219: Common Mistakes Hiring Managers Want You to STOP Making in The Application Process
If youāve been job hunting for months and wondering why the market feels tougher than ever, you're not alone. I recently sat down with a room full of executives to ask one big question: Why are so many talented people struggling to get hired in 2025? And more importantly, what can you actually do about it?If your applications are being met with silence, this episode will help you understand whatās really going on behind the scenes, and give you clear strategies to help you stand out and land the job you're called to.In this episode, weāre sharing real, unfiltered insights from CEOs, hiring managers, and recruiters, plus practical steps you can take today to position yourself for success.We discuss:Why executives say āthe good talent is already hiredāThe #1 thing hiring managers look for in job interviewsHow to show you're āhumble, hungry, and smartāHow to land roles that arenāt even posted (and create your own openings)How Christian jobseekers can stay faithful, strategic, and confident in a tough marketCheering you on,Kelsey Kemp & Audrey BagarusBOOK A FREE CALL WITH US THIS WEEK: https://calendly.com/audrey-tcc/consultation-call?month=2025-01FREE CAREER COACHING RESOURCES:Free Training: How to Find and Land a Job You Feel Called to in 8 Straightforward Steps ā https://thecalledcareer.com/our-processMore of a reader? ā Download the 22 page PDFā version instead ā https://thecalledcareer.mykajabi.com/PDFFOLLOW US ON OTHER SOCIALS:šĀ Website / https://thecalledcareer.com/šøĀ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_thecalledcareer/šØāš»Ā Linkedin / https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecalledcareerš Spotify Podcast / https://open.spotify.com/show/5QpGj7lkYYHaZAkLM27R1Fš Apple Podcast / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/answer-the-call-christian-career-coaching/id1468014993š± Pinterest / https://www.pinterest.com/thecalledcareer/āļøTIME STAMPS00:00 ā Why Is It So Hard to Get Hired Right Now?03:27 ā What Executives Say About the Hiring Struggle06:44 ā āThe Good Talent Is Already Hiredā (Hard Truth)09:15 ā How Reputation Gets You Hired Faster15:57 ā Stop Complaining: What Employers Actually Notice19:58 ā Growing in Public: Using LinkedIn Strategically24:32 ā Employers Want āHumble, Hungry, and Smartā26:12 ā The Interview Question That Reveals Everything28:27 ā How to Land Jobs That Arenāt Even Posted39:38 ā The World Owes You Nothing (But Thatās Good News)
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218: How One LinkedIn Message Changed Everything | Nathanās Story
Have you ever felt lost after a major life shift, unsure where to go next in your career?Ā Thatās exactly where our client, Nathan, found himself after returning from missions work. With a background in engineering and a desire to serve, he didnāt know what direction to take... until one informational interview, and a single LinkedIn message, changed everything.In todayās episode, youāll hear how Nathan went from career confusion to landing a nonprofit role heās genuinely excited about. This is more than a job search success story ā itās a lesson in clarity, obedience, and taking bold action.Audrey and Nathan discuss:Why sending out hundreds of job applications wasnāt working for himHow he used informational interviews to gain clarity and confidenceThe exact moment a LinkedIn message turned into a job offerHow he landed a role at United Way (without a perfect resume)How our coaching program helped him take consistent action without burnoutCheering you on,Kelsey Kemp & Audrey BagarusBOOK A FREE CALL WITH US THIS WEEK: https://calendly.com/audrey-tcc/consultation-call?month=2025-01FREE CAREER COACHING RESOURCES:Free Training: How to Find and Land a Job You Feel Called to in 8 Straightforward Steps ā https://thecalledcareer.com/our-processMore of a reader? ā Download the 22 page PDFā version instead ā https://thecalledcareer.mykajabi.com/PDFFOLLOW US ON OTHER SOCIALS:šĀ Website / https://thecalledcareer.com/šøĀ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_thecalledcareer/šØāš»Ā Linkedin / https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecalledcareerš Spotify Podcast / https://open.spotify.com/show/5QpGj7lkYYHaZAkLM27R1Fš Apple Podcast / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/answer-the-call-christian-career-coaching/id1468014993š± Pinterest / https://www.pinterest.com/thecalledcareer/āļøTIME STAMPS02:45 What job hunting felt like after missions work (and why it wasnāt working)06:15 The moment clarity hit: narrowing down vs. applying everywhere10:23 How he pivoted from donor relations to executive coordinator13:55 The LinkedIn message that opened the door15:30 How outreach and informational interviews shifted his mindset21:05 His real job stats: 31 applications ā 6 interviews ā 1 job offer24:45 Nathanās advice for anyone unsure about career coaching
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217: Itās not too late to start over: Maryās story at 54 | Client Success Story
In this episode, we sit down with Mary, a former teacher whose career and heart were radically transformed after trusting God and saying āyesā to the uncomfortable.Mary shares how her teaching contract unexpectedly ended, and how that closed door became an invitation to rediscover her identity in Christ. Through coaching, prayer, deep reflection, and learning to actively listen to Godās voice, she found a new path that honors her gifts and calling.Listen to Maryās success story as she steps into a new season with joy and purpose with her new career. We discuss:The tension between growth and comfortWhy losing her job was the beginning of something betterEncouragement for anyone who feels too old, too late, or too lost to start againWhat it means to āset the tableā for the Holy Spirit in your careerIf youāve ever felt stuck, lost, or unsure what God is calling you to do, this conversation is for you.Cheering you on,Kelsey Kemp & Audrey BagarusBOOK A FREE CALL WITH US THIS WEEK: https://calendly.com/audrey-tcc/consultation-call?month=2025-01FREE CAREER COACHING RESOURCES:Free Training: How to Find and Land a Job You Feel Called to in 8 Straightforward Steps ā https://thecalledcareer.com/our-processMore of a reader? ā Download the 22 page PDFā version instead ā https://thecalledcareer.mykajabi.com/PDFFOLLOW US ON OTHER SOCIALS:šĀ Website / https://thecalledcareer.com/šøĀ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_thecalledcareer/šØāš»Ā Linkedin / https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecalledcareerš Spotify Podcast / https://open.spotify.com/show/5QpGj7lkYYHaZAkLM27R1Fš Apple Podcast / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/answer-the-call-christian-career-coaching/id1468014993š± Pinterest / https://www.pinterest.com/thecalledcareer/āļøTIME STAMPS00:49 Meet Mary Meier03:18 How Mary found Christian career coaching (us!)05:26 Caught in Busyness vs. Being Still Before God11:33 Dealing with Identity Crisis14:40 Seeing Past Jobs as Preparation, Not Failure22:08 What is Kindermusik? (Maryās New Calling)33:27 Recognizing Strengths Through Reflection38:00 Advice to Anyone Feeling Lost in Their Career40:13 Laying Everything Before God
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216: The Truth About Confidence (That Nobody Tells You)
Are you lacking confidence in your job search or career?You might not have a confidence problem, you might have a clarity problem.In this solo episode, Audrey shares the connection between confidence and clarity, rooted in biblical truth and personal experience. She shares how true confidence doesnāt come from surface-level fixes like body language or mindset hacksā¦ but from understanding who you are, how God made you, and what youāre truly called to do.Audrey discuss:Why you feel stuck or unsure, and how clarity changes everythingWhat self-reflection looks like for a Christian (and how it connects you to God)How your job can be an expression of your God-given identityānot your identity itselfWhat it actually takes to walk in confidence and peaceWhy abandoning yourself for the sake of āserving othersā may be keeping you from your callingThis episode is honest, raw, and filled with biblical encouragement.If youāve ever said, āI just donāt feel confident enough to make a moveā¦ā ā this oneās for you.Cheering you on,Kelsey Kemp & Audrey BagarusBOOK A FREE CALL WITH US THIS WEEK: https://calendly.com/audrey-tcc/consultation-call?month=2025-01FREE CAREER COACHING RESOURCES:Free Training: How to Find and Land a Job You Feel Called to in 8 Straightforward Steps ā https://thecalledcareer.com/our-processMore of a reader? ā Download the 22 page PDFā version instead ā https://thecalledcareer.mykajabi.com/PDFFOLLOW US ON OTHER SOCIALS:šĀ Website / https://thecalledcareer.com/šøĀ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_thecalledcareer/šØāš»Ā Linkedin / https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecalledcareerš Spotify Podcast / https://open.spotify.com/show/5QpGj7lkYYHaZAkLM27R1Fš Apple Podcast / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/answer-the-call-christian-career-coaching/id1468014993š± Pinterest / https://www.pinterest.com/thecalledcareer/āļøTIME STAMPS01:27 ā The real reason you're not confident: lack of clarity06:40 ā Why self-reflection is essential for clarity and confidence08:56 ā You will connect with yourself by first connecting with God11:15 ā Identity is not built, itās received from God13:47 ā Your job isnāt your identity, itās an expression of it17:04 ā Confidence isnāt about posture24:56 ā Start your clarity journey with us
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215: Is It Okay for Christians to Want to Be Successful?
Is it okay for Christians to want success? Should we feel guilty for setting big goals, earning money, or building influence?In this episode, Iām joined by Brett Henderson, founder of Clickmill.co and a digital marketing expert for Christian and private schools, to have an inspiring conversation about what biblical success actually looks like.We discuss:The difference between worldly vs. godly successWhy many Christian professionals and pastors burn outThe 5-step strategy Jesus used for growth (and how we often do the opposite)How to set ambitious goals with God without guiltWhat it really means to be shrewd as a serpent and innocent as a doveWhether you're in business, ministry, or still discerning your next step, this episode will encourage you to dream big, and surrender even bigger.Cheering you on,Kelsey Kemp & Audrey BagarusBOOK A FREE CALL WITH US THIS WEEK: https://calendly.com/audrey-tcc/consultation-call?month=2025-01FREE CAREER COACHING RESOURCES:Free Training: How to Find and Land a Job You Feel Called to in 8 Straightforward Steps ā https://thecalledcareer.com/our-processMore of a reader? ā Download the 22 page PDFā version instead ā https://thecalledcareer.mykajabi.com/PDFCONNECT WITH BRETT:šĀ Website / https://clickmill.co/FOLLOW US ON OTHER SOCIALS:šĀ Website / https://thecalledcareer.com/šøĀ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_thecalledcareer/šØāš»Ā Linkedin / https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecalledcareerš Spotify Podcast / https://open.spotify.com/show/5QpGj7lkYYHaZAkLM27R1Fš Apple Podcast / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/answer-the-call-christian-career-coaching/id1468014993š± Pinterest / https://www.pinterest.com/thecalledcareer/āļøTIME STAMPS00:00 ā Why Christians Struggle With Success10:14 ā A Biblical View of Success vs. Worldly Ambition16:51 ā Can Christians Want Wealth, Nice Homes, and Cars?21:19 ā Set Bigger Goals: The Kind You Need God For25:31 ā What It Really Means to Have Peace About a Decision31:10 ā Decision-Making Frameworks Christians Should Be Using52:10 ā The 5 Things Jesus Did to Create Growth (That We Often Do Backwards)
The premier podcast helping Christian professionals discern their calling and land a job that's aligned with it. Tune in for weekly episodes on faith, mindset, clarifying your calling, top job search strategies, and even a few lessons on entrepreneurship for those of you who feel called to start a business.
Kelsey Kemp is an ex-tech consultant, multi-time founder, TEDx speaker, and career coach at TheCalledCareer.com who has helped hundreds of professionals make meaningful career pivots, from New York to New Zealand, lawyers to high school teachers, 21-65 years old.
New Zealand