Helping job seekers revitalize their networking strategy in Q3 | Conversations > Applications ✌️

I help job seekers unlock $100K+ roles by mastering the story that sells. Conversations ​> Applications // Career Coach // Resume & LinkedIn Writing // Job Search Strategy

I believe you should be able to obtain your career dreams and that’s what I help professionals do. 

My clients have landed roles at Oracle, Deloitte, EY, Tata Consultancy, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Eaton, Salesforce, KPMG, PWC, Dell, Higher Education or started their own venture 😌

But, landing your dream role doesn’t happen by chance, or with me creating an offer letter for you. My most successful clients know it takes hard work, patience, and perseverance.

The results? Massive career pivots, finding clarity in what you wanted to do, landing your target role in 2 months, and getting 2x your current salary. 

Ultimately, the people I work with feel respected, valued, and paid fairly in their career path.

I am a career coach guiding frustrated mid-career professionals to their target roles by teaching them to have the right conversations with the right people

For brand partnerships or creator collaborations, reach out anytime: dominic@dxconsults.com

Sick of hearing from me?  Scroll 👇🏼  to see what my clients have to say

Who am I and why should you listen to me?

I was an underdog, I never had the perfect GPA, experience, or stories to tell and I still broke into the #1 professional service firm in the world. Before that, I spent time in public accounting, start-ups, and fortune 500 companies.

I sat behind the scenes in HR and watched resumes pile in, held phone screens and reference checks, and interviewed candidates, and rejected candidates (yes, all while utilizing an ATS). 

I’ve seen how treacherous the job searching process can be; automated rejections, ghosting, 14 rounds of interviews, and 250 applications a week. I don’t want you to have to live in the process that every candidate believes to be normal.

Born and raised in Cleveland, I took an unconventional path: four years in Austin, an unexpected detour living in Indonesia, and now a return to Austin where the weather is elite and the tacos are dangerously good.

My time abroad gave me perspective, my time in Cleveland gave me grit, and Austin has given me the space to build a business around helping people do work they love. I still root for the Browns (against all odds), and I’m usually running, creating, or hanging with family and friends when I'm not coaching.

Dominic Imwalle

Sending another application today? Cool.

Just know that hitting 'submit' isn't the win you think.

Here's the thing: applications feel productive.
They're measurable. They're safe.

But they're not moving you forward 👇

STEP 1) Redefine your finish line

- Stop counting applications sent. Start counting conversations had. One real conversation with someone at your target company beats 20 cold applications every single time.

- The goal isn't volume, it's connection.

STEP 2) Pick one person this week

- Find someone doing the work you want to do. Someone who's been where you're trying to go. Reach out with a clear, specific ask. "I'd love 15 minutes to learn how you approached X" works better than "Can I pick your brain?"

- Make it easy for them to say yes.

STEP 3) Show up prepared

- Don't waste their time with questions Google could answer. Come with insight. Share what you've learned about their company, their role, their challenges.

- Ask how they'd approach a problem you're thinking through.

- This isn't an interview, it's a conversation between two professionals.

STEP 4) Follow through

- After the call, send a thank you. Share something useful.

Stay visible. The relationship doesn't end when the Zoom closes.

- People refer candidates they remember, not resumes they forgot.

The application makes you feel busy. 
The conversation makes you memorable.

Leave  the dopamine hit of clicking 'apply' behind. Start building the relationships that actually open doors.

One conversation this week. That's the finish line that matters.

Go find it ✌🏼

Platforms don’t hire you, people do | Creating content to make your search go a level deep than “easy apply” | Career Coach

Get out in the world. 
Go do things you enjoy. 
Go push yourself to tears. 
Go hang around people you love.

The world is waiting for you.

Houston. Thank you 🤝

No alternative text description for this image

I love obsessively preparing for interviews. This week alone, my clients have 8 screening calls lined up.

Here's what changes everything in that first conversation:

Understanding if you're speaking with an operator or a gatekeeper.

Gatekeepers (recruiters, HR, coordinators) manage the process.

Ask them:
- Clear, practical alignment questions
- Role scope and expectations
- Interview flow and timeline

They help you understand if this company will be right.

Operators (hiring managers, embedded team members) own the work.

Ask them:
- Real constraints and tradeoffs
- Execution-focused questions
- What success actually looks like

They help you demonstrate credibility and gather signal.

"Why am I bombing screening calls?"

- You're treating every conversation the same.
- You're missing who holds what information.
- You're asking the wrong questions.

Tailor your questions to who you're speaking with.

