

Networking for People Who Hate Networking

A low-pressure networking guide: where to meet people, what to say, how to follow up and how introverts can build a strong professional network without feeling fake.