Austin Belcak

I Teach People How To Land Amazing Jobs Without Applying Online // Ready To Land A Great Role In Less Time (With A $44K+ Raise)? Head To 👉 CultivatedCulture.com/Coaching

CultivatedCulture.com/Coaching // I teach people how to land jobs they love in today's market without traditional experience and without applying online.

In 2013, I graduated from college with a biology degree, terrible grades, and a job in healthcare that paid me next to nothing.

Two years later, I scored interviews at Google, Microsoft, & Twitter and I accepted an offer from Microsoft with a $70,000 raise

All without “traditional” experience and without applying online.

Today, I teach people (just like you!) how to use the same system to land their dream job without applying online.

That system has helped thousands of job seekers land offers at places like Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Twitter, Uber, Spotify, Deloitte, Accenture, Sequoia Capital, Tesla, SpaceX, ESPN, The NFL, & more.

The people we work with don't just land offers at great companies. They also get:

💰 Average Raise: $44,000+ 
🧭 Average Time To Offer: 3.5 Months
⭐ Satisfaction Rating: 9.52/10
🤝 End-To-End Job Search Support
✅ 3X+ ROI Guarantee

Ready to land your dream job? 

Head to 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.𝗰𝗼𝗺/𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 and book a *FREE* 30 minute Career Clarity Call.

These calls are 30 minute, one-on-one sessions with our team where you'll learn:

1. The exact reason why your current job search strategy isn't working

2. Why traditional hiring processes are broken (and what you can do instead)

3. How to overcome the biggest challenge that's preventing you from achieving your job search goals

4. How to pick and choose where you land job interviews (seriously!)

5. Exactly what you need to do to land your dream job and salary

Don't just take my word for it though. Here's what a few of our clients have to say about working with us:

“I recently left a job with nothing else lined up. My visa was tied to that job so I had 60 days to get hired and land visa sponsorship. Austin helped me land a Program Manager role at a leading tech company, a 30% raise, AND H1-B sponsorship.” - Jasleen

"I was unemployed and close to losing my house. Working with Cultivated Culture helped me land multiple interviews and two offers for senior-level roles in less than 70 days." - Karina

"I spent years struggling to take the transition from vendor to full time employee. Austin helped me land a job in Product Marketing at a Fortune 30 tech company with a $40,000+ raise." - Amyr

Learn more and book your free Career Clarity Call here 👉 CultivatedCulture.com/Coaching

Founder

I teach people how to use unconventional strategies to land jobs they love in today's market (without connections, without traditional "experience," and without applying online).

My strategies have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Inc., Fast Company, and more. My students have landed interviews and offers at Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, Uber, Deloitte, Accenture, ESPN and more. 

Ready to take your career to the next level? Check out my step-by-step breakdown of the process that has helped hundreds of people like you land amazing jobs at the world's best companies (it's totally free): https://cultivatedculture.com/dreamjob/

Want to chat? Shoot me an email at austin@cultivatedculture.com

Cultivated Culture is a carbon negative business. Our contributions help remove 60+ tons of CO2Es from the atmosphere and plant over 2,000 new trees every year 🌲

7 ChatGPT Prompts (That Will Get You Better Results Than A $500 Resume Rewrite):

1. The Achievement Extractor

Most people struggle to tie measurable outcomes to their work.

Grab the content from one of your roles and ask:

“What are 10 different ways I could quantify the impact that I made in this role?”

Follow up with, “how do I get that data?” if you don’t have it.

2. The Jargon Eliminator

Jargon muddles value.

Take a bullet that feels overly complex.

Then ask ChatGPT:

“Rewrite this resume bullet for a non-technical hiring manager: [Insert Bullet]”

Alternatively, try: “Rewrite this bullet at a 5th grade reading level without losing the impact of the value: [Insert Bullet]”

3. The Skills Translator

Changing careers?

ChatGPT can help you find gold in your transferable skills.

