Career Hacker Secrets Yannick Kpodar

Welcome to the Career Hacker Mini Series. These are really short episodes that get straight to the point and tackle real-world challenges among career hackers in less than 10 minutes. 
In this episode, we're taking a bite out of Going All In. We go through the 7 steps you'll need to build the conviction to do whatever it takes to break into a top company, break into a top leadership role, or pivot into the job of your dreams. 
This is for anyone looking to take their skills, career, or life to the next level. 
Timestamps
01:32 - The three levels of commitment01:37 - Level 1: I’ll try01:48 - Level 2: I’ll do my best02:08 - Level 3: Whatever it takes02:47 - Seven steps to improve your level of commitment02:58 - Step 1: Start with the end in mind03:22 - Step 2: Define your goal03:41 - Step 3: Find your Why04:42 - Step 4: Identify your Dream 10005:17 - Step 5: Reach out to your Dream 10005:33 - Step 6: Make a decision05:46 - Step 7: Define a Game Plan06:00 - Quick overview

Welcome to the 11th episode of the Career Hackers Secrets Podcast. Today we welcome Dominik Mertens, a mother of 3 who, after running events in higher education for 15 years, lost her job due to Covid. 
Despite her fear of not knowing what was next, she didn't settle. She didn't lose sight of her goal, and she managed to pivot into an incredible new career. Today Dominik is Chief Customer Officer at Bond, a platform that assists schools and organizations with digital transformation and virtual community building.
In today’s episode, we will discuss job hunting, preparing for interviews, and negotiating a salary. We will also touch on why you shouldn’t assume you don't have the skillset for a new industry and field and why you are never too old to pivot. 
Finally, we will discuss the importance of knowing and advocating for other priorities in life, such as being a mom.
This is an inspiring story, and I hope this episode will inspire as much as it inspired me. So if you are someone who recently lost your job and is looking to bounce back and redefine your career, this episode is for you.


TimeStamps
00:00 - Introducing Dominik Mertens
03:04 - Dominik’s background: From Belgium to Barcelona and traveling all over the world
05:00 - The new job: Sales and building relationships
05:20 - Bond’s mission: Education and private community engagement
06:17 - Being let go due to Covid and bouncing back
08:40 - What inspired you to make this pivot? Focusing on the next step
10:40 - What options did you have available? Looking for jobs and filling out my Linkedin profile
12:18 - How long did the search take, and how did you approach it? Keep your energy up and be realistic
14:50 - What was the thing that helped you move forward? Believing in myself: If you want something to happen badly enough, it will happen
16:30- The three levels of commitment
17:41 - How did you determine this was a good opportunity? Because of how the job was described: Humanizing technology and sales as building relationships / Don’t assume you don't have the skillset for a new job, since a lot of skills are transferable
20:42 - Were there some skills you didn't have? How did you bridge the gap? Acquiring digital knowledge / Setting clear expectations about what soft skills you have and what hard skills you need to learn
23:04 - How did you prepare for interviews? Googling, looking at the competitors, thinking about what would you reply to questions, and showing interest
24:59 - The five C's: A framework to identify blind spots in a company
25:50 - Read the company’s website and focus on your strong areas
26:35 - Negotiating your salary when you are starting: Let them make the first offer and know your priorities (family first)
30:50 - Being a mom and a career woman
32:29 - Why do you think you got hired over other candidates? Being authentic, knowing your value, and being humble
34:14 - What advice would you give to someone who wants to pivot? Think about what are your transferable skills. You are never too old because experience is worth gold
37:17 - Any last words of wisdom? Don't worry if you don't have a clear path, new opportunities come.

Welcome to the tenth episode of the Career Hackers Secrets Podcast. Today we chat with Selma Chang, a rock star product marketer who pivoted from sales. 
I met Selma at LinkedIn in San Francisco a few years ago when she was passionate about pivoting into product marketing. 
You'll hear specifically how Selma overcame imposter syndrome and how she overcame mental breakdowns to pursue her dreams. She hired a life coach to help build confidence while is making that pivot to product marketing. 
There are many excellent takeaways, and so I'm not going to spoil them, but let me just tell you this: If you're someone looking to pivot into your next play, have that negative self-talk, or you're battling imposter syndrome, this interview is for you. 
Whether you're looking at pivoting into tech or pivoting within tech, you'll walk away feeling energized and more compassionate with yourself so you can move forward swiftly towards your career. 


Timestamps
00:00 - Introducing Selma Chang
02:45 - Working at LinkedIn and exploring what's next: From sales to product marketing
05:37 - Transitioning: Scared but ready for a change
07:14 - What inspired you to pivot? Coffee chats, being confident, and working on side projects during weekends
09:22 - How to find side projects
11:03 - Working with a nonprofit: A place that usually needs extra hands on deck no matter what your experience level is
13:09 - What was the most challenging part of making the switch?
15:15 - Picking up new skills before becoming a product marketer
16:03 - Taking on PMM side projects, landing interviews, and hiring a life coach
18:21 - Having a breakdown
19:20 - Applying for a new job
0:40 - Getting interviews: Leverage your network and position your resume correctly
23:27 - Preparing for interviews: Understand the language of your new position, tell your story right and take on more experience
27:41 - Negotiating your salary when you are starting: Find the right mentor and leverage your knowledge
30:35 - Landing the job and learning about yourself
34:50 - Preparing for the new position
36:55 - How has the new position been so far?
39:07 - What’s next
41:03 - What advice would you give your past self?
42:06 - Where to find out more


If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. We’d love to hear from you!
If you’re looking to pivot into your next big role, make sure to subscribe to our member community. You can find us at www.careerhackeracademy.com/community.

