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Everything I'd send you, in one place

3505 hand-picked resources for students, job seekers, career changers, founders, and AI learners — 100% free to browse with no account required.

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28 resources

shl.com
Free
Report
Workplace & Leadership
ContextVendor researchAuthor sells services

Talent Mobility at Work in 2026

An SHL report based on a survey of U.S. and UK workers about career growth, reskilling and internal opportunity, stating that two-thirds of workers believe they must leave their employer to advance. SHL sells talent assessment services.

#internal-mobility#reskilling#survey
shl.comAdded Nov 11, 20260 opens
sujithjay.com
Free
Article
Career & Professional Optimization

A Staff Engineer's Guide to Inventing Work

Blog post by Sujith Jay Nair (September 22, 2026) on how staff engineers on platform teams, which usually lack a product manager or roadmap, decide what to build next. It groups the signals into four sources: the systems, the users, the organization and the wider industry.

#staff-engineer#software-engineering#career-growth
sujithjay.comAdded Oct 7, 20260 opens
dakotafabro.dev
Free
Article
Career & Professional Optimization

How Do I Know What I Don't Know

Personal essay by engineer Dakota Fabro on mapping your own knowledge gaps — a practical reflection for people building technical careers.

#career-growth#self-assessment#learning
dakotafabro.devAdded Sep 28, 20260 opens
sunilpai.dev
Free
Article
Career & Professional Optimization

The Senior Engineer Death Spiral

Essay by engineer Sunil Pai on proving yourself as a senior engineer, burnout, and being a good teammate. Free to read.

#engineering#burnout#career-growth
sunilpai.devAdded Sep 27, 20260 opens
drmarisagfranco.com
Free
Website
Career & Professional Optimization

Dr. Marisa G. Franco

Psychologist and New York Times bestselling author on friendship and self-worth. Her blog posts on making adult friendships, belonging and self-esteem are free to read, and there is a free four-practice guide in exchange for your email.

Why I recommend it: useful for the part of career-building nobody teaches: making real professional friendships rather than 'networking'. The blog is free; the books and the speaking are paid, and the free guide costs you an email address and an ongoing list.

#friendship#belonging#psychology
drmarisagfranco.comAdded Sep 23, 20260 opens
entrypointofficial.substack.com
Free
Newsletter
Career & Professional Optimization

Let's Create Careers (Entry Point)

A newsletter for university students and early-career professionals on building a career deliberately: networking with low effort, building a portfolio when you are not an artist, reputation-building as a young professional, early-career growth rules, job hunting after graduation, and working in and around AI. Launched in early 2026. Every issue in the recent archive is free to everyone, and the whole archive is open.

Why I recommend it: Best for the first few years of a career, where the advice gap is widest — the pieces on networking and on building a portfolio without being a designer are the ones to start with. It is one writer's experience rather than researched guidance, so treat it as a practitioner's notes: take the habits, check any claim about hiring against a source that publishes its numbers.

#early-career#students#networking
entrypointofficial.substack.comAdded Sep 22, 20260 opens
Farnam Street
Free
PodcastPodcast
Career & Professional Optimization

The Knowledge Project Podcast

Shane Parrish's long-form interviews on decision making, judgement and learning, with free episodes and transcripts.

Why I recommend it: Useful on a commute when you're weighing a career decision and want better questions rather than quick answers.

#podcast#decision-making#career-growth
Farnam StreetAdded Sep 17, 20260 opens
blog.samaltman.com
Free
Blog
Entrepreneurship & Free Tools

Sam Altman's Blog

Free essays on startups, hiring, productivity and ambition from OpenAI's CEO, including the widely read "How to Be Successful" and startup playbook posts.

Why I recommend it: Dated in places but still one of the clearest free reads on early-stage company building.

#ai#business-strategy#career-growth
blog.samaltman.comAdded Sep 17, 20260 opens
rune.build
Free
Article
Entrepreneurship & Free Tools

Rune Is Now Open Source

Announcement explaining why the Rune IDE was rebuilt from first principles in Go and released under the GPLv3, including a contributor program that shares revenue with outside contributors.

Why I recommend it: A clear read on how open-source projects actually get funded and how new contributors can get paid for their work.

#open-source#developer#startups
rune.buildAdded Sep 17, 20260 opens
Career & Professional Optimization
Free
Document
Career & Professional Optimization

How to Communicate So That Others Listen (Cheat Sheet)

A one-page cheat sheet covering the five rules of effective communication, the three types of conversation (informational, emotional, social) and twenty persuasive phrases you can use in real conversations.

Why I recommend it: Print it and keep it beside you for a week of meetings and interviews. The twenty phrases are the part people actually use.

communication-cheat-sheet.pdf
#communication#soft-skills#persuasion
Added Sep 17, 20260 opens
membership.gotomillions.co
Free
Community
Marketing & Platform Tools

Go To Millions Membership

A free membership community for ecommerce and retention marketers — peer introductions, what is working now, and access to the wider Go To Millions network by application.

Why I recommend it: Application-based but free. Fill in the focus areas honestly — the introductions are only useful if the profile matches what you actually do.

#ecommerce#marketing#community
membership.gotomillions.coAdded Sep 17, 20260 opens
leaddev.com
Free
Article
Career & Professional Optimization

How to Lead a Technical Discussion

A LeadDev article by Annie Vella on running a technical discussion you do not have all the answers for — framing the problem, drawing people out, and closing with a decision.

Why I recommend it: Free to read, though LeadDev asks for a free account after a few articles. The point that you can lead a discussion without being the expert is the one to take into your next meeting.