Upload a copy of your resume, then ask ChatGPT:

“I’m switching from [Industry A] to [Industry B]. Review my resume and translate my existing skills from [Industry A] to their counterparts in [Industry B].”

4. The Action Amplifier

Language matters.

Don’t let weak verbiage dampen your value.

Instead, upload your resume to ChatGPT and ask:

‘Identify all the ”weak” verbs in my resume, then replace them with stronger verbs. For example, adjusting “Responsible for” to “Spearheaded.”’

5. The Gap Explainer

Career gaps can feel scary to explain.

ChatGPT can help. First, give it context:

“I have a 7 month gap on my resume due to layoffs. I’ve spent that time skill building via Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning.”

Then upload your resume and ask ChatGPT to reframe your gap as skill building.

6. The Role Customizer

Before applying to a new role?

Upload your resume and the role to ChatGPT and ask:

“Here is my resume along with a job I want to apply for. Rewrite my resume so it’s personalized for the skills, experience, and value the role is looking for. Share the specific changes you made.”

Now you can see the updates and make any adjustments before applying.

7. The Highlight Reel Generator

The first few lines of your resume are the most valuable real estate.

Don’t waste them.

Upload your resume, the job description, then ask ChatGPT:

“Here’s the job description for a role I’m applying to. Which bullets from my resume should I showcase in a 3–5 bullet “highlight reel” at the top?”

🎮 Robert was unemployed for months.

We helped him reframe his gaps, extract his wins, and tailor using these same prompts, he landed an Associate Manager role in gaming industry role in <90 days.

👉 Want the same blueprint? Book a free call here: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

 These 7 ChatGPT Prompts Beat A $500 Resume Rewrite:

The 5:50:5 Method Job Search Method (For More Interviews & Offers):

Consistency is a cornerstone of job search success.

But with jobs, friends, family, and all of life’s stressors?

It’s not always easy to do.

Enter the 5:50:5 Method.

It’s a simple framework to help you stay consistent with the job search so you can see better results.

Here’s how it works:

What Does 5:50:5 Stand For?

It’s simple:

5 job search tasks.

50 minutes per day.

5 days per week.

The tasks you choose are important!

Here are the ones we recommend:

Task #1: Apply To 3 Jobs

Not just any jobs.

Find ones that truly fit the criteria you’re looking for in a new role.

Then personalize your materials!

Use ResyMatch to score your resume vs. the job description and make the recommended updates.

Use ChatGPT to craft a personalized cover letter, then review and edit it.

Task #2: Network With 3 New People

Find 3 new contacts who could influence your ability to get hired at a target company.

Brainstorm a few ways you could reach out to them.

Aim to add value.

Then press “Send” on those messages and log them in your networking tracker.

Task #3: Touch Base With 3 Existing Connections

Think on the contacts you’ve already connected with.

Choose 3 of them and brainstorm ways you can follow up with value:

Mention a recent news story
Ask how a project is going
Etc.

Keeping those relationships warm is key!

Task #4: Comment On 3 LinkedIn Posts

Commenting is one of the single best ways to get visibility on LinkedIn.

Scroll through your feed until you find a post that resonates with you.

Leave a comment that’s genuinely supportive, positive in nature, and aims to add value.

Repeat two more times. 

Task #5: Comment On Target Company Posts

Did you know employers can see if you’ve comment on content from their Company page?

Review the Company pages for your target companies.

For any with recent posts?

Leave a thoughtful, value-driven comment.

Do This 5 Days / Week

Job searching isn’t a 24/7 activity.

Take the weekend off to recharge your batteries.

Then do this the other 5 days. 

That’ll net you:

15 applications
15 potential connections
15 relationships continued
15+ comments for more visibility

Every single week.

⬇️ Want to see how the 5:50:5 can help you land jobs 40% faster with a 7x raise?

 👉 Grab a free 30 min Clarity Call with our team and we'll show you how: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

 The 5-50-5 Method For More Job Offers:

8 Steps To Personalize Your Resume For Any Role (In Less Than 10 Minutes):

Personalized resumes win more job interviews.