One lens. Two approaches.

That's how you win the first chat.

Platforms don’t hire you, people do // Creating content to make your search go a level deep than “easy apply” // Career Coach

Most people think more interviews means they're closer to landing the role.

But I spent 30 minutes with a marketing leader who had 20+ years of experience.

They'd landed 10+ interviews in the last 2 months.

- Recruiters were reaching out constantly.
- Their resume was working.
- Their network was active.

But none of these interviews were converting.

So I told them to do one thing:

You don't need to do more.
You just need to slow down.

If recruiters are calling, your profile and experience are already working.

Now the goal shifts.

Make sure the role works for you.

Use those calls to evaluate, not just impress. Ask questions that guide you closer to what they actually need.

Your job is to be curious.
To see if this is the right place for you.

There will be a moment to pitch.

And you'll know when it comes because of your expertise.

The people getting offers?

They're not just answering questions.
They're asking the right ones.
They're treating interviews like conversations.

Because when you have the experience and the interviews...

The missing piece isn't more activity.

It's more intention and curiosity. 

Conversations > Applications

Platforms don’t hire you, people do // Creating content to make your search go a level deep than “easy apply” // Career Coach // Conversations ​> Applications

If you’ve been in your career for 5, 10, or even 15 years and still get that nervous feeling before sending the first message, you’re definitely not alone.

Friendly reminder: You're not going to get blacklisted for sending a message.

Here's what actually happens:

When you reach out to someone:

1. They ignore it (most common)
2. They respond politely
3. They connect you with someone helpful

That's it. No blacklist. No consequences.
The downside you're imagining doesn't exist.

Of course, spamming 100 people won't help.
But a courteous, specific message? That's normal.

The mindset shift:

Fear-based: "What if I bother them?"

Offense-based: "They're one message away from helping me."

Your work speaks for itself.
And you've built a pretty awesome career.

Send the message and have a Friday 🤝

Some LinkedIn profiles circulate job openings, yet have no connection to the actual hiring team (I honestly love to see it)

I've been suggesting this in all of my coaching sessions recently... take the role/company/title you're going after and hit the LinkedIn search bar but instead of filtering on JOBS filter on POSTS. 

You'll have to sift through junk, but you'll also run into a team hiring posting about a role. Multiple people who sit around it are commenting, liking, and sharing with their network. 

A perfect moment for you to swoop in, drop a comment, a message, and a reason why this role is in your lane 🤝

There’s an overlooked edge to attending local events - most people never discover it.

Like most people, I get nervous or am not sure what to make of getting in-person at an event (especially solo). But immediately after, I'm flushed with excitement or energy about what came out of it.

And... I realized this is happening for the folks I'm working with.

Don't miss out on tapping into the folks around you 🤝

A client reminded me of something I've been doing wrong for years.

We see posts that resonate.

But we scroll past them anyway.
Telling ourselves we'll come back later.

I've lost count of the posts I meant to comment on.

The connections I could've made.
The conversations that never happened.

Here's what I've learned:

- That insight that clicked? Respond immediately.
- That moment of connection? Don't let it pass.
- That person you admire? Tell them today.
- That post you loved? Comment now.

The real cost?
Missing out on relationships.

- How many people never heard your perspective?
- How many conversations died in your drafts folder?
- How many connections slipped through the cracks?

I'm consistently amazed by what happens when I just hit send.

For you, if commenting feels uncomfortable, start small.

It pays to engage with content that moves you.
Pays more to believe people want to hear from you.

Because they do.

The only mistake is convincing yourself otherwise.

Stop saving posts for later.

Start building connections now ✌🏼

Never underestimate getting together with people. 

Whether it's a group of friends, alumni, or the chance to run into someone you haven't met. You won't regret going out into the world.

Texted a few fellas on Wednesday, pulled them over to an event last night, and had a ton of fun catching up. 

S/o St.Edward's University for the awesome Hillhops event, probably one of my favorite events I've seen y'all do for #seualumni

I predict career coaching will grow over the next 10 years as organizations have less and less people who care about the growth of those beneath them. They won't spend the time to develop their people because AI was supposed to replace their job. 

Coaching doesn’t replace managers, it replaces the development that no longer exists.

There will be plenty of networking conversations where it seems like nothing came from them (20+), until the one conversation that changes everything. 

Those 20 get you ready for the ONE. 
Keep finding new people.

I keep seeing incredible companies share they “can’t find good talent.”

