Hired, Not Fired

Guest: Chelsea Vallilee, Talent Acquisition-Early Career Recruiter, Fastenal

Are AI-written resumes and cover letters a shortcut—or a setback? In this episode, Chelsea Vallee of Fastenal returns to share how Gen Z job seekers can use AI wisely without losing their own voice. Plus, she unpacks how to stand out if you don’t have much professional experience, why soft skill badges matter, and how networking can open doors you didn’t know existed.

·      What do hiring managers actually want to see on your application?

·      How can you make your efforts shine, even if your resume isn’t packed with internships?

Ready to make an authentic impression and build career momentum? Hit play for tangible advice new grads can put into action today!

Fastenal: https://www.fastenal.com/

Chelsea Vallilee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseavallilee/

Hired, Not Fired is brought to you by TheRealMe.io --Upskill your soft skills and get hired for your potential

In Part 2 of our interview, Stephanie Steele returns to share practical, real-world advice for Gen Z job seekers aiming to stand out—even if you’re short on experience.

What’s Covered:

• How to ace behavioral interviews
• Tips for using AI in resumes and cover letters (without getting into trouble)
• Building your network from scratch—even if you don’t have industry connections
• Why ghosting recruiters can hurt your career later on
• The role of company values in keeping employees happy at Rapid7

If you’re searching for your first job or just starting your career journey, this episode is packed with hiring manager insights you can use right now.

Listen in to learn how to build confidence, make the right impression, and stack the odds in your favor!

Rapid7: https://www.rapid7.com/

Stephanie Steele: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-steele-30695443/

Guest: Stephanie Steele, Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition Programs at Rapid7

Stephanie Steele knows what it takes to get hired. With years of experience recruiting early-career talent, she’s passionate about helping Gen Z candidates bridge the gap between school and the workforce. As Senior Manager at Rapid7—a global cybersecurity company—Stephanie has reviewed countless entry-level applications and interviews.

In this episode, Stephanie shares:

• What she really looks for on Gen Z resumes
• The most common resume and interview mistakes—and how to easily avoid them
• Why soft skills like communication and problem-solving matter, and how to show them off beyond “buzzwords”
• Her take on the media buzz about Gen Z’s workforce readiness

If you’re applying for your first job or internship, Stephanie’s insights will help you stand out for all the right reasons.

Don’t miss Part 2, where she’ll dive into how to prove your soft skills, why networking matters, and mistakes that could hurt your job search!

Links:

Rapid7: https://www.rapid7.com/

Stephanie Steele: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-steele-30695443/

Guest: Chrissy Joseph, VP of People Strategy at BitSight Technologies

Chrissy Joseph has over twenty years experience in recruiting and HR. In the last fifteen years, she has led efforts in building recruiting functions in numerous start up up tech companies in the Boston area. Chrissy is currently Vice President of People Strategy at BitSight Technologies.

In This Episode:

No experience? No problem—if you know how to showcase your soft skills and stand out strategically. In this follow-up episode, Chrissy dives into how new grads can get noticed and get hired even without a long resume.

• Can group projects, campus clubs, and online certifications actually give you a hiring edge?
• What’s the role of networking, and how should Gen Z use LinkedIn without cringing?

Plus: a surprising insight about time in seat that every new hire should hear.

Hit play for practical tips that could land you the job—before someone else does.

Subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

Links:

BitSight: https://www.bitsight.com/

Chrissy Joseph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissy-fasoli-joseph-051a562/

TheRealMe.io

Guest: Michael Brown, VP of Global Talent Attraction at Snyk

Michael Brown, recently the Vice President of Global Talent Attraction at Snyk, is the founder of Door3 Talent, helping startups hire faster, smarter, and with less chaos using AI. Michael brings over twenty years of experience in talent acquisition with a decade in leadership roles. Since joining Snyk in April 2022, he's built a successful track record with Boston's top tech companies from early stage startups like LumaField to unicorns like Toast. Passionate about finding perfect talent fits and building high performing teams, he's driven by the impact on both individuals and organizations.

In This Episode:

When everyone’s resume looks the same, how do you actually stand out? In Part 2 of our conversation with Michael Brown, we dig into what really moves the needle for early-career candidates—from showcasing soft skills to making meaningful connections. Whether you’re a student athlete, taking soft skills courses, or just gutsy enough to reach out to a hiring manager directly, this episode will show you how small signals can lead to big career moments.

• Think internships are optional?

• Wondering if it’s weird to message someone on LinkedIn?

Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on more insider tips from the people actually doing the hiring.

Links from the episode:

Door3 Talent: door3talent.com

Snyk: https://snyk.io/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbrown91281/

Guest: Michael Brown, VP of Global Talent Attraction at Snyk

Michael Brown, recently the Vice President of Global Talent Attraction at Snyk, is the founder of Door3 Talent, helping startups hire faster, smarter, and with less chaos using AI. Michael brings over twenty years of experience in talent acquisition with a decade in leadership roles. Since joining Snyk in April 2022, he's built a successful track record with Boston's top tech companies from early stage startups like LumaField to unicorns like Toast. Passionate about finding perfect talent fits and building high performing teams, he's driven by the impact on both individuals and organizations.

In this episode:

What helps Gen Z candidates shine—and what holds them back? In this episode, Michael Brown shares what 20+ years in tech hiring have taught him about early-career success. From communication skills to creative networking strategies, you’ll hear what employers are really looking for—and how candidates can rise above the noise in a world of AI-written resumes and online job boards.

• Think you’re doing everything right by applying online? There may be a smarter way to break through.

• Tune in to learn how to avoid common missteps and show off the strengths that make you a standout.

Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on more insider tips from the people actually doing the hiring.

Links from the episode:

Door3 Talent: door3talent.com

Snyk: https://snyk.io/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbrown91281/

Guest: Chrissy Joseph, VP of People Strategy at BitSight Technologies

What’s the real reason some Gen Z candidates land the job—and others don’t?

In this episode, Chrissy Joseph pulls back the curtain on what hiring managers are really paying attention to in early-career interviews. From overlooked soft skills to subtle red flags that sabotage your chances, she shares exactly what separates the standouts from the forgettable.

Think you know how to prepare for an interview? You might be missing the one thing that matters most.

Listen in to learn how to impress—not just on paper, but in person and over Zoom.

About BitSight Technologies: Cyber risk management platform helping businesses monitor exposure and third-party risk.