How To Get A Job

In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Michelle Schafer, founder and head coach at Michelle Schafer Coaching, to break down how public sector professionals can successfully transition into the private sector. Drawing from her own experience navigating two organizational restructurings, Michelle shares why sending out more resumes is rarely the answer and how having a clear career strategy, leveraging your network, and identifying transferable skills can open new opportunities. Daniel and Michelle discuss why government employees often struggle with this transition, from losing the stability and professional relationships they've built over the years to adapting to different hiring processes, interview styles, and workplace expectations. Michelle introduces five essential questions to help professionals identify what gives them energy, recognize what drains them, uncover their transferable skills, define the organizations and values they want to work for, and establish their career non-negotiables. She also explains how to use AI as a thought partner to explore potential career paths and how to turn networking conversations into a focused job search strategy. Additionally, Michelle shares her three-part framework for explaining why you left your previous role, positioning a restructuring as a business decision while highlighting your achievements and the value you can bring to your next employer. Finally, they discuss why building a personal 30-60-90 day onboarding plan before starting a new job can help professionals establish relationships, understand expectations, and set themselves up for long-term success. This episode is a must listen for government employees facing restructuring, public servants considering a career change, and professionals looking to translate their experience into new opportunities in the private sector. Connect with Michelle Schafer: LinkedIn Website   Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn   Powered by CoCareer

In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Kendall Berg, founder and CEO of That Career Coach, TEDx speaker, author of Secrets of the Career Game, and host of the Secrets of the Career Game podcast, to explain why cold job applications are becoming increasingly ineffective and what job seekers should do instead. Drawing from her experience in recruiting and career coaching, Kendall breaks down how AI-powered application tools are flooding recruiters with thousands of applications, why candidates often target the wrong roles, and how technology is making it harder to stand out in an increasingly competitive job market. Daniel and Kendall discuss why mass applying is not a sustainable job search strategy and how candidates can bring their personality back into their resumes, target companies where their strengths are valued, and build relationships with the people making hiring decisions. Kendall shares practical strategies for getting noticed, including attending industry conferences and networking events, creating authentic connections, using personalized Loom videos, and building visibility through LinkedIn content and meaningful engagement. They also explore why interview preparation matters more than ever and how showing your personality, making an effort, and breaking away from traditional application methods can create opportunities that other candidates miss. This episode is a must listen for job seekers who are tired of submitting applications without results and want to learn how to stand out, build meaningful professional relationships, and get in front of the right hiring managers. Connect with Kendall Berg:  LinkedIn Website Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn Powered by CoCareer

In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Yuliia Savchenko, Leadership and Reputation Coach and PCC-certified ICF coach, to break down how professionals can set themselves up for success during their first 90 days in a new role. Drawing from more than 13 years of experience in strategic communications and reputation management, Yuliia shares a practical framework for building trust, establishing credibility, and making your contributions visible from day one. Daniel and Yuliia explore five essential areas for a successful start: direction, positioning and visibility, stakeholder relationships, communication, and execution. Yuliia explains how to align with your manager on the three most important outcomes, clarify decision-making authority, define what you want to be known for, and identify the key people whose support and collaboration will shape your success. She also shares practical communication strategies for working with managers, peers, direct reports, and senior leadership, including how to present recommendations, demonstrate evidence, and make clear requests. Finally, they discuss how to turn these insights into an actionable 90-day roadmap with clear milestones, deadlines, and regular feedback. This episode is a must listen for professionals starting a new job, stepping into leadership, or taking on broader responsibilities who want to build a strong reputation and create opportunities for long-term career growth.   Connect with Yuliia Savchenko: LinkedIn Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn Powered by CoCareer