Meanwhile, they’re buried under 700 resumes from people who never should’ve applied in the first place. Not because the candidates are bad but because the hiring system rewards volume, not fit (right now).

(S/o people and agencies not reading the job description, knowing the role, or what the company needs in this stage.)

The people who actually win roles?

They don’t play the application game.
They study the business.
They build a point of view.

They reach out like operators, not applicants.

I say this because you can still be different by trusting your gut. You've worked in a field for years, you have a unique perspective, tie it back to the company + what you plan to solve, and work like h*ll to get it in front of someone who cares. 

Companies aren’t ignoring great people.
They just never see them.

I did it this weekend but wanted to do it again with a twist. 

Along with 2 talented professionals, I'm highlighting 2 roles I absolutely love and believe the hiring team did a great job explaining what they need. 

S/o Parq and RevenueCat for putting out solid roles + have a brand I remember in Austin. 

The next home run hire isn't sitting in an ATS. 
They're 1-2 conversations and introductions away.

Right under your nose 🤝

https://lnkd.in/g6Nkz4iM

s/o the note from my mom, hats on, lets get to work. 
s/o Neutonic for keeping me fueled up.

Job search coaches selling guarantees:

- "Follow my 30-day system for guaranteed results"
- "Apply to 100+ jobs and you'll land something fast"
- "Watch these videos and get hired in 45 days"

These promises lead to:

- Burnout from mass applications.
- False expectations about timelines.
- Frustration when reality doesn't match the hype.

I don't sell guarantees. I use data to set real expectations.
(my clients can tell you this is one of the first pieces we cover)

Huntr just released their 2025 job search trends for Q4. 
s/o Sam Wright for keeping me up to date.

Here's what matters:

1) Median Time to First Offer: 83 days

That's roughly 3 months from search start to offer. Don't mess around with this timeline - put people on notice and include your network early.

2) Job Search Timeline: 12 days per interview stage

Never leave an interview without understanding their urgency or process. I don't want you waiting 12 days to hear back (or never at all).

3) Applications Before Offer: The 100+ club exists

But they're going mad in the process or paying someone to spam applications. I'm still slowing down the folks I work with - and it's working.

We don't do 25-application weeks. Nearly 38% of successful job seekers secure a role within their first 30 applications.

The harsh truth:

There are no guarantees in this market.
But you can use the data to show up smarter tomorrow.

If you're tired of chasing false promises in the job hunt, shoot me a message and let's see if we can find the right person to support you. 

(might not be me and there are a ton of great coaches here)

Endlessly scrolling through LinkedIn won’t guarantee you more interview calls.

1 massive misconception I keep seeing  -  thinking hours on the platform = interview invites.

Why it keeps you stuck instead of moving forward:

1) You confuse activity with actual progress
2) You lose consistency chasing perfection
3) You burn out trying to "do more" ("easy apply")

People respond to candidates who:

- Stay top of mind
- Show up regularly
- Build trust through repetition

So if you're exhausted (or feeling behind):

- Let small actions compound over time
- Message 2 - 3 people per session
- Track who you've reached out to
- Set 15 minutes, twice a week
- Focus on quality over quantity

Because your consistency → creates the leverage that sporadic effort never will.

"Do I need to be on LinkedIn all day?"

1) No.
2) It starts with showing up on your terms.

Build your outreach so you can:

1) Create momentum
2) Trust the process
3) Stay visible

If your goal is to land interviews without burning out...

- Play the long game
- Control your schedule
- Shift from hours to habits

People want to hear from you.

Act accordingly 🤝

Here's what I tell people interviewing this week:

"Go have some fun in there."

They invited you for a reason.

Most candidates walk in overthinking:

"What if I mess up? What if they don't like me?"

But that mindset kills your energy.
Instead, remember why you're in that room:

↳ They want to see who you really are.
↳ They believe you can do the work.
↳ They're deciding if you fit the team.

Prepare your questions.
Study who's across the table.
Practice the stories that show your best work.

Then let it fly.

People hire folks who believe in themselves, work hard, and enjoy the process

If you're serious about landing this role, show up as someone they'd want on their team.

Confidence starts with you ✌🏼

I will be your random guy on LinkedIn every single day of the week. 

S/o LinkedIn for giving me a platform.
Blue badge or not, I'll be here rocking 🤝

Founder @ SalesBrand | LinkedIn executive brand and content consultancy | Over half a billion organic LinkedIn views

The LinkedIn Top Voice blue badge summed up in two images.

1. Mel Robbins: world famous author and writer, sold millions of books, has 40 million followers across social media, gets thousands and thousands of engagements per post.

