10 Hard Career Truths | Audio Edition #011

This is an Audio Edition episode—originally published on YouTube and optimized for audio listening.If you’re looking for honest, practical career advice that actually moves the needle? This video breaks down the 10 hard career truths I wish someone had told me at 18. I share how I went from failing college classes and working a toxic healthcare job to landing my dream role at Microsoft, getting promoted three times, and building a seven-figure career coaching business. These lessons cover everything from networking, side projects, and skills development to navigating failure, choosing the right mentors, and advocating for your own growth. Whether you're starting your career or trying to level up, these insights will help you skip the guesswork and accelerate your path to meaningful work.🎯 *READY TO STOP PLAYING BY OUTDATED CAREER “RULES?”*Companies aren’t loyal. Promotions don’t just happen. The real wins come when you act like the CEO of your career. Our system helps people like you flip the script and land roles that pay off. Our clients see:✅ Avg. Time To Offer: 3.5 Months💰 Avg. Raise: $44 K+⭐ Satisfaction: 9.5 / 10🤝 End-To-End Support GuaranteeWant to see how we'd craft a job search plan for you? We’ll show you how on a free 30 minute Career Clarity Call:*BOOK HERE:* https://cultivatedculture.com/coaching​👋 *LET’S BE FRIENDS*Follow along for more job search content:*LinkedIn:* https://linkedin.com/in/abelcak*Newsletter:* https://cultivatedculture.com/newsletter*Website:* https://cultivatedculture.comWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Click here to learn more about 1:1 career coaching to help you land your dream job without applying online.Check out Austin’s courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin’s proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin’s proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Try Austin’s Job Search ToolsResyBuild.io - Build a beautiful, job-winning resume in minutes.ResyMatch.io - Score your resume vs. your target job description and get feedback.ResyBullet.io - Learn how to write attention grabbing resume bullets.Mailscoop.io - Find anyone’s professional email in seconds.Connect with Austin for daily job search content:Cultivated CultureLinkedInTwitterThanks for listening!

Austin shares a different way to think about job qualifications. Hiring managers are looking for value, but value comes in many different forms!Time Stamped Show Notes:[0:25] - Why you need to think about qualifications as an equation[1:00] - Job qualifications are a wish list[2:20] - Middle school math[3:30] - Different ways to add value[5:15] - Sell YOUR valueWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Click here to learn more about 1:1 career coaching to help you land your dream job without applying online.Check out Austin’s courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin’s proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin’s proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Try Austin’s Job Search ToolsResyBuild.io - Build a beautiful, job-winning resume in minutes.ResyMatch.io - Score your resume vs. your target job description and get feedback.ResyBullet.io - Learn how to write attention grabbing resume bullets.Mailscoop.io - Find anyone’s professional email in seconds.Connect with Austin for daily job search content:Cultivated CultureLinkedInTwitterThanks for listening!

Austin shares why he avoided people with traditional backgrounds during his job search and instead preferred connecting with people who had non-traditional backgrounds!Time Stamped Show Notes:[0:25] - Why I Avoided People With Traditional Backgrounds In My Job Search[1:09] - Traditional vs. Non-Traditional[1:42] - What to do instead[2:23] - Positioning yourself for success[3:11] - How to find contacts in your dream company with non-traditional backgrounds[4:19] - Reach out to them and make your askWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Click here to learn more about 1:1 career coaching to help you land your dream job without applying online.Check out Austin’s courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin’s proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin’s proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Try Austin’s Job Search ToolsResyBuild.io - Build a beautiful, job-winning resume in minutes.ResyMatch.io - Score your resume vs. your target job description and get feedback.ResyBullet.io - Learn how to write attention grabbing resume bullets.Mailscoop.io - Find anyone’s professional email in seconds.Connect with Austin for daily job search content:Cultivated CultureLinkedInTwitterThanks for listening!

