Career Starter with Ashley Misquitta – Details, episodes & analysis

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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Susan breaks down why STAR stories are outdated, how recruiters actually evaluate candidates in 2025, and the LinkedIn mistakes that quietly cost students interviews.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- Why STAR answers can make you sound rigid and outdated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
LinkedIn: Susan Gygax 


📚 Book Recommendations:

Unreasonable Hospitality 
Simon Sinek’s books
Range by David Epstein, 

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To see all the Career Starter Program Book recommendations, click here:

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Why most people are bad at interviews and how YOU can be different.

In this episode, bestselling author and master storyteller Matthew Dicks 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.!

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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:   ( on Youtube)
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 with Matthew and Elysha Dicks


📚 Book Recommendations:
Storyworthy 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/

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In this conversation, Justin Cal shares his journey from a non-traditional background in life sciences to becoming an equity research associate at TD Cowan. He discusses the competitive nature of the job market in capital markets, the importance of networking, and how to leverage LinkedIn and informational interviews effectively.

Justin emphasizes the need for preparation, critical thinking, and a genuine passion for the field to succeed in equity research. He also provides valuable insights on how to stand out as a candidate and the significance of building a strong professional network.

01:18 Justin Cal's Background and Journey

04:45 The Power of Networking and Personal Connections

10:32 Informational Interviews (Coffee Chats) How to secure these

14:08 Characteristics of a Successful LinkedIn Message

17:33 How to Maximize Value From The Informational Interview

20:17 Showcasing Genuine Interest in Job Opportunities

28:44 Building Connections and Preparing for Interviews

33:09 Skills for Success in Equity Research

43:02 Routines and Habits for Staying Informed

40:29 Differentiating Oneself and Paying It Forward



🎤 Podcast Recommendations:

Business Breakdowns Podcast:    • Business Breakdowns

Capital Allocators:    / @capitalallocatorspodcast



📚 Book Recommendations: (Affiliate Links)

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham: https://amzn.to/3Akcq0Z

Mastering the Market Cycle by Howard Marks: https://amzn.to/48yYzkb

The Most Important Thing by Howard Marks: https://amzn.to/3AdTBg1

Expectations Investing by Michael Mauboussin: https://amzn.to/3Aeg4tl

Think Twice by Michael Mauboussin: https://amzn.to/4fasvp3

Competition Demystified by Bruce C. Greenwald and Judd Kahn: https://amzn.to/40rq3WD

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To see all the Career Starter Program Book recommendations, click here:

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Curious about the Career Starter Show?

Listen to Ashley as he talks about the future of the Career Starter show and who it's for.

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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.

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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/

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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

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McKinsey Consultant Rashi Kakkar reveals why "human skills" matter more than technical expertise in consulting. She shares her unique journey and the networking conversation that changed everything, breaks down the real interview process, and explains how consulting builds a high "metabolic rate" that accelerates your entire career. Essential insights for any business school student considering consulting.

** The opinions expressed by Rashi are her views and do not reflect the views of any organization mentioned in the show.


CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro & Rashi's Background
02:38 - What Drew Her to Consulting
05:25 - What Consultants Actually Do
08:58 - The Biggest Surprise About Consulting
11:39 - Why You Need Broad Skills (T-Shaped Career)
14:05 - The "Metabolic Rate" Advantage
19:45 - Why Ex-Consultants Succeed Everywhere
26:16 - Work/Life Balance Strategy
30:03 - Staffing & Project Selection
34:20 - What Makes a Stellar Resume
41:33 - Getting the Interview (Resume & Networking)
43:21 - Rashi's Networking Success Story
49:10 - Why McKinsey Doesn't Ask "Why Consulting?"
52:10 - The Interview Process Breakdown
55:10 - Case Interview Prep & Strategy
1:01:21 - The Secret to Standing Out in Interviews
1:09:37 - Career Takeaways & Final Advice

🎤 Podcast Recommendations:
Reed Hoffman's "Blitzscaling" podcast (business building focus)
Freakonomics podcast
McKinsey podcast
Deloitte podcast
General business/tech news podcasts

📚 Book Recommendations:
Never Enough by Jennifer Wallace
The Good Enough Job by Simone Stolzoff

To reach Rashi Kakkar: Threads| Twitter(X) | Newsletter | LinkedIn | BlueSky | Podcast  

To see all the Career Starter Program book recommendations, click here: https://a.co/dAb1jZf

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To see all the Career Starter Program Book recommendations, click here:

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In this episode of the Career Starter Show, Ashley Misquitta sits down with Stephen Mostrom, founder of a content agency called Damn Smart and advocate for lifelong learning. Stephen shares how he built a standout career by committing to daily personal development and using online content to demonstrate credibility and skill. If you’re unsure how to build momentum in your job search or career, this conversation will show you how small daily actions—and a strategic online presence—can open big doors.


