Answer the Call | Christian Career Coaching

You made it to the first interview. You felt like it went well. And then… you got the rejection email.

In this episode, we break down exactly what recruiters are looking for during the first interview (especially the recruiter phone screen), and why candidates get rejected after making it to the top 3% of applicants.

You’ll learn:
Why only ~3% of applicants make it to the interview stage

2 reasons you might get rejected that have nothing to do with you

5 quick fixes you can implement immediately

5 deeper improvements that require practice

How to fix professionalism red flags

The biggest energy mistake candidates make

How to answer salary questions confidently

Why clarity creates confidence (and job offers)

How to close your interview strong

This episode is especially helpful if:
You keep getting interviews but no offers

You feel like interviews “go well” but you don’t move forward

You’re a career pivoter trying to position your experience

You want Christian career coaching that’s both practical and biblical

Cheering you on,
Kelsey Kemp & Audrey Bagarus

BOOK A FREE CALL WITH US THIS WEEK:
https://portal.kelseykemp.com/public/appointment-scheduler/6222458612c06afee1de0032/schedule

FREE CAREER COACHING RESOURCES:
Free Training: How to Find and Land a Job You Feel Called to in 8 Straightforward Steps → https://thecalledcareer.com/our-process

More of a reader? ⁠Download the 22 page PDF⁠ version instead → https://thecalledcareer.mykajabi.com/PDF

FOLLOW US ON OTHER SOCIALS:
🌍  Website / https://thecalledcareer.com/
📸  Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_thecalledcareer/
👨‍💻  Linkedin / https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecalledcareer
🎙 Spotify Podcast / https://open.spotify.com/show/5QpGj7lkYYHaZAkLM27R1F
🎙 Apple Podcast / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/answer-the-call-christian-career-coaching/id1468014993
📱 Pinterest / https://www.pinterest.com/thecalledcareer/

TIME STAMPS
01:00 – The Purpose of a Recruiter Phone Screen
02:45 – Why Only 3% Get the Interview
07:00 – 2 Reasons You Get Rejected
14:30 – Professionalism Red Flags
20:00 – Energy & Contribution vs Getting Mindset
25:40 – 90-Second Interview Prep Plan
28:00 – Salary Expectations: What to Say (and Not Say)
32:00 – Clarity = Confidence (What Recruiters Want to Hear)
39:20 – How to Close Strong and Move Forward

If you’re job hunting and keep getting rejected before you even land an interview, this episode is for you.

This is Part 1 of our “Why You’re Getting Rejected” series, where we break down exactly why recruiters reject candidates at the application stage, including both the obvious mistakes and the lesser-known red flags most people miss.

In this episode, we cover:
Why generic resumes get rejected immediately

How recruiters actually scan applications

Resume, keyword, and formatting mistakes that disqualify candidates

LinkedIn issues recruiters notice but rarely explain

Why being “qualified” still isn’t enough

We hope this episode brings clarity, hope, and encouragement as you make practical changes that actually move the needle in your job search.

Cheering you on,
Kelsey Kemp & Audrey Bagarus

BOOK A FREE CALL WITH US THIS WEEK:
https://portal.kelseykemp.com/public/appointment-scheduler/6222458612c06afee1de0032/schedule

FREE CAREER COACHING RESOURCES:
Free Training: How to Find and Land a Job You Feel Called to in 8 Straightforward Steps → https://thecalledcareer.com/our-process

More of a reader? ⁠Download the 22 page PDF⁠ version instead → https://thecalledcareer.mykajabi.com/PDF

FOLLOW US ON OTHER SOCIALS:
🌍  Website / https://thecalledcareer.com/
📸  Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_thecalledcareer/
👨‍💻  Linkedin / https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecalledcareer
🎙 Spotify Podcast / https://open.spotify.com/show/5QpGj7lkYYHaZAkLM27R1F
🎙 Apple Podcast / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/answer-the-call-christian-career-coaching/id1468014993
📱 Pinterest / https://www.pinterest.com/thecalledcareer/

TIME STAMPS
03:06 – You can land a job!
05:34 – Red flag # 1
09:15 – Red flag # 2 
15:16 – Red flag # 3
22:40 – Red flag # 4
26:56 – Lesser known rejection reasons
34:29 – Career hopping, overqualification, and missing narratives
42:51 – Cover letters, LinkedIn gaps, and what to fix next

What does it look like to trust God in your career when the path feels slow, discouraging, and unclear at all?

In this client success story, Audrey sits down with Christina to share her powerful career journey marked by persistence, discernment, and deep trust in God’s provision. As a single foster mom, Christina needed a role that supported both her calling at home and her professional gifts – and that journey came with plenty of pivots, rejection, and waiting.

Audrey and Christina discuss:
How to stay persistent in a long and emotional job search

When to pivot your career strategy without losing sight of your calling

Why networking and referrals matter more than online applications

How faith, intuition, and effort work together in career decisions

What it really means to trust God as your provider

If you’re navigating career confusion, waiting on God for your next step, or searching for work that aligns with your faith and life season, this is for you.

Cheering you on,
Kelsey Kemp & Audrey Bagarus

BOOK A FREE CALL WITH US THIS WEEK:
https://portal.kelseykemp.com/public/appointment-scheduler/6222458612c06afee1de0032/schedule

FREE CAREER COACHING RESOURCES:
Free Training: How to Find and Land a Job You Feel Called to in 8 Straightforward Steps → https://thecalledcareer.com/our-process

More of a reader? ⁠Download the 22 page PDF⁠ version instead → https://thecalledcareer.mykajabi.com/PDF

FOLLOW US ON OTHER SOCIALS:
🌍  Website / https://thecalledcareer.com/
📸  Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_thecalledcareer/
👨‍💻  Linkedin / https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecalledcareer
🎙 Spotify Podcast / https://open.spotify.com/show/5QpGj7lkYYHaZAkLM27R1F
🎙 Apple Podcast / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/answer-the-call-christian-career-coaching/id1468014993
📱 Pinterest / https://www.pinterest.com/thecalledcareer/

TIME STAMPS
01:17 – Why career change was necessary
09:27 – Hitting roadblocks and learning when to pivot
12:18 – Redefining success and staying persistent
15:04 – Mental health, rejection, and taking breaks
24:22 – Lessons from the story of Ruth
36:56 – How networking and referrals worked
41:34 – Why proactive outreach made the difference
46:00 – Community impact and unexpected blessings
48:28 – Encouragement for discouraged job seekers

Isn’t entrepreneurship the dream?

For years, our client Tyler has lived it – running his own video production business and enjoying the freedom many people chase. But over time, he realized that entrepreneurship wasn’t the calling for this season. 

In this episode, Audrey and Tyler discuss:
Why entrepreneurship isn’t always the right path

How to pivot careers without starting over

Breaking into tech sales without prior experience

Using bold outreach in a job search

Trusting God through a career change

If you’re looking for inspiration to make a career pivot, no matter how impossible you may think it is, this episode is for you.

Cheering you on,
Kelsey Kemp & Audrey Bagarus

BOOK A FREE CALL WITH US THIS WEEK:
https://portal.kelseykemp.com/public/appointment-scheduler/6222458612c06afee1de0032/schedule

FREE CAREER COACHING RESOURCES:
Free Training: How to Find and Land a Job You Feel Called to in 8 Straightforward Steps → https://thecalledcareer.com/our-process

More of a reader? ⁠Download the 22 page PDF⁠ version instead → https://thecalledcareer.mykajabi.com/PDF

FOLLOW US ON OTHER SOCIALS:
🌍  Website / https://thecalledcareer.com/
📸  Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_thecalledcareer/
👨‍💻  Linkedin / https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecalledcareer
🎙 Spotify Podcast / https://open.spotify.com/show/5QpGj7lkYYHaZAkLM27R1F
🎙 Apple Podcast / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/answer-the-call-christian-career-coaching/id1468014993
📱 Pinterest / https://www.pinterest.com/thecalledcareer/

TIME STAMPS
00:00 – From video production to tech sales
01:09 – Why entrepreneurship wasn’t the end goal
03:37 – The hidden downsides of freelancing
06:21 – Knowing it was time for a career change
07:26 – Fear and uncertainty in a job pivot
09:07 – The power of self-reflection and clarity
12:48 – Choosing sales with confidence
15:47 – What boldness looked like in his job search
19:31 – The LinkedIn message that changed everything
23:09 – Landing the job over the holidays
27:01 – Faith, favor, and God opening doors
30:48 – Encouragement for Christians considering a pivot
34:16 – Final advice and testimony

Does God actually care about the work you do?

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Jinsoo for one of the most honest and theologically rich conversations we’ve had on the show.

Jinsoo brings a rare perspective shaped by both marketplace leadership and formal theological training, and together we explore what Scripture actually says about work, calling, confusion, and faithfulness. 

We discuss:
Why the divide between “ministry” and “marketplace” work is a false one

How free will and God’s sovereignty work together in career decisions

Why faithfulness doesn’t always mean “sucking it up” or staying stuck

How ANY job can participate in God’s kingdom

The 5 Ps of calling

If you’ve ever felt guilty for not working in ministry, confused by career discontentment, or unsure whether your job matters to God at all, this conversation might change how you see your work.

Cheering you on,
Kelsey Kemp

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Every Good Endeavor by Timothy Keller

Garden City by John Mark Comer

God’s Plans, Your Plans | A sermon by Timothy Keller

BOOK A FREE CALL WITH US THIS WEEK:
https://portal.kelseykemp.com/public/appointment-scheduler/6222458612c06afee1de0032/schedule

FREE CAREER COACHING RESOURCES:
Free Training: How to Find and Land a Job You Feel Called to in 8 Straightforward Steps → https://thecalledcareer.com/our-process

More of a reader? ⁠Download the 22 page PDF⁠ version instead → https://thecalledcareer.mykajabi.com/PDF

FOLLOW US ON OTHER SOCIALS:
🌍  Website / https://thecalledcareer.com/
📸  Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_thecalledcareer/
👨‍💻  Linkedin / https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecalledcareer
🎙 Spotify Podcast / https://open.spotify.com/show/5QpGj7lkYYHaZAkLM27R1F
🎙 Apple Podcast / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/answer-the-call-christian-career-coaching/id1468014993
📱 Pinterest / https://www.pinterest.com/thecalledcareer/

TIME STAMPS
03:42 – Ministry vs Marketplace: Where the Tension Comes From
07:14 – Why “Secular” Work Has Felt Spiritually Lesser
10:38 – Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration (A Biblical Framework for Work)
16:35 – Does All Our Work Just Burn Up in the End?
21:25 – Two Extremes Christians Believe About Work
35:22 – Burnout, Endurance, and Being a Child of God First
40:55 – How Any Job Can Serve the Kingdom of God
45:27 – The Five Ps of Calling
53:26 – Why Confusion Can Be God’s Gift