Answer the Call | Christian Career Coaching

In this episode, we sit down with Larry to talk about what it really looks like to navigate a difficult job search after an unexpected layoff.

After losing his job with almost no warning, Larry had to figure out what to do next. Through persistence, community, and faith, he rebuilt momentum in his job search and eventually landed not one, but two job offers.

We discuss:
How strategic outreach helped land interviews quickly

The resume changes that made recruiters respond

How to prepare for interviews effectively

What to do when you face rejection after multiple interview rounds

How to manage burnout during a long job search

The importance of faith, prayer, and community during the job hunt

If you’re currently job searching, feeling discouraged, or wondering how to stay motivated after setbacks, this episode will encourage you and give you practical steps to keep moving forward.

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
02:40 What To Do Immediately After Losing Your Job
04:10 The Outreach Strategy That Landed Interviews
06:00 Resume Changes That Got Recruiters’ Attention
08:15 Learning How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”
10:05 The Shift That Improved His Interviews
13:30 How To Handle Rejection After Multiple Rounds
17:00 Avoiding Job Search Burnout
23:10 The Interview He Thought He Failed
29:40 How He Ended Up With Two Job Offers
43:10 Advice for Anyone Who Was Just Laid Off

Welcome to the 4th episode of our “Why You’re Getting Rejected” series! 

If you haven’t watched the first three episodes yet, make sure to check out the full playlist so you can understand the entire hiring process from start to finish: 

In this episode, we’re breaking down what happens after the hiring manager interview, because the interview process can vary wildly depending on company, industry, and seniority level. We discuss:
The most common interview types you may face next

What sequences tend to look like for small businesses, startups, and large corporations

How the interview process changes by role level

A step-by-step plan to prepare for each type of interview

How to approach role-specific assessments

How to prepare for the final executive interview

If you’ve ever made it past round two and still didn’t get the offer, this episode will help you understand why, and exactly how to prepare differently next time.

Cheering you on,
Kelsey Kemp & Audrey Bagarus

READ THE FULL COMPANION BLOG FOR THIS EPISODE HERE: https://thecalledcareer.com/how-to-ace-team-peer-technical-and-executive-interviews/

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
02:40 – Overview of The Common Interview Types
04:00 – Peer & Cross-Functional Interviews Explained
05:26 – Small Business Interview Process Breakdown
06:45 – Startup Interview Process Breakdown
08:00 – Large Corporation / Structured Interview Process Breakdown
08:30 – How the Process Changes by Seniority Level
10:30 – Entry-Level Interview Expectations
12:45 – Mid-Level Interview Expectations
15:30 – Senior-Level Interview Expectations
17:45 – Executive-Level / Director Interviews
18:38 – Ask the Recruiter What’s Next (Don’t Guess)
20:10 – Reaching Out to Recent Hires for Insight
22:28 – Peer/Team Interviews: What They’re Evaluating
25:58 – How to Prepare for Peer Interviews Step-by-Step
28:40 – Common Peer Interview Questions
35:25 – Role-Specific Assessments Overview
37:10 – Case Study Interviews: How to Structure Answers
39:30 – Technical Assessments: What They’re Looking For
41:20 – Presentation Interviews: How to Stand Out
45:05 – Final Executive Interview: What Actually Matters
47:10 – Executive Presence & Strategic Thinking
49:00 – Questions to Ask in the Final Round
51:18 – Offer Conversations & Reference Checks

Have you ever made it to the next round of interviews… and still not get the offer?

In this episode, we break down the #1 non-obvious reason hiring managers reject candidates after the second round. Spoiler: it’s not your experience, but how you communicate it.

We discuss how to:
Turn interviews into conversations instead of interrogations

Ask strategic questions that reveal what the hiring manager actually wants

Stop “playing blind” and tailor your answers in real time

Handle gaps in experience with confidence and honesty

Ask for next steps so you’re not left in limbo

If you’ve been getting to final rounds but not landing the offer, this episode will show you exactly what to fix.

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
01:37 – The ONE mistake candidates make
03:01 – The 2 questions every hiring manager is asking
04:41 – Stop being transactional in interviews
06:18 – Why job descriptions aren’t enough
07:51 – How to start the interview the right way
11:25 – The most powerful question to ask: “What separates good from great?”
14:06 – Don’t play blind for the rest of the interview
20:03 – Real-life example from a hiring manager (Kevin’s story)
23:55 – What if you don’t have all the experience?
27:58 – Always ask about next steps

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