But most job seekers don’t know how to do it quickly and effectively.

Here are 8 steps to personalize your resume for any role (in less than 10 minutes):

1. Start With A Master Resume

This is a version of your resume where you have all of the content and experience from your career.

The idea is to keep it in one place so you can easily save a new version of this doc and adjust your experience.

I recommend creating yours in ResyBuild.io for easy duplicating and editing.

2. The 10-Minute Optimization Process

When you see a new role you want to apply to:

- Save a new version of your resume
- Remove irrelevant content
- Identify and weave in keywords
- Update your Highlight Reel

Let’s break down each of these into more detail:

3. Save A New Version Of Your Resume

When you see a role you want to apply to, save a new version of your resume.

Use this naming convention for easy referencing:

[Name] Resume - Job Title - Company - Date

4. Remove Irrelevant Content

Review the job description and identify the key responsibilities and goals for the role.

Next, review your resume and remove any content that isn’t relevant to this particular role.

If you’re struggling, try uploading your resume and the JD to ChatGPT and asking it to remove irrelevant content.

5. Identify Keywords & Skills

Pull up the job description and copy the content.

Head to ResyMatch.io and scan your resume vs. the job description.

Identify the top 5–10 skills where you have a “Skill Gap.”

Keep these handy.

6. Personalize Your Content

Go through the bullets on your resume and identify areas where you can naturally weave in your target keywords.

How many should you add? 

Aim to close the “Skill Gap” from your ResyMatch scan for the top 5–10 keywords.

7a. Update Your “Highlight Reel”

Every resume should have a “Highlight Reel.”

This is a section at the top of your resume where you include the 3–5 most relevant pieces of experience.

You can (and should!) customize it for each role you apply to.

More on these at: https://lnkd.in/eUn8D4tx

7b. Update Your “Highlight Reel” (Continued)

First, update the section title to align with your target job. 

Ex: [Job Title] Summary

Next, update your bullets so you have the most relevant experience up top.

Finally, layer in any additional keywords you’re missing.

8. Run A Final ResyMatch Scan

Before you apply, run a final scan in ResyMatch.

Make any adjustments you need to get a score of 70–75+ (you don’t need to go higher).

Once you’re there, your resume is fully personalized and ready to be submitted!

🔵 Our client Jeff used our ResyMatch x Highlight Reel framework for each role he applied to. That led to a dream job offer at Amazon.

👉 Want us to apply the same resume personalization system to your search? Book a free 1:1 call: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

8 Steps To Personalize Your Resume In Under 10 Minutes:

This daily LinkedIn strategy will help you win more jobs.

The best part? It takes less than 10 minutes per day:

Context: What Is It?

This strategy revolves around comments.

Comments on LinkedIn are networking and visibility at scale.

But only if you use them the right way.

I call that way "Value Driven Commenting."

Here's how it works:

1. Value Driven Comments Are A Triple Threat

Investing in daily Value Driven Comments (VDCs) is a 3-for-1 deal.

They help you:

1. Get noticed by post authors
2. Get noticed by the author's audience
3. Find your own voice on a platform

Best of all?

They take 10-15 mins / day.

2. Map Out Your Prospect Criteria

You want to aim for a minimum of 20 contacts.

These people should meet 3 criteria:

- They work at one of your target companies
- They can influence the hiring decision for your target role
- They consistently share content on LinkedIn

3. Use LinkedIn To Find Them

Here's how:

- Go to LinkedIn
- Search for role-related keywords
- Click the "Posts" filter
- Click "All Filters" > "Author Company"
- Add target companies

Now you have a list of people at your target companies writing about your target job.

4. Bookmark Their Post Feed

It's a pain to click through individual profiles to find new posts.

Do this instead:

- Go to their LinkedIn profile
- Under "Activity," click "Show All"
- Click on "Posts"
- Bookmark the page!