In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Jenny Roberts, founder of Jenny Roberts Coaching and former Royal Air Force service member, to break down how military professionals can successfully transition into civilian careers. Drawing from her experience in the military, recruitment, and career coaching, Jenny explains why the most effective transitions start with clarity about your strengths, priorities, and career goals rather than immediately applying for jobs or collecting qualifications. Daniel and Jenny discuss how veterans can identify their transferable skills, research civilian career paths, and translate military experience into language that hiring managers understand. Jenny also explains why narrowing your focus to two or three potential career directions, validating those options through market research and networking, and communicating your unique value proposition can significantly improve your chances of getting hired. They explore common transition mistakes, including defaulting to familiar roles simply because they feel safe, trying to pursue too many career paths at once, and failing to clearly communicate the value military experience brings to civilian employers. Jenny also shares how her four-month Military to Market coaching program helps service leavers build clarity, position their experience, and develop a strategy to secure their next career opportunity. This episode is a must listen for military personnel preparing to leave the armed forces, veterans exploring civilian careers, and anyone looking to turn their experience and transferable skills into a successful career transition. Connect with Jenny Roberts: LinkedInWebsiteConnect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn Powered by CoCareer

In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Jessica Hsia, career and resilience coach and founder of JessUp Coaching, to explore how to turn life experiences, career transitions, and personal challenges into advantages for your future. Jessica shares her unconventional journey across cultures and industries, from fashion and procurement to coaching, and explains how embracing your unique background can help you find greater confidence, authenticity, and purpose. Daniel and Jessica discuss how to navigate career uncertainty, identify what is keeping you stuck, challenge limiting beliefs, and take meaningful steps toward a more fulfilling professional and personal life. Jessica introduces the Wheel of Life exercise to help listeners assess their satisfaction across different areas, gain clarity on what they want to change, and identify where to focus their energy. She also explains her holistic approach to coaching and the five pillars of sustainable resilience: energy, emotional intelligence, support, mindset, and fulfillment. This episode is a must listen for job seekers, professionals navigating career transitions, and anyone looking to build resilience, reconnect with their purpose, and create a future that aligns with who they truly are.   Connect with Jessica Hsia: LinkedIn Website  Instagram Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn Powered by CoCareer

In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Debra Shaw, founder of Grad Hired, to break down why so many college graduates are struggling to land a job and what they can do differently to stand out in today’s job market. Drawing from her experience as a parent of multiple college graduates and a career coach, Debra explains why simply applying to more jobs is often an ineffective strategy and why networking, building relationships, and starting conversations with professionals can create far more opportunities. Daniel and Debra discuss how students can start building their network while still in college, leverage professors, alumni, career fairs, professional organizations, and family connections, and position themselves before they ever graduate. They also break down what graduates should do when they have been applying for months without results, including identifying target companies, reaching out to employees, researching hiring events, and creating meaningful conversations instead of immediately asking for a job. Debra also shares practical career fair strategies, from showing up early and dressing professionally to using business cards with LinkedIn QR codes to stand out from other candidates. This episode is a must listen for college students, recent graduates, and parents who want to understand what actually helps young professionals get hired and how to turn relationships and visibility into real career opportunities. Connect with Debra Shaw: LinkedIn Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn Powered by CoCareer.

In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Michael Daleo, aerospace engineer, career coach, and founder of FormAWin, to break down how engineering students can position themselves to land internships and full-time roles at top aerospace and defense companies. Michael shares his unconventional journey from getting fired from his freshman-year internship at Lockheed Martin to getting rehired, eventually spending four years at the company and later working at Northrop Grumman. Daniel and Michael discuss why GPA and technical knowledge alone are not enough to stand out in engineering, and why leadership, networking, communication, sales, and people skills can have a major impact on your career trajectory. Michael explains how he learned to treat his career like a business, maximize the return on his time, build meaningful relationships with engineers at target companies, and use what he calls the “relationship bank account” to create opportunities before asking for anything in return. They also discuss how engineering students should approach career fairs, internships, networking, and recruitment, including why having strong relationships inside target companies can be more valuable than simply submitting applications online. Michael also shares his approach to one-on-one career coaching, helping engineering students prepare for interviews, networking conversations, applications, follow-ups, and salary negotiations. This episode is a must listen for engineering students and young professionals who want to break into aerospace, defense, or other competitive engineering industries and learn how to turn their degree, relationships, and experiences into real career opportunities. Connect with Michael Daleo:LinkedInFormAWinYouTubeFree Resource Connect with Daniel Botero:LinkedIn Powered by CoCareer.

