How to Create a Career Plan

A successful job search starts with knowing where you're going. In this episode of Promoted, Merit America career coach Anja shows how AI can help you move from career-search overwhelm to a clearer plan by narrowing your options step by step. The goal isn't to let AI choose your path—it's to help you find yours.    Learn more about Merit America here   CREDITS: Host: Anja Nikolic Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan Created by Merit America   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Rachna Sukuru Junior Producer: Aditi Sutar Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni   Support Merit America here

Andre Johnson joins his Merit America coach, Anja Nikolic, to talk about turning an unexpected layoff after 25 years in healthcare IT into an opportunity to rethink his career direction. Faced with uncertainty, Andre chose to lean into emerging technology, exploring cybersecurity and AI while continuing to build his skills, which led him to a new role. He shares how he used AI to identify roles that aligned with his experience and long-term goals, how everyday conversations and networking opened unexpected doors, and why staying patient and knowing your worth can make all the difference. Andre’s story is a reminder that a setback doesn’t have to be the end of the road—it can be a redirection toward a new career path. Learn more about Merit America here CREDITS: Host: Anja Nikolic Guest: Andre Johnson Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan Created by Merit America   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Rachna Sukuru Junior Producer: Aditi Sutar Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni Support Merit America here

In this episode of Promoted, Merit America career coach Patricia Harris explains how to use AI as a tool to translate your existing life and work experience into a professional resume. Learn how to feed specific prompts to AI to surface connections between your past background and your future career goals. Finally, discover how to shape the results so you can tell your authentic story (because interviewers don't want a perfectly optimized candidate, they want someone who is a genuine fit for the role). Learn more about Merit America here CREDITS: Host: Patricia Harris Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan Created by Merit America This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Rachna Sukuru Junior Producer: Karan Solanki Director and Video Producer: Jishnu GuhaSound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni Support Merit America here

What do you do when your career takes an unexpected turn—and the job search takes longer than you expected? Jason Prater shares how he used a period of transition to build new skills, rethink his career direction, and land a new role. In conversation with his former Merit America coach, Patricia Harris, Jason explains how AI became a practical interview-prep partner, helping him practice his answers, uncover stories from his experience, and walk into interviews with greater confidence. His story is a reminder that a career doesn’t have to follow a straight line—and sometimes the best way forward is to prepare for possibilities you can’t yet see. Learn more about Merit America here   CREDITS: Host: Patricia Harris Guest: Jason Prater Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan Created by Merit America   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Rachna Sukuru Junior Producer: Karan Solanki Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni   Support Merit America here

In this episode of Promoted, Merit America career coach Sabrina Louissaint breaks down how to optimize your resume by using AI as an editor, not a ghostwriter, in your job search. She focuses on a simple editing technique that helps your real, authentic experience shine through so that you can land the role (and the career) you deserve. Learn more about Merit America here CREDITS:Host: Sabrina LouissaintCreative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne KeenanExecutive Producer: Deshani SemaanCreated by Merit America This is a Maed in India productionHead of Production: Mae Mariyam ThomasProject Manager: Shaun FanthomeProducer: Rachna SukuruJunior Producer: Aditi SutarDirector and Video Producer: Jishnu GuhaSound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni Support Merit America hereThis episode includes AI-generated content.

Kelsy Rodriguez started her career on the manufacturing floor at a major electric vehicle company, but she knew she wanted to build something more. In this episode of Promoted, Kelsy talks with her former Merit America coach, Sabrina Louissaint, about how she used upskilling, persistence, and a strategic approach to move into a more technical role within the same company. From balancing full-time work with her Merit America program to navigating a lengthy internal hiring process, Kelsy shares how staying committed to herself and her goals helped her turn an opportunity into a new career path. She also talks about why she’s continuing to learn, pursue her degree, and look ahead to what’s next. Learn more about Merit America here CREDITS:Host: Sabrina LouissaintGuest: Kelsy RodriguezCreative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne KeenanExecutive Producer: Deshani SemaanCreated by Merit America This is a Maed in India productionHead of Production: Mae Mariyam ThomasProject Manager: Shaun FanthomeProducer: Rachna SukuruJunior Producer: Aditi SutarDirector and Video Producer: Jishnu GuhaSound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni Support Merit America here

In this episode of Promoted, Merit America coach Rob Kairuz shares an easier way to prepare for interviews: the BAR method. He breaks down the BAR method (Background, Action, Result) and shares some examples  so that you can tell your real stories clearly instead of reciting a memorized script (because interviewers don't remember perfect answers - they remember honest ones). Learn more about Merit America here CREDITS:Host: Rob KairuzCreative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne KeenanExecutive Producer: Deshani SemaanCreated by Merit America This is a Maed in India productionHead of Production: Mae Mariyam ThomasProject Manager: Shaun FanthomeProducer: Rachna SukuruJunior Producer: Aditi SutarDirector and Video Producer: Jishnu GuhaSound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni Support Merit America here

In this episode of Promoted, Welen Wang shares his journey from 10 years in Supply Chain Logistics to starting a new career. Welen opens up about the challenges of navigating hundreds of job applications, facing rejection, and rebuilding his confidence after years away from interviews. He discusses how using AI, hands-on projects, and company-specific research helped him stand out and prepare for the opportunity that finally came his way. Welen also reflects on the impact of his career change on his family, his vision of the American Dream, and what he hopes to achieve next. Learn more about Merit America here CREDITS:Host: Rob KairuzGuest: Welen WangCreative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne KeenanExecutive Producer: Deshani SemaanCreated by Merit America This is a Maed in India productionHead of Production: Mae Mariyam ThomasProject Manager: Shaun FanthomeProducer: Rachna SukuruJunior Producer: Aditi SutarDirector and Video Producer: Jishnu GuhaSound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni Support Merit America here

In this episode of Promoted, Merit America career coach Maria Villalobos explains why having a clear career plan matters in today’s fast-changing job market. She breaks down what a career plan is, how to define what you want, research your path, and map out the steps toward a job and future you feel good about.   Learn more about Merit America here.   CREDITS: Host: Maria Villalobos Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan Created by Merit America This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha Junior Producer: Devanshi Chandak   Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram Visual Design: Alika Gupta   Support Merit America here: https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/. 

On this episode of Promoted, Merit America career coach Anne-Marcelle Kouame breaks down how to master the interview question that sets the tone for everything: “Tell me about yourself.” She explains why the first few minutes matter, how to craft a compelling present-past-future answer, and how to use an “I am” statement to showcase your personality and transferable skills — especially if you're changing careers. Learn more about Merit America here.   CREDITS: Host: Anne-Marcelle Kouame Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan Created by Merit America This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha Junior Producer: Devanshi Chandak   Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram Visual Design: Alika Gupta   Support Merit America here: https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/.