This is an Audio Edition episode—originally published on YouTube and optimized for audio listening.Are you struggling to turn job interviews into job offers? In today’s competitive job market, even small phrases can make or break your chances of getting hired. In this video, you’ll learn 7 phrases you should never say in a job interview (plus what to say instead) so you sound confident, prepared, and ready to win the role. We’ll walk through real examples, proven interview answers, and simple scripts you can practice, along with how to use ChatGPT to customize and polish your responses. If you want to improve your interview preparation, avoid common mistakes, and stand out to employers, this step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to turn every interview into a stronger chance at an offer.🎯 *READY TO STOP SELF-SABOTAGING INTERVIEWS & START LANDING MORE OFFERS?*Chris was stuck in a cycle of 196 rejections. We helped him reframe his answers, dial in his stories, and land offers at Disney+ and Big 4 firms. Other clients see:✅ Avg. Time To Offer: 3.5 Months💰 Avg. Raise: $44 K+⭐ Satisfaction: 9.5 / 10🤝 End-To-End Support GuaranteeWant to see how we'd craft a personalized interview prep plan for you? Hit the link below to see how we can map this to your search on a free 30 minute Career Clarity Call:*BOOK HERE:* https://cultivatedculture.com/coaching​👋 *LET’S BE FRIENDS*Follow along for more job search content:*LinkedIn:* https://linkedin.com/in/abelcak*Newsletter:* https://cultivatedculture.com/newsletter*Website:* https://cultivatedculture.comWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Click here to learn more about 1:1 career coaching to help you land your dream job without applying online.Check out Austin’s courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin’s proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin’s proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Try Austin’s Job Search ToolsResyBuild.io - Build a beautiful, job-winning resume in minutes.ResyMatch.io - Score your resume vs. your target job description and get feedback.ResyBullet.io - Learn how to write attention grabbing resume bullets.Mailscoop.io - Find anyone’s professional email in seconds.Connect with Austin for daily job search content:Cultivated CultureLinkedInTwitterThanks for listening!

Austin shares the one thing you should definitely NOT do once you land an interview!Time Stamped Show Notes:[0:25] - What NOT to do when you get an interview[0:40] - Don’t shut down your job search when you get an interview[2:35] - I know it’s hard, but there are benefits[3:28] - Risk vs. RewardWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Click here to learn more about 1:1 career coaching to help you land your dream job without applying online.Check out Austin’s courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin’s proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin’s proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Try Austin’s Job Search ToolsResyBuild.io - Build a beautiful, job-winning resume in minutes.ResyMatch.io - Score your resume vs. your target job description and get feedback.ResyBullet.io - Learn how to write attention grabbing resume bullets.Mailscoop.io - Find anyone’s professional email in seconds.Connect with Austin for daily job search content:Cultivated CultureLinkedInTwitterThanks for listening!

Austin shares his #1 tactic for efficient time management. Be sure you’re spending your time where it counts the most!Time Stamped Show Notes:[0:25] - Austin’s favorite tactic for time management[1:30] - How a Time Audit works[2:40] - Be specific about your activities[3:20] - Review your activities to find out where your results are coming fromWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Click here to learn more about 1:1 career coaching to help you land your dream job without applying online.Check out Austin’s courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin’s proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin’s proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Try Austin’s Job Search ToolsResyBuild.io - Build a beautiful, job-winning resume in minutes.ResyMatch.io - Score your resume vs. your target job description and get feedback.ResyBullet.io - Learn how to write attention grabbing resume bullets.Mailscoop.io - Find anyone’s professional email in seconds.Connect with Austin for daily job search content:Cultivated CultureLinkedInTwitterThanks for listening!

This is an Audio Edition episode—originally published on YouTube and optimized for audio listening.Changing careers can feel overwhelming when you don’t know what skills matter, how to position yourself, or how to get employers to believe in your experience. The good news is, there’s a fast and easy way to get all of that information while boosting your chances of successfully changing careers. In this video, I’ll show you how to use ChatGPT and LinkedIn to quickly find people who have already made the exact career transition you’re trying to make, so you can learn from their journey and shortcut your path. You’ll discover a simple, four-step strategy to identify companies in your current industry, build a target company list, and use LinkedIn filters to surface professionals who successfully moved from your field into your dream job. This method gives you real-world examples of what works, reveals the exact skill gaps you need to close, and helps you build authentic networking connections that can lead to referrals and interviews. If you’re pivoting careers, this LinkedIn + ChatGPT workflow will make your transition 10x easier and dramatically increase your chances of landing a role in your target industry.🚀 *READY TO LAND MORE INTERVIEWS & OFFERS?*Our client Sharon wanted to change careers, but was worried about taking a step back. We used tactics like this to help her transition into a Marketing Manager role with a $35k raise (with no prior experience). Our clients see:💰 Average Raise: $44,000+ ⏱️ Avg. Time To Offer: ~3.5 Months🧭 Complete Career Clarity⭐ Satisfaction Rating: 9.5 / 10🤝 End-To-End Job Search Support✅ 3X+ ROI GuaranteeIf you want to learn more, hit the link below to see how we can map this to your search on a free 30 minute Career Clarity Call:*BOOK HERE:* https://cultivatedculture.com/coaching​👋 *LET’S BE FRIENDS*Follow along for more job search content:*LinkedIn:* https://linkedin.com/in/abelcak*Newsletter:* https://cultivatedculture.com/newsletter*Website:* https://cultivatedculture.com#jobsearch #careers #linkedin #careerchangeWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Click here to learn more about 1:1 career coaching to help you land your dream job without applying online.Check out Austin’s courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin’s proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin’s proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Try Austin’s Job Search ToolsResyBuild.io - Build a beautiful, job-winning resume in minutes.ResyMatch.io - Score your resume vs. your target job description and get feedback.ResyBullet.io - Learn how to write attention grabbing resume bullets.Mailscoop.io - Find anyone’s professional email in seconds.Connect with Austin for daily job search content:Cultivated CultureLinkedInTwitterThanks for listening!

