How To Get A Job

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

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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:
LinkedIn
FormAWin
YouTube
Free Resource

Connect with Daniel Botero:
LinkedIn

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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

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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 - Website

Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn

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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: LinkedIn

Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn

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In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Keri-Lynne Shaw, founder of The Salary Bump and former Chief Human Resource Officer, to uncover how job seekers can negotiate better compensation, increase their earning potential, and even exit a job without leaving money on the table. Drawing from her experience building compensation structures, approving offers, and negotiating exit packages from the HR side, Keri-Lynne explains why candidates often underestimate their leverage, why you should never give a salary number first, and how to position yourself toward the high end of a compensation range. Daniel and Keri-Lynne also explore the many elements beyond salary that can be negotiated, including bonuses, equity, car expenses, healthcare, education, coaching, and other benefits, as well as how to use market research, competing opportunities, and strategic silence during compensation conversations. They also discuss how employees can proactively negotiate transition or severance packages when they know a job is no longer the right fit, including the story of one executive who secured a $2.3 million exit package. This episode is a must listen for anyone who wants to stop leaving money on the table, understand the other side of the negotiation table, and take a more strategic approach to both getting paid more and leaving a job on better terms.

Connect with Keri-Lynne Shaw: LinkedIn

Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn

The Salary Bump: thesalarybump.com

Instagram: @theklshaw

TikTok: @kerilynneshaw

YouTube: @kerilynneshaw

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In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Dominic Brocco, CEO and Executive Career Coach at Career Domain, to break down how job seekers can successfully navigate today's challenging job market. Drawing from his background in engineering, tech, recruiting, and career coaching, Dominic explains why job seekers often overestimate the importance of their resume and why networking, visibility, positioning, and strategic outreach are becoming increasingly important. Daniel and Dominic also discuss how to approach career pivots, how to use LinkedIn to create more opportunities, why treating your job search like a sales funnel can improve your results, and the importance of consistency, mindset, and trusting the process. This episode is a must listen for anyone looking to land a better job, increase their earning potential, or build a more strategic approach to their job search in 2026.

Connect with Dominic Brocco: LinkedIn - Website - YouTube

Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn

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In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Kim Taynor, career transition coach, resume expert, and Director of Recruiting and Operations at Career Path to Staffing, to clarify one of the biggest misconceptions in today's job market: the difference between a recruiter and a career coach. Drawing from her unique experience working on both sides, Kim explains how recruiters are hired to fill positions for companies, while career coaches are dedicated to helping individuals build the strategy, branding, networking, and skills needed to achieve their career goals. Daniel and Kim also discuss how staffing agencies operate, why companies partner with external recruiters, the differences between internal and external recruiters, and why understanding each professional's role can dramatically improve your job search expectations and results. This episode is a must listen for anyone navigating today's hiring market who wants to know when to work with a recruiter, when to invest in career coaching, and how to leverage both to land the right opportunity.

Connect with Kim Taynor: LinkedIn

Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn

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In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Taylor Orr, founder and head career coach at The Medical Sales Guide, to explore what it really takes to break into one of the most competitive and rewarding career paths in sales. Drawing from her experience as a top-performing medical sales representative and coach, Taylor shares how she overcame the challenge of breaking into the industry, why medical sales offers both meaningful impact and exceptional earning potential, and the mindset required to succeed in a high-performance environment. Daniel and Taylor discuss the qualities hiring managers value most, including coachability, resilience, positivity, and self-motivation, as well as the practical qualifications that can improve your chances of landing interviews. They also break down the realities of performance-based compensation, career growth, and what separates candidates who simply apply from those who successfully launch a long-term career in medical sales. This episode is a must listen for anyone considering a career in medical sales or looking to understand what it takes to break into a competitive, high-income industry.

Connect with Taylor Orr: LinkedIn

Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn

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In this episode of the How To Get a Job Podcast, Daniel Botero sits down with Anna Belyaeva, CEO and founder of The Career Diet, to uncover the habits and strategies that consistently help professionals land high-paying roles in today's competitive job market. Drawing from her experience as a recruiter, enterprise sales professional, and career coach who has helped over 1,000 professionals secure $150K+ positions, Anna explains why consistency, networking, and interview preparation matter more than ever in the age of AI. She shares why resumes have become a commodity, how to stand out beyond online applications, the importance of proactively addressing employer objections during interviews, and why practicing communication—not memorizing answers—is the key to earning offers. Daniel and Anna also explore how the hiring landscape has evolved, why job seekers must adapt to new market realities, and what separates candidates who consistently land opportunities from those who stay stuck. This episode is a must listen for experienced professionals who want to accelerate their job search, master interviews, and secure their next career move in an increasingly competitive market.

Connect with Anna Belyaeva: LinkedIn

Connect with Daniel Botero: LinkedIn

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