#communication#leadership#engineering
leaddev.comAdded Sep 17, 20260 opens
chill-pullover-277.notion.site
Free
Document
Career & Professional Optimization

Discoverability Exercise (Allison Rossi)

Shared Notion workbook walking through an exercise on making your work and expertise easier for others to find.

Why I recommend it: Do the exercise in writing. Discoverability problems are usually clarity problems in disguise.

#career#career-development#career-growth
chill-pullover-277.notion.siteAdded Sep 12, 20260 opens
linkedin.com
Free
Article
Career & Professional Optimization

Networking Is On Your To-Do List. Here's How to Actually Start

Catherine Fisher's practical guide to starting a networking habit when the task keeps sliding down your list.

Why I recommend it: Networking fails when it is a vague goal. Pick two people a week and send one honest message each — that is the whole practice.

#article#career#career-development
linkedin.comAdded Sep 10, 20260 opens
marilynnjoyner.substack.com
Free
NewsletterNewsletter
People to Follow

Marilynn Joyner's Newsletter

Newsletter on career growth, leadership, and navigating work as a professional woman.

Why I recommend it: Short, honest writing about the parts of career growth that do not fit in a framework. Worth a subscription.

#articles#career-growth#free
marilynnjoyner.substack.comAdded Sep 10, 20260 opens
fastcompany.com
Free
Article
Career & Professional Optimization

Personal Brand Special Report: 207 Insights and Ideas

Fast Company's collected advice on building a personal brand that supports your career rather than performing for an algorithm.

Why I recommend it: Skim it, take three ideas you would actually do, ignore the rest. A personal brand you cannot sustain is worse than none.

#article#career#career-development
fastcompany.comAdded Sep 10, 20260 opens
youtube.com
Free
Video
Career & Professional Optimization

Intern to Microsoft Distinguished Engineer in 11 Promotions

Career story breaking down how one engineer moved from intern to distinguished engineer, promotion by promotion.

Why I recommend it: Watch for the decision points, not the title. Most of his jumps came from choosing scope over comfort, which transfers to any field.

#big-tech#career#career-development
youtube.comAdded Sep 10, 20260 opens
news.linkedin.com
Free
Article
Career & Professional Optimization

LinkedIn Research: Gen Z Networking Confidence Gap

LinkedIn News research finding that Gen Z professionals increasingly influence business decisions, yet 72% say they lack the confidence to turn contacts into career opportunities.

Why I recommend it: I use this one to normalize the awkwardness of networking. If nearly three quarters of early-career people feel the same way, the problem is practice, not personality.

#article#career#career-development
news.linkedin.comAdded Sep 9, 20260 opens
linkedin.com
Free
Article
Career & Professional Optimization

Why Job Architecture Is Failing Us

Lance Haun on how rigid job architecture and title structures break down for modern roles, and what that means for workers and employers.

Why I recommend it: Read this if you have ever been told your work does not fit any existing title. It explains a system problem people usually blame themselves for.

#article#career#career-development
linkedin.comAdded Sep 9, 20261 opens
aiskilldrop.com
Free
BlogBlog
Technology & Ethics

AI Skill Drop

A guided system where AI builders share insights, contribute projects, evaluate real-world impact, and amplify practical skills alongside an AI mentor.

Why I recommend it: I like the emphasis on building and evaluating impact rather than just consuming AI news. Useful if you want to move from "AI curious" to "AI capable."

#ai#ai ethics#ai-skill-drop
aiskilldrop.comAdded Sep 9, 20260 opens
tiffanyuman.com
Free
Webinar
Career & Professional Optimization

Tiffany Uman: Career Growth Masterclass

Free masterclass from career strategist Tiffany Uman on the skills and visibility habits that drive promotions and internal career growth.

Why I recommend it: This one is for people who already have the job and want the next level. Pair it with a written promotion case for your manager.

#career#career-development#career-growth
tiffanyuman.comAdded Sep 2, 20260 opens
CMX Connect
Free
Website
Career & Professional Optimization

CMX Connect Events

A running calendar of free and low-cost events for community professionals, run by CMX (powered by Bevy). Sessions cover community strategy, engagement, and career paths in the community industry.

From the site: Advancing the community industry and helping community professionals thrive.

Why I recommend it: Community management is a real career lane that most job seekers overlook. These events are a low-pressure way to meet practitioners and learn the language of the field before you apply.

#career#career-development#career-growth
CMX ConnectAdded Sep 2, 20260 opens
devcolor.org
Free
Training Program
Career & Professional Optimization

/dev/color A* Program

A year-long career accelerator that places Black software engineers, data scientists, and managers into small squads of 7 to 9 peers, with senior industry mentors, career roadmapping, accountability, and interview preparation.

In plain terms: This year-long career program connects Black software engineers and tech managers into small peer groups. You can create career roadmaps, receive regular accountability, and work with others to reach your professional goals.

Why I recommend it: Applications open each fall and close by mid-December for the following year. The squad accountability is what makes people actually follow through.

#accelerator#ai ethics#career
devcolor.orgAdded Aug 29, 20260 opens
mckinsey.com
Free
Training Program
Career & Professional Optimization

McKinsey Connected Leaders Academy

A fully funded leadership development program from McKinsey Academy, including the Management Accelerator for mid-career managers moving into senior leadership. Digital cohorts combine coaching, business problem-solving, and cross-industry peer networking.

Why I recommend it: This is the one that teaches technical people to speak business. Strong fit if you want to move from analyst or engineer into decision-making roles.

#career#career-development#career-growth
mckinsey.comAdded Aug 29, 20260 opens