(Big thanks to Justin Welsh for that tip).

5. Leave VDCs On New Posts

When a contact shares a new post?

Leave a Value Driven Comment!

Don't write, "love this" or "thanks for sharing."

Instead, try this 3 part formula:

- Tag the post author
- Reiterate their point
- Add your own unique value

Aim for 2-4 sentences.

6. VDC Example

Here's a quick example of a VDC I recently left.

The parent post was focused on 4 types of content any creator could use to build a following.

I replied with:

"Start with these and create 10 posts for each.

Share 1-2 per day.

When you're close to running out, analyze the top 10% of your posts.

What topics, styles, and deliveries did best?

Write 40 more posts incorporating those insights.

That's how you grow!"

My comment got 32 reactions and a bunch of replies.

7. Rinse & Repeat Daily

VDCs work best when performed consistently over time.

When you show up daily with positive support?

The post author recognizes that.

So does their audience.

I'd recommend planning for 2-4 weeks of consistent VDCs before you see any reciprocity.

Happy commenting!

📣 Our client Rose used VDCs and landed a $15k raise in 90 days.

This is just one of many strategies we teach our clients to help them get an edge on LinkedIn.

We'll show you the rest on a free Clarity Call: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

 One LinkedIn Strategy For More Job Offers:

7 Tips For Managing Rejection In Your Job Search:

1. Realize You’ll Hear “No” Most Of The Time

Job searching is a game of tails.

This means that you’re going to be told some form of “No” the vast majority of the time.

But the upside from getting a single “Yes” is large enough that it can outweigh hundreds of “Nos.”

Realizing this will help normalize all of the “Nos” you may be running into.

Keep your eye on the prize.

2. Set The Right Expectations

Continuing that thread, take it one step further and use data to see how many “Nos” you should expect.

Look up benchmarks for:

 - Online application reply rates
 - Networking message reply rates
 - Interview success rates
 - Etc.

That data will show you just how many “Nos” are normal before you get that coveted “Yes.”

3. Rejections As Lessons, Not Failures

When a rejection happens, reflect on what you could have done differently, or better.

Oftentimes, rejections mean we’re missing a piece of the puzzle or we need to level up in some area.

Maybe it’s how your resume conveys your value, how you’re approaching networking, etc.

If you find the lesson in each rejection, it will take you one step closer to success.

4. Track & Gamify The Process

This is what helped me overcome rejection in my search.

I started tracking every aspect of my job search (# apps, # networking messages, replies, interviews, etc).

I leveraged the data to A/B test different strategies at every stage.

That meant each “No” transitioned from a failure to a data point I could use to tangibly improve my process.

5. Find A Community Of Active Job Seekers

Oftentimes, when we’re doing hard things, we just need to know that we’re not alone.

Finding a community of like-minded job seekers can make all the difference.

It could be one you build on your own or one that you join.

But having a space to vent, share ideas, get help, and connect with others is key.

6. Take The Space You Need

You’re a human being, which means you are crazy resilient. 

But also that you have a limited capacity for handling negative emotions.

If the rejections are piling up and feel like too much?

Take a day off. Take two! Do something just for you.

All of the opportunities will be here when you jump back in.

7. Leave The Door Open

If you’re rejected during an interview process, don’t cut ties.

Instead, message everyone you engaged with, thank them for their time, wish them well with the hire, and ask to stay in touch.

This is how I landed my job at Microsoft. It’s also how many of our clients have landed offers.

Rejection isn’t permanent. It’s simply one more step in the journey.

🧠 Managing rejection is easier with the right system and community behind you.

We help peoples bounce back faster and land offers they’re excited about, while offering support along the way.

 👉 Book a free 30-min Clarity Call and let’s map it to your search: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

 7 Tips For Managing Rejection In Your Job Search:

#1 for Career Coaching on LinkedIn. I help senior-level ICs & people leaders grow their salaries and land fulfilling $200K-$500K jobs —> 300+ placed at top companies.

Ranked #1 Career Coach Worldwide | Helping Senior ICs & People Leaders Land $200K-$500K Dream Jobs

Ready to grow your salary and land a role you actually love?

I've helped over 300 professionals break through salary ceilings and land life-changing positions at Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, and other top companies.

Here's what makes my approach different:

Most job seekers waste months applying to hundreds of jobs with no results. My clients land multiple offers in 6-12 weeks using "The Simple Success Method" - my distilled 5-step system that focuses only on what gets you hired. After 300+ successful placements, I've learned that executive-level results come from doing the RIGHT 5 things perfectly, not overwhelming yourself with complicated processes.

My track record speaks for itself:
✓ 300+ clients placed at dream companies  
✓ Average salary increase: 40-80%  
✓ 220M+ content views helping job seekers  
✓ Featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider  
✓ Built my own 7-figure business using these exact strategies  

What you get in Career Leap:
→ The Simple Success Method™ (my battle-tested 5-step system)  
→ 1:1 coaching sessions with me personally  
→ Exclusive access to proprietary AI job search tool  
→ Group coaching with other high-performers  
→ Private community of ambitious professionals  
→ Complete confidentiality throughout your search  

This isn't for everyone. I only work with senior-level individual contributors and people leaders who are serious about making a major career move and ready to invest in themselves.

My guarantee: If you don't land a $200K-$500K role within 90 days, we'll keep working with you until you do. That's how confident I am in this system.

More about me: Currently living in Chicago. I worked at LinkedIn for 4 years helping Fortune 500 companies hire top talent, then founded my own 7-figure recruiting start-up. Now I use that complete 360° perspective - platform insider knowledge + hiring expertise + entrepreneurial success - to help people land jobs they actually love.

Ready to transform your career?
  
Send me a DM with "CAREER LEAP" or book a free job search strategy call: https://lwspuk8wil4.typeform.com/to/LeHkspKC

P.S. - Spots are limited. I only take on a select group of professionals each month to ensure everyone gets the attention they deserve.

Reno Perry

The best career advice President Obama ever gave?

“Just learn how to get things done.”

Not “be the smartest in the room.”
Not “get another certification.”
Not “grind 80-hour weeks.”

Just get things done.

It sounds obvious.
But it’s rare.

Most people:
→ Overthink
→ Over-plan
→ Wait for permission
→ Get stuck in “polish mode”
→ Confuse motion with progress

And while they’re spinning, someone else executes.

That’s who moves up.
That’s who earns trust.
That’s who gets remembered.

Getting things done isn’t about being a robot.

It’s about being reliable.
It’s about following through.
It’s about making things happen.

Because perfection doesn’t build careers.
Progress does.

If you want to lead at any level…

Start with action.
Stay consistent.
Ship the work.

Be known as the person who gets it done.

The rest will follow.

Agree? disagree? 
Drop it in the comments below. 

Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network.
And give me a follow for more posts like this.

(Video from LinkedIn News)

#1 for Career Coaching on LinkedIn. I help senior-level ICs & people leaders grow their salaries and land fulfilling $200K-$500K jobs —​> 300+ placed at top companies.

Confidence isn't built in your comfort zone.

It's earned one scary step at a time.

Shout out to Dr. Thomas Funke for this brilliant visual reminder.

After coaching 100s of professionals, I see the same pattern:

The people who land those $200k+ roles aren't always the most qualified.

They're the ones living in the learning zone.

Here's what each zone actually teaches you:

1. Comfort Zone
→ You feel safe, but nothing grows here
→ Your skills stay the same
→ Your opportunities stay limited

2. Fear Zone
→ This is where most people quit
→ Doubt creeps in. Others question you
→ But here's the secret: This zone is temporary

3. Learning Zone
→ You face real challenges
→ You build new skills that matter
→ You step forward instead of staying stuck

4. Growth Zone
→ You set goals that actually move the needle
→ You turn skills into measurable impact
→ Confidence starts flowing from action, not theory

5. Transformation Zone
→ You align work with purpose
→ You lead change instead of following it
→ You stop playing small

The breakthrough happens when you realize:

Confidence doesn't come from knowing everything.
It comes from trusting yourself to figure it out.