2. Dominic Imwalle: random guy, with a solo consulting business in Texas, gets 20 likes per post

UPDATE 1:

There is a third category. Big LinkedIn-native influencers. I know some of them. Top Voice for them makes sense.

UPDATE 2:

There appears to be a Blue Badge purge going on at LinkedIn right now. People are losing them left and right. So we will see how this all shakes out.

A great leader is not just a good manager - 

It's someone who transforms your entire career trajectory.

If you're 5-15 years into your career and you haven't worked under a leader who:

- Demands a high quality work product
- Requires you to share your story
- Requires you to document your story
- Magnifies where you've won
- Gives you room to grow in losses
- Helps you develop other leaders
- Gives you autonomy to find a project you enjoy
- Teaches you how to navigate compensation

Then I highly recommend working this entire year to find someone like this. 

Note: It could take a few years and still be worth it.

Switched your strategy and it feels harder? That's exactly where you need to be.

You finally have clarity on what to pursue.

You're no longer throwing applications into the void.
You're operating like the professionals who land roles.

But here's where most people quit.

The discomfort:

- Silence from companies you haven't reached.
- Doubt creeping in about the new approach.
- Fewer applications going out each day.
- Pressure to go back to what's familiar.
- Conversations that feel awkward at first.

The reality:

- You're learning skills that outlast this search.
- You're building relationships that compound.
- You're getting closer to the right opportunity.
- You're trying what 95% of people won't do.
- You have more time to do meaningful work.

Why does this work?
Because one strong lane beats scattered effort.

Consistency in a focused direction creates momentum. Depth in relationships opens doors. Commitment to a strategy long enough to see results separates you from everyone else.

Most people switch strategies every week and wonder why nothing sticks.

You don't need more roles to apply to.

You need to stay in your lane long enough to see what happens.

Stick with the discomfort and let the strategy breathe ✌🏼

I work with great people. 
I need to talk about them more. 

I wouldn't welcome someone into my coaching program if I didn't believe they were exceptional at the work they do. 

Going to keep this small and highlight a few folks each week, think of it as your private talent network. 

Sharing more on why you should hire them this morning 👇🏼

https://lnkd.in/g6Nkz4iM

Craig Davis

An award-winning Senior Customer Service Representative with 12+ years of experience. Helping hospitality companies create amazing customer experiences that drive 7-figures in annual growth.

I help content creators on LinkedIn by leaving value-driven comments.

My first job was working as a Janitor at the Greater Allen Cathedral of New York in June 2006. I enjoyed learning how to serve people, do a job, and learn about its mission.

I volunteer to serve Thanksgiving food, Christmas Gifts and attend church conferences.

Those experiences translated to my first full-time job, working at a casino in October 2011.

Out of over 1,000+ employees with no phone experience, I became the first-ever Employee of the Month in the Call Center for Outstanding Customer Service.

My former manager wrote in 2015:

"His dedication to excellence and delivering above and beyond what is required makes him a solid addition to any organization." - Elba Batista, Former Customer Relations Manager at Resorts World Casino New York City.

Working in hospitality taught me how to be patient, empathetic, and caring.

My goal is to become a Customer Success Associate at a hospitality tech startup in New York, NY. Here are three reasons why:

1) To start, I want to make a career change that I will be happy with for a long time.

2) Throughout my career, I’ve become an expert at uncovering people’s desired outcomes to help create amazing customer experiences.

3) You get my skills and relevant customer experience to bring a hospitality tech startup in New York, NY.

Why a hospitality startup? To bring insights from working in hotels.

I create content on LinkedIn that focuses on personal branding, adding value, and sharing webinar takeaways. I like to visit Farmer's Markets in New York.

To see webinar takeaways from May 27th, 2020 to now, click "See all" on the featured tab.

To follow my content, follow my hashtag: #CraigNotes

If you are open to how we can work and help each other, please send an InMail or LinkedIn Message.

Specialties: Customer Experience | Hospitality Expert | Account Management | Communication | Relationship Management | Data Analysis | Project Management | Customer Engagement | Relationship Building | Market Research | Customer Retention | Salesforce.com | Customer Support | Troubleshooting | Data Entry | Technical Support

Technical Skills / Systems: | Trello | OS365 / Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Sharepoint, Powerpoint | Google Suite - Docs, Sheets, Slides | SQL | Slack | Hubspot | OnQ | Meridian | HotSoS | MARSHA | Guestware | Canva | Zoom

Senior Customer Service Representative

•	Facilitated exceptional customer experiences through utilizing data within the hotel data 
        management system, resulting in $5K of extra daily revenue.