Welcome to the Career Hacker Mini-Series. These are really short episodes that get straight to the point in real-world challenges among career hackers in less than 10 minutes. 
In this episode, we're taking a bite out of the reasons Why LinkedIn Premium is Worth It. You cannot afford to miss out on LinkedIn Premium, regardless of if you're job searching or not. Premium gives you access to valuable information, data, and expands your reach, all things that we will talk about in this episode.
This is for anyone at any level looking to pivot into a new industry, break into a leadership role, or simply level up in their career.
Looking for tips on how to improve your LinkedIn profile? Get the Linkedin Cheatsheet Mini-Guide below.


Timestamps
00:46 - Is it worth it to have Linkedin Premium?01:02 - Deeper analytics01:52 - Wider Network02:05 - Who viewed your profile?02:31 - In-mail02:41 - Access to LinkedIn Learning03:12 - Conclusion If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. We’d love to hear from you!
If you’re looking to pivot into your next big role, make sure to subscribe to our member community. You can find us at www.careerhackeracademy.com/community.
Here is the link to the mini-guide:  www.careerhackeracademy.com/10-steps-linkedin-profile-miniguide

Welcome to the sixth episode of the Career Hackers Secrets Podcast. Today we welcome Latrice Barnett. Latrice was once a band musician touring the world, and now she is a Senior Director at Salesforce in Silicon Valley. We'll get into the details of how she decided to completely change her life after 9/11 when she quit her very lucrative job to become a full-time musician.
Latrice learned a lot about becoming an artist, becoming comfortable on stage, and connecting with an audience. Then, utilizing these skills, she pivoted into a project management role in a creative agency and later into tech.
As always, we dig deep into the challenges and behind-the-scenes struggles. Latrice successfully transitioned from being a night owl to being back in a corporate setting, all while dealing with impostor syndrome and being a black woman in tech.
If you are looking to see how your current skills can help you pivot into a new opportunity in a top tech company from an incredibly different type of job or lifestyle, this episode is for you.


Timestamps 
00:00 - Introducing Latrice Barnett
04:34 - Latrice’s background: Moving abroad, joining a band, and studying literature
07:10 - Coming back to the States, doing tech and quitting to being an artist full-time
11:02 - Pivoting into tech and project management: From landing an opportunity as a project manager and producer to joining Salesforce
14:13 - The most challenging part of transitioning from being a musician on the road to being in an office
15:16 - How did you approach landing interviews to break into different jobs? Understanding who your audience is and what do they want
17:12 - What skills did you feel you didn't have? Book smarts vs. experience, and having the freedom to fail
19:15 - Being open during the interviews process: The similarities between the music business and small businesses
21:04 - The experience at Salesforce so far: Carving out a place for yourself at a larger company
23:33 - What do you wish you would have known before getting into tech? The challenge of being a black woman in tech / The brainpower of many is more valuable than the brainpower of one
25:34 - Advice for coping with impostor syndrome: Listen to your gut and look for people who can help you
28:02 - Don't be afraid to reach out and connect with other people
29:44 - Where to find out more about Latrice



If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. We’d love to hear from you!
If you’re looking to pivot into your next big role, make sure to subscribe to our member community. You can find us at www.careerhackeracademy.com/community.

Welcome to the Career Hacker Mini series. These are really short episodes. I get straight to the point and tackle real-world challenges among career hackers in less than 10 minutes. 
In this episode, we're discussing the 10 Steps to Create a Killer LinkedIn Profile. An optimized LinkedIn profile will ensure that you get noticed over and over again with opportunities coming your way 24/7. 
This trick is by far one of my top secrets. And it’s one of the main reasons I have not applied for a job in over seven years. Anyone on any level looking to attract recruiters, hiring managers, or even investors get actionable steps to improve your profile. 
For those that would like to get more details or simply get a visual, we created a mini-guide. Find the link below.
Timestamps
01:00 - How to Create a Killer LinkedIn Profile01:32 - Ten Steps01:38 - Step 1: Profile Picture02:06 - Step 2: Tag Line02:45 - Step 3: Summary03:37 - Step 4: Work Experience04:04 - Step 5: Multimedia04:35 - Step 6: Education05:06 - Step 7: Side/Volunteering Projects05:33 - Step 8: References/Testimonials and asking for Recommendations06:23 - Step 9: Skills Endorsement06:53 - Step 10: URL 07:22 - Quick Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. We’d love to hear from you!
If you’re looking to pivot into your next big role, make sure to subscribe to our member community. You can find us at www.careerhackeracademy.com/community.

Here is the link to the mini-guide:  www.careerhackeracademy.com/10-steps-linkedin-profile-miniguide