Chapters

00:00:00 Intro
00:03:33 Starting in the 2008 Financial Crisis 
00:07:08 What Happened at Silicon Valley Bank 
00:10:45 How to Pivot with Purpose 
00:14:21 The 'Develop Daily' Philosophy 
00:17:56 Job Search Advice for Students 
00:21:30 Career Experimentation = Career Clarity 
00:25:06 Using Content to Build Career Credibility 
00:35:48 What Great Managers Do Differently 
00:43:00 The Future of Work and Adaptability 
00:46:32 Job Search Advice for Students 
00:50:07 The 'Develop Daily' Philosophy 


🎤 Podcast Recommendations:

Andy Storch
Talent Development Hot Seat

📚 Book Recommendations

Million Dollar Weekend by Noah Kagan
Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

👀 Recommend Follow on LinkedIn
Adam Broda
Austin Belcak
Reno Perry

To see all the Career Starter Program book recommendations, click here:

Connect with Stephen Mostrom
Sign-up for Stephen's Newsletter: Develop Daily Newsletter sign-up 

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In this episode of the *Career Starter Show*, I sit down with Garth Gibbes from Ivey Business School to unpack how students can build meaningful, standout careers right from school. We cover the importance of curiosity, how to approach networking, and the hidden habits of top-performing students. Whether you're an undergrad or MBA student, this conversation is packed with insights you can act on today.

🎯 Learn how to:  
- Make the most of your business school experience  
- Stand out to employers before you graduate  
- Build a powerful, intentional career path  

Garth's suggestions:
London's LEDC
Calgary's Economic Development Corporation
Women in Capital Markets (now called VersaFI)
Morrissette Entrepreneurship Center
Canadian Association of Alternative Strategies and Assets (CAASA)

SAP = System Analysis Program Development

🎤 Podcast Recommendation
Work Life with Adam Grant: https://adamgrant.net/podcasts/work-life/

📚 Book Recommendation

The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins 


📩 Subscribe for more episodes, and check out the free B-School Hub newsletter to get key takeaways from this and every episode.

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In this episode of the Career Starter Podcast, I’m joined by Jonathan Corrales — former engineer and program manager in the software industry. Today he is an interview coach who shares the powerful framework that helps his clients land jobs in under 10 weeks, even in a tough market. We break down:

- Why the “spray and pray” job application strategy fails
- How to build a standout resume and LinkedIn profile
- Jonathan’s signature “5 Core Stories” approach for interviews
- How to start networking (even if you feel like you have nothing to offer)
- Tips to rebuild your confidence and prepare like a pro
- If you want to get hired and start strong in your role, this one’s for you.


Our Guest: Jonathan Corrales
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathancorrales/
X: https://x.com/readyinterviews
website: https://readyaiminterview.com/


Mentioned In The Show:
1. Austin Belcak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abelcak/
2. Study Academy of Management Journal: Assessing Creativity in Hollywood Pitch Meetings: Evidence for a Dual-Process Model of Creativity Judgments https://www.jstor.org/stable/30040623
3. Jonathan refers to FANGS. "“A loop to one of the FANGS." This refers to :Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google.
4. Careerflow.ai: https://www.careerflow.ai/
5. Teal or Teal HQ: AI Resume builder: https://www.tealhq.com/
6. Jeff H. Sipes YouTube Channel: Interview negotiation advice https://www.youtube.com/@jeffhsipepi
7. Adam Broda, Broda Coaching: https://www.brodacoaching.com/
8. Reno Perry: Career Coach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renoperry/
9. Madeline Mann, Self Made Millennial: https://www.youtube.com/@SelfMadeMillennial
10: Colleen Paulson: De-age your resume: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenmpaulson/

📚 Book Recommendations:
1. Adam Grant, "Give and Take" : https://adamgrant.net/book/give-and-take/
2. Madeline Mann, "Reverse the Search": https://madelinemann.com/
3. What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles 
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1984861204/?coliid=I2UV77S8XTIEH2&colid=1YHBMFR2D918H&psc=1
4. Cracking the Coding Interview: https://www.crackingthecodinginterview.com/
5. Cracking the PM Interview: https://www.crackingthepminterview.com/


To see all the Career Starter Program book recommendations, click here: https://a.co/dAb1jZf

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To see all the Career Starter Program Book recommendations, click here: