About the Guest(s):

Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker is a dedicated HR professional and consultant with a rich history of leadership roles in talent acquisition and human resources. Known for her innovative approach in helping veterans transition into the workplace, Melissa started her company, Next Career, to make a meaningful impact by focusing on training and aligning veterans with corporate opportunities. With experience leading global teams and consulting for major organizations, she excels in HR business partnering, project management, and technical integrations, especially in AI solutions. Melissa is passionate about creating people-centric workplaces and leveraging her expertise to foster organizational growth.

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of "Who You Know," host Trevor Houston sits down with Melissa Walker to explore the dynamics of job searching, networking, and evolving career landscapes. This episode is a heartfelt homage to Melissa for believing in Trevor during the early days of his career. As Trevor and Melissa retrace the journey from the inception of Melissa's show to her current job search phase, they delve deep into the challenges and strategies of landing full-time roles in today's corporate environment, prominently highlighting the importance of networking and leveraging one's personal brand.

Melissa shares candid insights into the difficulties of the modern job market, emphasizing how her extensive consulting experience, though valuable, poses unique challenges in returning to in-house roles. They discuss various job search methodologies, including leveraging AI tools across platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor, and contemplate unconventional yet potent tactics such as launching personal podcasts and content creation to potentially boost inbound job opportunities. The conversation underscores reciprocity, networking, and the critical function of human connections in successfully navigating career transitions.

Resources:

• Melissa Walker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamwalker/
• Trevor Houston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevorhouston/
• Career Transition Summit: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/67/04404igv 
• LinkedIn e-book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://online.flippingbook.com/view/714118097/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/who-ya-know-show ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Trevor Houston is a licensed financial professional offering insurance/financial products through various carriers. For more info visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://cpwstrategies.com

Chapters:

(0:00 ) Introduction and Melissa's Career Goals

(1:31 ) Recap of How the Show and Relationship Began

(3:28 ) Melissa's Background and Career Path

(8:02 ) Challenges in Job Searching for Melissa

(10:09 ) Exploring Job Search Strategies and Networks

(15:26 ) Discussing Commission Jobs and Challenges

(19:35 ) Reverse Engineering the Job Search System

(25:35 ) The Role of Marketing in Career Search

(31:30 ) Concerns About AI and Its Implications

(43:24 ) The Dynamics of Human Element in Job Search

(49:20 ) Podcasting as a Job Search Tool

(1:00:08 ) Content Creation and Visibility Strategy

(1:09:10 ) Reciprocity and Networking for Job Search

(1:16:04 ) Addressing LinkedIn and Profile Optimization

(1:25:24 ) Closing Thoughts on Helping Others