That promotion you want?
That leadership role calling your name?
That career pivot you keep postponing?

It's waiting for you in the learning zone.

Not when you feel ready.
Not when you have all the answers.

Right now.

The question isn't whether you're qualified.
It's whether you're willing to become qualified.

Every successful leader started exactly where you are.

Scared. 
Uncertain. 
But moving forward anyway.

Your next level is closer than you think.

Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network.
And give me a follow for more posts like this.

I see people spend 20 hours perfecting their resume.

Then blow the interview in 20 seconds.

After coaching 300+ professionals into $200K+ roles, I've seen the same pattern:

They know WHAT to say.
They don't know HOW to say it.

Here's the truth:
AI is a huge advantage for jobseekers.
It's replacing outdated interview prep.
Making it way better.

The people landing dream roles aren't smarter.
They're using AI to practice scenarios you'll actually face.

Take this prompt that helped a client land a VP role at Microsoft:

"My potential weakness is [X]. Create an authentic response that shows self-awareness, growth mindset, and proactive improvement. Include specific actions I've taken."

Or this one that generated a $40K higher offer:

"I'm interviewing for [role] at [company]. Market rate is $[X]. Generate 3 counter-offer data points and negotiation phrases that maintain the relationship while maximizing value."

These aren't generic templates.
They're precision tools for high-stakes conversations.

While others memorize canned answers, you're building dynamic responses.

While they hope for easy questions, you're ready for curveballs.

While they accept first offers, you're negotiating with data.

The gap between good and great isn't talent.
It's preparation.

And preparation is now 10x easier with AI.

Your competition is still using 2010 strategies for 2025 opportunities.

That's your advantage.

Every interview has predictable moments:
• The weakness question
• The salary discussion  
• The "why should we hire you"
• The cultural fit probe

Master these moments and you'll dramatically increase your chances of landing the offer.

That's exactly what we do in my Career Leap program.

I'm taking on 5 people this month who are serious about landing $200K-$500K roles using AI-driven prep that actually works.

If that's you: https://lnkd.in/gCKpEsYg

I can tell when someone's networking out of desperation.

So can everyone else.

Here's the pattern I see after coaching 300+ people:

Most people only reach out when they need something.

They lead with what they want, not what they offer.

They disappear the second they land a role.

Then 24 months later? They're back. And it's obvious.

Look - if you need a job right now, you still need to network. I get it.

But HOW you do it makes all the difference.

The people landing $200K+ roles (even when they're actively searching)?

They network differently.

They still give value even while asking for help.

They're genuinely curious about the other person.

They build real relationships, not transactional connections.

Things like:
→ Targeting weak ties (research shows 70% of jobs come through loose connections)
→ Asking for advice instead of "are you hiring?" (opens way more doors)
→ Mastering the 30-minute coffee chat framework that feels like a conversation, not an interview

I put together 10 specific strategies in the graphic below 👇

Whether you're happily employed or actively searching, these work.

The difference is: one group builds relationships as insurance. The other builds them as lifelines.

Both work. One's just a lot less stressful.

Start today: Pick 3 people you haven't talked to in 6+ months and send them something useful.

An article. A congrats on a win. A simple "thinking of you.”

No ask. Just value. 

That's how you build a network that's there when you actually need it.

Good people don’t quit jobs.

They quit environments that drain them.