Austin shares the secret of the 90:9:1 rule and how you can use it to effectively target your job search efforts!Time Stamped Show Notes:[0:25] - What is the 90:9:1 rule?[3:06] - How to apply the 90:9:1 rule to your job search[3:47] - Build a relationship with the 1 and the 9[5:25] - Go out and find those people in your networkWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Click here to learn more about 1:1 career coaching to help you land your dream job without applying online.Check out Austin’s courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin’s proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin’s proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Try Austin’s Job Search ToolsResyBuild.io - Build a beautiful, job-winning resume in minutes.ResyMatch.io - Score your resume vs. your target job description and get feedback.ResyBullet.io - Learn how to write attention grabbing resume bullets.Mailscoop.io - Find anyone’s professional email in seconds.Connect with Austin for daily job search content:Cultivated CultureLinkedInTwitterThanks for listening!

Austin shares 5 tips for recovering from being laid off that will get you ready for the next chapter of your life!Time Stamped Show Notes:[0:25] - 5 ways to bounce back after getting laid off[1:06] - Take time to process[2:41] - Get very clear on where you want to go next[4:16] - Find time to up-skill[6:17] - Reach out to your loose connections[7:42] - Find time for youWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Click here to learn more about 1:1 career coaching to help you land your dream job without applying online.Check out Austin’s courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin’s proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin’s proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Try Austin’s Job Search ToolsResyBuild.io - Build a beautiful, job-winning resume in minutes.ResyMatch.io - Score your resume vs. your target job description and get feedback.ResyBullet.io - Learn how to write attention grabbing resume bullets.Mailscoop.io - Find anyone’s professional email in seconds.Connect with Austin for daily job search content:Cultivated CultureLinkedInTwitterThanks for listening!

This is an Audio Edition episode—originally published on YouTube and optimized for audio listening.Does networking feel overwhelming? Let’s fix that. In today’s market, 40–80% of roles are filled through referrals, not online applications. But building and maintaining those relationships is hard. In this video, I’ll walk you through how to automate your entire job search networking system using n8n and ChatGPT. You’ll learn how to auto-track every connection, generate personalized follow-up reminders, and use AI to create summaries and next steps…All based on the exact system that helped me land roles at Google, Microsoft, and Twitter after getting 0 replies from 300 job applications.You’ll also get a free copy of my networking tracker template, n8n automation workflow, and all of the ChatGPT prompts I used. This automation isn't just theory. It's part of the system we use with our job search coaching clients. Whether you’re pivoting careers, bouncing back from a layoff, trying to break into big tech, or anything in between, this is a step-by-step job search strategy that works.📥 *FREE NETWORKING TEMPLATE, n8n TEMPLATE, & COPY/PASTE PROMPTS*Hit the link below to grab free copies of my Google Sheet Networking Tracking, an n8n template you can upload, and the exact prompts I used in this video:→ https://AustinBelcak.com/Network🚀 *READY TO LAND MORE INTERVIEWS & OFFERS?*Our client Rodrigo was feeling “lost” in his job search. We helped him build out a networking system that led to multiple referral-driven interview processes and THREE job offers in today’s market. Our client see:💰 Average Raise: $44,000+ ⏱️ Avg. Time To Offer: ~3.5 Months🧭 Complete Career Clarity⭐ Satisfaction Rating: 9.5 / 10🤝 End-To-End Job Search Support✅ 3X+ ROI GuaranteeIf you want to learn more, hit the link below to see how we can map this to your search on a free 30 minute Career Clarity Call:*BOOK HERE:* https://cultivatedculture.com/coaching​👋 *LET’S BE FRIENDS*Follow along for more job search content:*LinkedIn:* https://linkedin.com/in/abelcak*Newsletter:* https://cultivatedculture.com/newsletter*Website:* https://cultivatedculture.comNote On AI Use: AI isn't meant to be a replacement for you. If you're simply copying and pasting outputs, you're not going to see the benefits. Instead, you need to view AI as a supplement that saves you energy via automation, amplifies your critical thinking as a brainstorm partner, etc. Use it to remove 80% of the tedious baseline work so you save 100% of your energy for the high ROI actions that move the needle.#jobsearch #AI #networking #careers #n8n #ChatGPTWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Check out Austin’s courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin’s proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin’s proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Thanks for listening!