Role Handbook is an independent career publication for people who want to stop guessing. We publish practical guides to writing a resume, negotiating a job offer, and handling the conversations in between — each one built from primary and authoritative sources and designed to be used, not skimmed.
What we cover
We focus on the parts of a job search where the details decide the outcome:
- Resumes — structure, wording, formatting, and the applicant tracking system rules that decide whether a person ever sees your application.
- Salary negotiation — research, counter-offers, raise conversations, and the exact language that moves an offer.
- Offers and early-career decisions — first offers, competing offers, and how to read the whole package instead of just the base salary.
Every guide includes concrete examples: scripts to adapt, email templates to edit, checklists to run through, and tables that compare the options.
How we research
We start with primary and official sources — government labor data, employer guidance, and published research — and we link to them on every page so you can check the details yourself. When a claim can't be verified, we don't publish it as a fact. We avoid invented statistics, cherry-picked anecdotes presented as data, and guarantees about outcomes.
Advice also changes. Salary-history rules, hiring technology, and common employer practices shift from year to year, so each guide shows the date it was last updated and we revise pages when the underlying rules change.
Who writes and edits the guides
Role Handbook is produced by a small editorial team of writers and editors who work specifically on career topics. We don't publish invented experts or fake credentials: if a page says something, the source list at the bottom of that page is the receipt.
How we use AI
We use AI-assisted tools for drafting, organizing, and summarizing research. Every guide is then edited and checked against its sources by a human editor before it is published, and the source list is part of that review. If you think a page has it wrong, tell us — we would rather fix it than defend it.
How we make money
Role Handbook is reader-supported. Some guides may include affiliate links to tools or services, and we may earn a commission if you sign up through them. This never changes our recommendations: we don't accept payment for editorial coverage, placement, or positive reviews. Read our editorial policy for the full disclosure.
Corrections and contact
Found an error, an outdated rule, or a source that no longer works? Email [email protected] with the page URL and what you think is wrong. Our contact page explains what we can and can't help with.