•	Boosted customer testimonials by handling customer inquiries during the nomination which 
        resulted in winning the 2019 Certificate of Excellence award from TripAdvisor for the hotel.

•	Upsell ~$900k on an annual basis for upgrades in service packages and room upgrades 
        consistently by educating customers on incentives and rewards.

7 LinkedIn challenges I’m taking on in 2026

(Here's how to completely transform your networking)

1. I will ask for specific help when I need it

- Start your post with: "I need your advice on this."
- Share what you tried. Be straight to the point.
- Ask why you need help. (Not clear? Rewrite)

2. I will personalize my comments

- When commenting, share your personal experience.
- Write how you felt or what the post reminds you of.
- Even if you think no one will read it, still share.

3. I will go on a call with 1 connection monthly

- Check connections you haven't spoken to.
- In your DM, mention a recent post you loved.
- Finally, ask to speak for 15 minutes. Follow up.

4. I will write at least 1 LI Recommendation per quarter.

- Reach out to your 1st degree connections.
- Think of how they added value to you and thank them.
- Send a draft. Talk about the situation, with results.

5. I will reflect on my comments to improve them

- Look at the last 10 comments you wrote.
- Think of how you can make your comments better.
- Ask yourself: "Does my comment expand on the post?"

6. I will connect with at least 1 new person per day

- Check posts from 2nd and 3rd-degree connections.
- Check their content and send a personalized request.
- Offer to support their posts. Check their posting time.

7. I will write 7 thank you cards to send in person
- Find a store or shop online to buy blank cards.
- Let your connections know you are sending a card.
- Ask where to mail it to and thank them for their help.

This list is important to help you build real relationships.

Let's make 2026 the year of quality networking!

(Save and Repost this ♻️ to help someone start 2026 strong.)

P.S. Which of these (1-7) will you start first in 2026? Happy New Year!

👉 Click my hashtag #CraigNotes for more of my posts.

Helping beginners navigate LinkedIn and stand out with proven tips and strategies | 10+ years on LinkedIn, known for writing "really good comments" that convert

This is easily overlooked in LinkedIn comments:

Making the author of the post look "great".

Often times, we fall into this trap of trying to say the best thing. Something that'll attract likes and replies.

But we forget about the author of the post.

My simple formula is:

1. Always tag + acknowledge the author of a post
2. Compliment them.

Why should you do this? Because...

1. You're valuing the author's work
2. You're not making it all about yourself
3. It shows "authenticity" to your audience

In a nutshell...

Don't make your comment look good.
Make the author look great too!
It's an excellent combination!

Sounds "good"? :)

(Save and repost this to help others make authors of posts look great.♻️)

P.S. Do you compliment a post's author in your comments? Or do you just leave your thoughts?

👉 Click my hashtag #CraigNotes for more of my posts.

Working hard towards your New Year’s resolution?

Or is momentum starting to fade?

Here's the truth:

Most people have resolutions that fade before the month ends.

In my opinion, the best way to stay the course and to accomplish your goals is to start smart. To do this you:

Take a goal.
Break it down.
Make it realistic.

For example: my goal is to comment on at least 20 new people's posts. Daily.

So I:

-Set aside time to comment daily
-Ensure my commenting time is uninterrupted
-Have a list of 20 accounts that I want to comment on

This means I have to step out of my comment zone, too.

And I have to build a habit. One that I can handle.

But the good thing is the more you do it, the better you get.

Carry this momentum forward and make each day count so you can ensure that you meet your goal.

Let's make 2026 a great year for stretching ourselves!

(Save and repost this so someone can start 2026 well.♻️)

P.S. What new habits are you starting to build this year?

👉 Click my hashtag #CraigNotes for more of my posts.

The best thing about the new year?

You get a chance to work on you.

Wrote LinkedIn Articles for 5 years since December 2020.

The theme for 2026 is in the article.

(Save and repost this.♻️)

P.S. Do you make New Year's Resolutions?

👉 Click my hashtag #CraigNotes for more of my posts.

Tuesday, 8:05am January 6th, 2026 Mom is resting. She made breakfast for the family. Baby bro is in his room. Right now, it's partly cloudy. It's 35 d

Open article: My theme for 2026 by Craig Davis • 2 min read

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The Battle

Dominic Imwalle

Craig Davis

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The Battle

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Craig Davis

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);}Dominic Imwalle's LinkedIn Performance

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