Career Starter with Ashley Misquitta

What Senior Leaders Really Look For in Interviews

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390512/fan_mail/new] What does it actually take to build a successful career in marketing, and what do most students learn too late? In this episode of The Career Starter Show, Sarah-Jane Martin (Managing Partner, Chief Talent Officer and Associate General Counsel at Sprott Inc) shares the lessons she learned the hard way.   S.J. (Sarah-Jane) talks about how her thinking about creativity, data, and decision-making evolved, what she wishes she’d known earlier in her career, and where students commonly misjudge what employers value. We also dig into interview advice for early-career candidates, including how to demonstrate judgment, curiosity, and business thinking (not just skills), and how to stand out without trying to sound “perfect.”  If you’re preparing for marketing, business, or strategy roles, this episode will help you think like a hiring manager. 📩 Sign up [https://ashleymisquitta.com/?page_id=2749] for our free weekly newsletter  📣 Connect with Ashley!!! LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-misquitta/], website [https://ashleymisquitta.com/], X [https://x.com/AshleyMisquitta] P.S. To see all the Career Starter Program Book recommendations, click here [https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/1YHBMFR2D918H?ref_=abls_nvfly_swo]:

The Hidden Psychology of Getting Hired (with Susan Gygax)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390512/fan_mail/new] Want to stand out in your job search? In this episode of The Career Starter Show, Ashley Misquitta sits down with Susan Gygax, a talent acquisition leader who has hired for multi-billion-dollar companies. Susan breaks down why STAR stories are outdated, how recruiters actually evaluate candidates in 2025, and the LinkedIn mistakes that quietly cost students interviews. You’ll learn the 5 core business problems behind every job, how to craft interview answers that resonate, how to spot red and green flags on your own LinkedIn profile, and how to navigate interviews when the interviewer is inexperienced. If you’re a business-school student or early-career professional trying to get hired — this episode is a masterclass. 🎯 What You’ll Learn - Why STAR answers can make you sound rigid and outdated - The people-skills hiring managers prioritize in 2025 - How to read a job posting for the real problem you’re being hired to solve - The LinkedIn signals that get you shortlisted - How to follow up after a weak interview - A mindset shift that puts your career progress back in your control 📕 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:55 Why STAR Stories Fail in 2025 02:17 What Hiring Managers Really Look For Now 07:50  Susan’s Background: 28 Years in Talent Acquisition 13:00  Find the Story Thread Behind Every Job 14:09  5 Core Problems 16:59  Problem: Not Getting Interviews 18:38  Fix Your LinkedIn: Green Flags Recruiters Love 23:14 The Trust Recession: Why Proof Matters More Than Ever 24:27 Should You Message Recruiters? (The Real Answer) 35:50 Handling Inexperienced Interviewers L 🔗 Connect with Susan Gygax  “You are your only determining factor” Spectacle Talent Partners [https://spectacletalentpartners.com/] LinkedIn: Susan Gygax [https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-gygax/]  📚 Book Recommendations: Unreasonable Hospitality  Simon Sinek’s books Range by David Epstein,  📩 Sign up [https://ashleymisquitta.com/?page_id=2749] for our free weekly newsletter  📣 Connect with Ashley!!! LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-misquitta/], website [https://ashleymisquitta.com/], X [https://x.com/AshleyMisquitta] P.S. To see all the Career Starter Program Book recommendations, click here [https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/1YHBMFR2D918H?ref_=abls_nvfly_swo]:

Why Stories Get You Hired (Not Your Resume)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390512/fan_mail/new] Why most people are bad at interviews and how YOU can be different. In this episode, bestselling author and master storyteller Matthew Dicks [https://matthewdicks.com/] breaks down the surprising science behind storytelling, attention, and trust. Learn how to stand out in job interviews by telling stories that connect. Discover why most interview answers are forgettable and how to make yours unforgettable. Plus: Find out why we talk about frogs in E.T.! Sign up for our weekly newsletter [https://ashleymisquitta.com/?page_id=2749]  Chapters 00:00 Intro  01:01 From Spielberg Critiques to Moth Champion  06:12 How Storytelling Builds Instant Trust  10:05 Confidence Can Be Taught  16:55 🎯 How to Build Your Story Bank  24:45 Homework for Life: The Habit That Changes Everything  33:40 🎯 Nail Your Interview With a Great Story  40:25 🎯 How to Use Humor Without Falling Flat  46:25 🎯 Want to Stand Out? Be the Zebra  55:05 The One Slide Tip That’ll Make You Look Like a Pro  01:01:35 The Pop-Tart Rule (And Other Storytelling Mistakes)  🎤 Podcast Recommendations: The Moth Podcast [https://themoth.org]:   ( on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRmR7jg2s4-SZkuAavVNIlyRWmxHmS1HG]) Matt recommends listening to The Moth to naturally absorb the structure and rhythm of great stories. “You start to pick up on strategies almost without trying.” Speak Up [https://matthewdicks.com/podcasts/] with Matthew and Elysha Dicks 📚 Book Recommendations: Storyworthy [https://a.co/d/7NhgS2z] by Matthew Dicks A must-read guide to becoming a better storyteller—whether you’re on a stage, in a meeting, or in a job interview. Packed with actionable strategies like “Homework for Life” and the “5-second moment,” it’s one of the most practical storytelling books out there. Ashley directly endorses it as a must-read. “Everyone should read it… then reread it every couple of years.” Matt also references it when explaining concepts like the five-second moment and Homework for Life. 📣 Connect with Matthew Dicks: https://matthewdicks.com/ 📩 Sign up [https://ashleymisquitta.com/?page_id=2749] for our free weekly newsletter  📣 Connect with Ashley!!! LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-misquitta/], website [https://ashleymisquitta.com/], X [https://x.com/AshleyMisquitta] P.S. To see all the Career Starter Program Book recommendations, click here [https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/1YHBMFR2D918H?ref_=abls_nvfly_swo]:

Top Marketing Exec Reveals How Students Get Hired

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390512/fan_mail/new] Melissa Wilson drops a truth bomb on every student dreaming of a marketing job: passion isn’t enough—proof is. As the National Head of Marketing & Communications at Doane Grant Thornton LLP, Melissa’s hired students, mentored grads, and built teams across Canada. In this episode, she reveals the 3 traits that make early-career candidates irresistible: curiosity, follow-through, and cultural fit. If you want to break into marketing without experience—or even without an internship—this is your blueprint. Sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter - https://ashleymisquitta.com/?page_id=2749 CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 01:01 - The Real Job of a Marketer 04:38 - Why Passion Isn’t Enough 07:11 - What Makes Students Stand Out 10:40 - Can You Learn Marketing in School? 15:00 - How to Get Experience Without a Job 20:55 - Pro Tips from a Top Recruiter 25:08 - The Follow-Up That Got the Job 28:18 - Marketing with AI and Data 34:42 - Your Questions, Answered 39:15 - Final Advice: Stay Curious --- 📚 Book Recommendations:  Think Again by Adam Grant  https://www.amazon.ca/Think-Again-Grant-Adam/dp/0753553910 Change by JohnP. Kotter: https://a.co/d/dDxxCgq 📩 Connect with Melissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-wilson-24a7b238/ 📩 Sign up [https://ashleymisquitta.com/?page_id=2749] for our free weekly newsletter  📣 Connect with Ashley!!! LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-misquitta/], website [https://ashleymisquitta.com/], X [https://x.com/AshleyMisquitta] P.S. To see all the Career Starter Program Book recommendations, click here [https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/1YHBMFR2D918H?ref_=abls_nvfly_swo]:

Don’t Miss Your Shot: Insider Advice from a Campus Recruiter

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390512/fan_mail/new] If you’re watching this in your second year, you may already be behind. Finance recruiting doesn’t wait. It starts early—and moves fast. In this episode of the Career Starter Podcast, I sit down with Laura Kay (https://ca.linkedin.com/in/laurakay3108), who leads campus recruiting at National Bank, to break down exactly: - When you need to start preparing (hint: yesterday) - What separates offers from rejections - How students unknowingly disqualify themselves - The small things that make a big impression If you want a summer internship in investment banking, sales & trading, or equity research, you can’t afford to wing it. 🎧 Start watching now. Your future competition probably already has. CHAPTERS 00:00 - 🎬 Teaser: Don’t Miss Your Shot 00:01:29 - Laura’s Role and the Growth of Campus Recruiting   00:04:35 - What Students Ask in Coffee Chats   00:05:43 - When to Start Recruiting (It’s Earlier Than You Think)   00:08:55 - Use Chats to Explore Other Finance Paths   00:10:30 - The First-Year Student Who Stood Out   00:13:45 - Didn’t Land It? Do the Right Things Next   00:17:38 - About clubs  00:19:52 - Be Proactive and Make the Connection Clear   00:22:30 - Laura’s Advice to First-Year Students   00:24:17 - Write on LinkedIn 00:25:01 - Stock Pitches    00:27:22 - You Have to Love the Industry to Last   00:27:30 - What Looks Good for Different Finance Roles   00:28:30 - Financial Modelling Is Becoming a Must-Have   00:29:32 - Grades help Narrow Down the Applications   00:34:34 - Go Beyond Membership: Build Real Experience   00:36:00 - Your Internship Is a Four-Month Job Interview   00:39:01 - How to Build Referral-Worthy Relationships   00:40:33 - A Referral Is Their Reputation on the Line   00:42:32 - “I Like a Good Cover Letter” (When They Matter)   00:48:50 - If You Don’t Know the Answer, Say So   00:50:53 - How Recruiters Use LinkedIn (And Why You Should Too)   00:53:10 - Why Basic Coding Knowledge Is Gaining Importance   00:54:45 - How Students Shoot Themselves in the Foot   00:56:32 - Send the Thank You Note (Seriously)   00:58:36 - Just Get Your Foot in the Door   01:10:00 - Thank You & Closing Remarks 🎤 Podcast Recommendations: Business Breakdowns Acquired Odd Lots Invest Like The Best Connect with Laura Kay: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/laurakay3108 📩 Sign up [https://ashleymisquitta.com/?page_id=2749] for our free weekly newsletter  📣 Connect with Ashley!!! LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-misquitta/], website [https://ashleymisquitta.com/], X [https://x.com/AshleyMisquitta] P.S. To see all the Career Starter Program Book recommendations, click here [https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/1YHBMFR2D918H?ref_=abls_nvfly_swo]: