Editorial Standards

1. Experience Over Aspiration

Articles are written from the standpoint of:

• lived experience
• long-term observation
• repeated industry patterns

We do not optimize for aspiration, virality, or motivation. If a truth conflicts with popular narratives, the truth takes priority.

2. No Universal Advice

Career outcomes are context-dependent. We avoid:

• “You should” statements
• guaranteed paths
• one-size-fits-all frameworks

Instead, articles describe conditions, trade-offs, and likely consequences. Readers are expected to make their own decisions.

3. Original Framing

Career Reality does not:

• rewrite trending posts
• summarize social media discourse
• aggregate content from other sites

Each article is framed independently, even when addressing familiar topics. The goal is not novelty — it is clarity.

4. Updates & Corrections

All articles display a Last Reality Check date. When conditions change (salary structures, hiring patterns, industry norms), articles are updated accordingly.

If a factual error is identified, it is corrected transparently.

5. No Sponsored Influence

Career Reality does not accept:

• sponsored posts
• paid mentions
• affiliate-driven editorial decisions

Any future advertising (including display ads) will not influence topic selection, conclusions, or tone. Editorial separation is non-negotiable.

6. Responsible Tone

While articles may discuss burnout, stagnation, and dissatisfaction, they avoid sensationalism, romanticizing distress, or presenting hardship as inevitable.

The aim is realism, not despair.

7. Use of AI

AI tools are used only in a supporting role: editing assistance, language clarity, and research validation.

AI does not generate core arguments or editorial judgment. All responsibility for published content remains human.

8. Reader Relationship

Career Reality treats readers as intelligent, experienced, and capable of nuance.

We do not optimize for engagement tricks, emotional hooks, or retention mechanics. If a reader disagrees with an article, that disagreement is valid.

Last Updated: 2025