In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Ryan Conceicao, medical sales interview coach and founder of HireLevel University, to break down what it really takes to break into one of the most competitive industries in the job market. Ryan shares his journey from studying biology and considering medical and dental school to discovering medical sales, landing his first role, and eventually completing more than 250 medical sales interviews throughout his career. Daniel and Ryan discuss the differences between pharmaceutical and medical device sales, including compensation, work-life balance, travel, on-call expectations, and how to determine which path best fits your lifestyle and long-term goals. Ryan also explains why medical sales interviews can feel like “psychological warfare,” how hiring managers use behavioral questions to predict future performance, and why your ability to communicate your past experiences can be more valuable than your resume or previous accolades. They explore the biggest interview mistakes candidates make, the importance of preparation, why working with a mentor or career coach can accelerate the process, and how investing in expert guidance can help candidates avoid years of trial and error. Ryan also shares practical advice for students, nurses, pharmacists, sales professionals, teachers, and career transitioners looking to enter medical sales, along with resources to help candidates understand the industry, improve their resumes, network effectively, and prepare for interviews. This episode is a must listen for anyone looking to break into medical sales, increase their earning potential, prepare for highly competitive interviews, or build a career that aligns with both their financial and lifestyle goals. Connect with Ryan Conceicao: LinkedIn HireLevel University Free Medical Sales Training    Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn   Powered by CoCareer.

In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Christine Chang, founder and career coach at Your Next Chapter Coach, former CPA, and former talent acquisition professional, to explore how finance and accounting professionals can break out of career stagnation, get promoted, and find a career path that actually aligns with their strengths. Drawing from her 18 years of experience in accounting and finance, including running her own CPA firm, as well as her experience in recruiting and talent acquisition, Christine explains why technical expertise alone is not enough to reach the highest levels of the profession. Daniel and Christine discuss the “golden handcuffs” that can keep finance and accounting professionals feeling stuck, how to identify transferable skills when pivoting into a new career, and what it really takes to become a partner at a CPA firm. They also explore why visibility, communication, leadership, networking, business development, and client relationships become increasingly important as professionals climb the corporate ladder, and how accountants can demonstrate their financial impact rather than simply listing the tasks they completed. Christine also breaks down how to approach recruiter interviews differently from hiring manager or partner interviews, why cultural fit and communication skills are becoming even more important as AI handles more technical work, and how investing in yourself can dramatically change your career trajectory. This episode is a must listen for anyone in finance or accounting who feels stuck, wants to become a partner, is looking to increase their visibility and career opportunities, or is considering a pivot into a completely new career path. Connect with Christine Chang: LinkedIn - WebsiteConnect with Daniel Botero: LinkedInPowered by CoCareer

In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Kari Russo, former Meta recruiting leader and career coach specializing in helping women in Big Tech land $100K to $1M+ opportunities without burnout. Kari shares the biggest mistakes women make when trying to break into Big Tech, from opting themselves out of opportunities to failing to communicate their value and negotiate their worth. Daniel and Kari dive into how candidates can stand out in an increasingly competitive job market by using networking, referrals, and strategic outreach to recruiters, hiring managers, and future teammates. They also explore what really happens behind the scenes during hiring debriefs, why being the most qualified candidate does not always mean getting the job, and how recruiters and hiring managers evaluate candidates based on risk, fit, and their ability to hit the ground running. Kari explains how job seekers can make recruiters their advocates, ask for interview preparation, tailor their stories to the audience they're speaking to, and position themselves as the obvious choice at every stage of the process. This episode is a must listen for anyone, especially women, who wants to break into Big Tech, stand out from thousands of applicants, and understand what actually happens on the other side of the hiring process. Connect with Kari Russo: LinkedInConnect with Daniel Botero: LinkedInPowered by CoCareer