Here’s what’s really driving them away:

➔ Toxic cultures
➔ Micromanagers
➔ Burnout schedules
➔ Lack of growth
➔ Feeling undervalued

7 ways companies can build a workplace 
people don’t want to leave:

1. Build Trust
↳ Trust is the foundation of any great team.
↳ Without it, people feel insecure and undervalued.

2. Foster Growth
↳ Offer opportunities for learning and development.
↳ Encourage employees to take on new challenges.

3. Show Appreciation
↳ Regularly acknowledge and reward contributions.
↳ A simple thank-you can go a long way.

4. Create a Positive Culture
↳ Promote a healthy work-life balance.
↳ Encourage collaboration and open communication.

5. Avoid Micromanagement
↳ Give employees the autonomy to do their jobs.
↳ Trust their expertise and judgment.

6. Prevent Burnout
↳ Monitor workloads and encourage breaks.
↳ Provide resources for mental health support.

7. Value Contributions
↳ Make sure everyone knows their work matters.
↳ Celebrate successes, big and small.

Great teams don’t just hire talent,
They create spaces where people thrive.

Bad environments push people out, no matter how good 
the job looks on paper.

Let’s build workplaces people don’t want to leave!

Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network.
And give me a follow for more posts like this.

You don’t get what you deserve.
You get what you negotiate.
And most people negotiate poorly.

Staying silent can cost you up to $1.5 million over your career.

After coaching hundreds of professionals into $200k+ roles, here’s what I’ve learned:

Most people don’t get underpaid because they lack experience.
They get underpaid because they use language that weakens their leverage.

One weak phrase can cost you $50k+ instantly…and that compounds over time.

❌ Lower raises
❌ Smaller bonuses
❌ Less equity

Your negotiation language sets the baseline for everything that follows.

If you catch yourself saying things like “I’m flexible on compensation,” stop right there.

Here are 3 powerful phrase swaps that changed the game for my clients:

❌ Never: “I just really need this job.”
✅ Instead: “I’m excited about the opportunity and want to ensure compensation aligns with the value I bring.”

❌ Never: “I’m currently making X at my job.”
✅ Instead: “Based on market data for similar roles, I’m seeing a range of X–Y. How does that align with your budget?”

❌ Never: “I’d be willing to take less to get started.”
✅ Instead: “I’m very interested in this position and would like to work together to finalize the compensation.”

See the difference?

You’re not being difficult.
You’re being clear.

You’re not demanding more.
You’re defining your worth.

Weak phrases cost you for decades.
Strong language changes everything.

Reshare ♻️ to help someone avoid leaving money on the table.
Follow me for proven scripts, templates, and negotiation strategies.

($1.5M stat source: Forbes & Business Insider)

The worst 6 words you can say at the end of a job interview:

"No, I think you covered everything."

When it's your turn to ask questions, the interview's just getting good.

But 90% of candidates get this part wrong. 

They waste this golden opportunity on generic questions.

Or worse... they have nothing prepared at all.

The questions you ask reveal more about you than any answer you give.

Smart questions show:
→ Strategic thinking
→ Genuine interest  
→ Professional maturity
→ Cultural awareness
→ Long-term vision

But here's the real secret:

The RIGHT questions help you avoid the WRONG jobs.

Think about it.

- 90,000 hours at work over your career
- 1/3 of your waking life
- Your mental health, growth, and happiness on the line

Yet most people spend more time researching their next phone than their next employer.

The best candidates flip the script.

They interview the company as much as the company interviews them.

Questions like:

"What do new hires usually find surprising after they start?"

"How is employee feedback gathered, and when has it led to real change?"

"What's something you wish more people asked about before joining?"

These aren't just questions.
They're strategic intel gathering.

Because the answers tell you:
- What they're hiding in the job description
- Whether leaders actually listen
- If the culture matches the marketing
- How much autonomy you'll really have
- Whether you'll thrive or just survive

Great companies love these questions.
Bad companies get uncomfortable.

That tells you everything you need to know.

Your interview questions are your preview of the next 5 years.
Make them count.

What question do you always ask in interviews?

Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network.
And give me a follow for more posts like this.

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The Battle

Austin Belcak

Reno Perry

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taplio

The Battle

Austin Belcak

Reno Perry

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Austin Belcak's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreReno Perry's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreAustin Belcak's LinkedIn Performance