Career Intelligence Podcast

You have the experience. You are qualified. So why are you not getting the call?

In this episode of the Career Intelligence Podcast, I sit down with Josh Jones, a recruiter with Vaco who works with candidates and hiring managers every day. Josh shares a firsthand perspective on what recruiters are actually looking for when your resume lands on their desk, why qualified candidates sometimes get overlooked, and what can help you stand out throughout the hiring process.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why using one resume for every application is one of the biggest mistakes you can make

• Why the context behind your experience matters as much as your accomplishments

• How to use AI to strengthen your resume without it working against you

• How strategically using references can help reinforce your credibility

• What it actually takes to show up and deliver in the interview

Visit our website where you can find all episodes and show notes. We would love it if you would follow, rate and review!

www.careerintelligencepodcast.com

We want to hear from you! Connect with us!

Meredith Pasekoff-Dinitzyourcareerhappinesspc.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-pasekoffdinitz/

Betsy Jewellbetsyjewellcoaching.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyjewell/

Kathleen Dohoneycelticcareerpros.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleendohoney1/

Josh Jones is a Senior Associate at Vaco, where he helps organizations across the Triangle connect with top HR, talent, payroll, and business professionals. He is passionate about relationship building, workforce strategy, and supporting the growth of the Raleigh-Durham business community.

Connect with Josh:

Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshjoneshr/

About Our Guest

What happens when the career path you expected suddenly changes? In this episode, I talk with Amy Leighton of Career Resources LLC about the continuing impact of federal workforce reductions and what displaced government employees are discovering as they consider their next move.

Amy explores the challenges of transitioning from federal employment, including translating specialized experience into language private-sector employers understand, narrowing a lengthy federal resume, and adjusting to a very different interview process.

Most importantly, our conversation highlights how an unexpected career disruption can become a chance to reassess priorities, uncover transferable skills, and build a next chapter that offers both opportunity and meaning.

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We want to hear from you! Connect with us!

Kathleen Dohoney

celticcareerpros.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleendohoney1/

Betsy Jewell

betsyjewellcoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyjewell/

Meredith Pasekoff-Dinitz

yourcareerhappinesspc.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-pasekoffdinitz/

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My guest Amy Leighton is a Certified Professional Career Coach, Certified Professional Resume Writer, and founder of Career Resources LLC. She helps people figure out what comes next in their careers and explain their experience in language employers understand.

After 15 years in human resources and employee benefits compliance, Amy moved to Texas for her husband’s military assignment, leaving behind a job she loved. It was there that she started Career Resources LLC.

When Amy returned to Northern Virginia, her first local client was a lobbyist with ties to Capitol Hill. That introduction led to her work with Capitol Hill staffers and gave her an inside look at the unique challenges of the Washington, D.C., job market. Today, her clients include Capitol Hill staffers, nonprofit professionals, and federal employees exploring opportunities in the private sector.

What Amy enjoys most is the moment when someone who says, “I don’t know how to explain what I do,” begins to recognize just how much they bring. She offers practical advice, honest conversations, and plenty of encouragement to help people move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

Connect with Amy at:

Website: http://www.careerresourcesllc.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amyleighton

Your career doesn’t always move in a straight line, and what success looks like to you can change along the way. 

In this episode, Kathleen Dohoney, Meredith Dinitz and Betsy Jewell explore 6 practical ways to build career momentum at any stage, from gaining clarity about what you want and strengthening professional relationships to refreshing your interview skills and preparing for future opportunities. 

We also discuss why career success doesn’t have to follow a traditional ladder, how your priorities can change over time, and why being proactive matters even when you’re happy in your current role. 

Whether you’re actively job searching, returning to the workforce, contemplating a change, or simply taking stock of your career, these tips will help you become more intentional about where you’re headed and take one manageable step toward what’s next.

Most importantly, we talk about patience, curiosity, and taking small, purposeful steps so you’re better prepared for opportunities and changes before they happen.

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We want to hear from you! Connect with us!

Kathleen Dohoney

celticcareerpros.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleendohoney1/

Betsy Jewell

betsyjewellcoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyjewell/

Meredith Pasekoff-Dinitz

yourcareerhappinesspc.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-pasekoffdinitz/

Knowing your strengths and value at work can be difficult at any career stage, whether you're just starting out or twenty years in.

In this episode, Meredith Dinitz and Betsy Jewell share practical ways to identify what you bring to the table and explain it in a way that goes beyond your job title or a list of skills.

Early in your career, how do you identify your strengths when you don't have much work experience? Betsy shares her concept of "proof of work," looking at what you've actually done and how you've done it, including experiences from group projects, clubs, hobbies, and more.

And after 15 or 20 years in the workforce, how do you separate what you've done from what you're actually good at? Meredith shares how to look for patterns in your experience, including what people consistently come to you for, the problems you're good at solving, and what you're known for.

How does understanding what you bring help when you're considering a career change? Once you understand the value underneath your title, you can start asking where else what you do well might be valuable. And what about when you're aiming for a promotion instead of a career change? They dig into why the same self-awareness matters there too, not just when you're job hunting.

In this episode:

• The difference between your responsibilities, skills, strengths, and the value you bring

• Betsy's "proof of work" concept

• How to turn a vague strength like "I'm a people person" into something you can actually explain

• Why your job title or major doesn't have to define what's next

• Practical questions to help you identify your value at any career stage

We want to hear from you! Connect with us!

Meredith Pasekoff-Dinitz

yourcareerhappinesspc.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-pasekoffdinitz/

Kathleen Dohoney

celticcareerpros.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleendohoney1/

Betsy Jewell

betsyjewellcoaching.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyjewell/

What if the first step in choosing a career isn’t choosing a career at all?

In this episode of the Career Intelligence Podcast, Betsy talks with Cora and Courtenay of Be You Media about why self-discovery should come before big decisions about college, majors, careers, and work. Too often, teens and young adults are asked, “What do you want to do?” before they’ve had the opportunity to understand who they are, what they’re naturally good at, what matters to them, and what kind of life they want to build.

Together, Betsy, Cora, and Courtenay explore how understanding your values, aptitudes, interests, motivations, and natural strengths can lead to more confident and intentional career decisions. They discuss the Becoming You methodology, the difference between values and virtues, the role of aptitude assessments like YouScience, and why self-awareness can help young adults navigate uncertainty and adapt as the world of work continues to change.

They also talk about the important role parents can play in career exploration, including how to ask better questions, encourage curiosity and experimentation, and resist the urge to map out a young person’s future for them.

Whether you’re a teen or young adult trying to figure out what comes next, a parent supporting that process, or an educator or career professional helping young people prepare for the future, this conversation offers a different place to start: know yourself first, then explore what’s possible.

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We want to hear from you! Connect with us!

Betsy Jewell

Betsy Jewell Career Coaching

Meredith Pasekoff-Dinitz

Your Career Happiness Professional Coaching

Kathleen Dohoney

Celtic Career Pros

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About our Guests

CORA BRADY

Cora is an entrepreneur, communications leader, educator, and facilitator who has built and led teams across North America. She is known for creating thoughtful, high-impact conversations that help people understand themselves more deeply and make more intentional decisions about their lives. She is also a certified executive coach through the Academy of Executive Coaching (AoEC).

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/corabrady/⁠

COURTENAY O’HEA

Courtenay is a certified parent coach and counsellor who supports parents and young adults through periods of transition, growth, and decision-making. Known for her calm, grounded approach, she creates space for people to ask deeper questions, better understand themselves, and move forward with greater clarity and intention.

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtenay-o-hea-1495581ab/⁠

Instagram

The Values Bridge

Whose Life Do You Want

Feeling like you're already behind when it comes to AI?

You're not alone.

While AI is transforming the job search, most professionals are still trying to figure out how to use it effectively without feeling overwhelmed.

In this episode of the Career Intelligence Podcast, Kathleen Dohoney welcomes recruiting executive, talent leader, and career strategist Robin Reshwan for an insightful conversation that separates hype from reality.

Robin shares what recruiters are actually looking for, how AI is changing hiring decisions, the biggest mistakes candidates make with AI-generated resumes and interview preparation, and practical ways to stay authentic.

If you've been wondering where to start or questioning whether you're already behind, this conversation will give you clarity, confidence, and a practical way forward.

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We want to hear from you! Connect with us!

Kathleen Dohoney

⁠celticcareerpros.com⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleendohoney1/⁠

Betsy Jewell

⁠betsyjewellcoaching.com⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyjewell/⁠

Meredith Pasekoff-Dinitz

⁠yourcareerhappinesspc.com⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-pasekoffdinitz/⁠

Bio: 

Robin Reshwan has hired at scale, run recruiting divisions, coached individual professionals, and led talent functions inside corporations - a rare vantage point on every side of the hiring process.

She began with a decade building and running large recruiting divisions at Robert Half, Adecco, and Randstad, then founded Career Strategy Advising, her own career coaching firm, to advise job-seeking professionals and companies on success strategies.

She later moved in-house, leading Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Enablement, and AI adoption at corporations, most recently as VP of Talent at a tech unicorn.

In addition to her career strategist work, she directs the Certified Digital Career Strategist (CDCS) program, training career coaches worldwide. 

Contact Robin: 

Everyone is talking about AI.

How to use AI. How AI is changing hiring. How AI is replacing jobs.

But what if we've been asking the wrong question?

In this episode of the Career Intelligence Podcast, Betsy Jewell sits down with Linda Liu, founder of LiftHer Career and creator of the Grad2Hire program, to explore why the future of work isn't just about technology. It's about becoming more human.

We discuss why so many college students and recent graduates feel overwhelmed in today's job market, why applying to hundreds of jobs rarely works, and why qualities like curiosity, communication, confidence, self-awareness, and relationship-building are becoming even more valuable in the age of AI.

You'll also hear how Linda's innovative Grad2Hire program is helping young adults bridge the gap between college and career through coaching, community, mentorship, and real-world experience.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why the college-to-career transition feels harder than ever

• Why AI is a tool, not a career strategy

• The human skills employers still can't automate

• Why networking is really about building authentic relationships

• How coaching and community accelerate career success

• Why self-discovery should happen before the job search

• How employers can better develop early-career talent

Whether you're a student, recent graduate, parent, educator, or employer, this conversation offers hope and practical advice for navigating today's changing world of work.

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We want to hear from you! Connect with us!

Betsy Jewell

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betsyjewellcoaching.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyjewell/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meredith Pasekoff-Dinitz

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yourcareerhappinesspc.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-pasekoffdinitz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kathleen Dohoney

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠celticcareerpros.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleendohoney1/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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About our Guest

Linda Liu is the Founder and CEO of LiftHER Career, an innovative, inclusive career-launcher designed to help university graduates, especially those from underestimated backgrounds, connect with careers and employers seeking top talent.

Linda is an expert in education and workforce development, with a career dedicated to expanding access to higher education and empowering young professionals to launch careers worldwide.  She began her professional journey at leading consulting firms such as Deloitte, before spending the bulk of her career at education nonprofits.  First, spearheading strategic partnerships and international education programs at the College Board. Later, she directed global work-based learning and internship initiatives with CIEE, the largest non-profit study abroad provider in the US, bridging the gap between academic learning and professional readiness on a global scale.

Now, her biggest priority is to help young people get the lift they need to successfully transition into careers.

She holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA in Economics and East Asian Studies from the University of Chicago.

 [email protected]

Why do some people get promoted while others are overlooked? Executive career strategist Laura Johnson pulls back the curtain on the hidden conversations behind promotions, the difference between mentors and sponsors, and what you can do right now to make sure your name is coming up in the rooms you are not in.

In this episode you will learn:

Visit our website where you can find all episodes and show notes. We would love it if you would follow, rate and review! www.careerintelligencepodcast.com

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We want to hear from you! Connect with us!

Meredith Pasekoff-Dinitzyourcareerhappinesspc.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-pasekoffdinitz/

Betsy Jewellbetsyjewellcoaching.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyjewell/

Kathleen Dohoneycelticcareerpros.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleendohoney1/

About our Guest:

Laura Johnson is an executive career strategist and one of fewer than 25 Certified Master Personal Branding Strategists worldwide. With more than 35 years of experience in leadership development, executive coaching, and talent strategy, she helps high-performing leaders—especially women in male-dominated industries—understand what really drives executive advancement. Her work focuses on the intersection of visibility, influence, sponsorship, and strategic positioning.

Website: www.llejcareers.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-lee-ellen-johnson/

Email: [email protected]

In this episode, recruiter-turned-Salary Coach John Gates, author of Act Your Wage, shares what 30 years on the employer's side of the negotiating table taught him about how candidates consistently leave money on the table.

John explains why answering early salary questions with a range (not a number) is your most powerful move, how to understand total compensation beyond base salary, and what to do the moment an offer arrives (hint: don't say yes right away).

You'll also learn how to ask the right questions to find where a company has flexibility, how consultants can stop underpricing themselves, and why negotiating, even in a tough job market, is more accessible than most people think.

We want to hear from you! Connect with us!

Kathleen Dohoney

celticcareerpros.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleendohoney1/

Betsy Jewell

betsyjewellcoaching.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyjewell/

Meredith Pasekoff-Dinitz

yourcareerhappinesspc.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-pasekoffdinitz/

John Gates Bio:  

John Gates is a veteran corporate recruiting leader, best-selling author of Act Your Wage, and founder of Salary Coach Academy. A former Head of Global Recruiting for multiple Fortune 500 companies, John has trained hundreds of recruiters and overseen more than 75,000 job offer negotiations during his career. Today, he helps corporate professionals negotiate their next pay package comfortably and safely, using insider techniques drawn from more than 20 years on the corporate side of the hiring table. His clients often uncover 5- and 6-figure gains they might otherwise have left on the table — without damaging relationships or putting opportunities at risk.

Connect with John:

Link to Act Your Wage book:  https://tinyurl.com/ytcnuxmc

Whether you're a recent graduate, returning to work after raising children, changing careers, interviewing after years with the same company, or concerned about being overqualified, this episode shares practical interview strategies to help you interview with confidence.

Career coaches Meredith Dinitz and Kathleen Dohoney share the strategies they use with clients to navigate these situations, helping job seekers tell their story, address employer concerns, and connect their experience to what hiring managers are really looking for.

In this episode, you'll learn how to:

Whether you're preparing for your first interview or your next career move, you'll walk away with practical, actionable strategies you can use in your very next interview.

If you'd like to learn more about working with Meredith or Kathleen, you'll find their contact information in the show notes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the Career Intelligence Podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone preparing for interviews or navigating a career transition.

We want to hear from you! Connect with us!

Meredith Pasekoff-Dinitz

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yourcareerhappinesspc.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-pasekoffdinitz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kathleen Dohoney

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠celticcareerpros.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleendohoney1/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Betsy Jewell

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betsyjewellcoaching.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyjewell/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