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

Career advice nobody wants to hear:

Close your laptop.
Grab a whiteboard (or paper).
Map your stories.

Last week, VP-level client in a 1:1.

They kept looking left during our session.
Finally I asked: "Did you do the work on a board?"

"Yes - collected my thoughts and wanted to make sure I had the stories right."

So few people do this.

Get off the laptop.
Grab a pen and paper.
Start mapping where you want to go.

What will you sell to the next person who takes a chance on you?

Your pivot starts with clarity.
Your clarity starts with writing it down.

Few are doing this work.

Which is exactly why it'll help you stand out.

Platforms don’t hire you, people do | Conversations ​> Applications

If you're getting interviews but not offers, here is what I’ve noticed over the last month:

You're missing translation.

Most think more interviews = more success/options. But the gap isn't your experience. It's how you're packaging it.

Here's what changes things:

- Connect your work to their outcomes
- Use their internal language
- Speak to their problems

When you learn to translate your value into their vocabulary, interviews convert.

You will constantly start to drive answers towards, "what do they get from bringing me into this role?"

This is what it takes to win. 

The person hired isn't always most qualified. It's the one who made it easiest to say yes.

Learn their language, close the role ✌🏼

I believe universities should be required to dedicate a full semester to structured job placement support before students graduate. 

I talk to talented students all the time who either don't use the resources or have a university that isn't working towards supporting them professionally

Ps) this comes from someone who just hired an intern from alma mater, excited to talk about this more soon. A major focus of our work will be helping them land a full-time role post grad.

If you're not obsessively preparing for interviews, you're leaving the outcome to chance.

- Not "I'll be myself and see what happens" mode.
- Not "hope they like me" mode.
- Not "I'll wing it" mode.

Whether you've got 5 years of experience or 15, the prep work stays the same (to an extent).

Here's what I ask every client to do 👇

STEP 1) Study their LinkedIn profile

- No need to connect yet, but go see where they've spent time.
- What companies? What roles?
- What do they care about?

STEP 2) What will you reference from your last interview?

- If this is round two or three, what did you learn? What thread can you pick up and build on?

STEP 3) What 3 stories will hit home with this interviewer?

- Match your wins to what matters to them. Don't just recite your resume - connect the dots for them.

STEP 4) What are you tweaking from the last interview that went wrong?

- If something didn't land, fix it. Don't repeat the same mistake twice.

STEP 5) Prepare 5-10 questions

- Not 1-3. Aim for 10. Go back through all the steps above - does it drive any further questions?

The preparation is what you control and where you can win.

AND also... you'll know if you left something on the table. 

KNOCK out your prep 🤝

I can't put to words how important it is to hang around for a long time and serve people at the highest level you can. 

I'm having so much fun on LinkedIn right now.

I get to work with great people. 
I get to see them smash their dream role.
I get to help them negotiate the salary they want.
I get to sit with them in the brutal moments of the process.

This doesn't happen if I don't hang around for 5+ years. 

All the moments of people hating on your content, telling you you're too young to serve people, or the content being "cringey" are part of the game. 

This is it. Here's to the long game. 

Smile and wave 👋🏼

ps) it's cringey until it works. and it still feels like the early days.

Friendly reminder: this job search is for a "period of time", it's not a forever thing. Hang in there. People are rooting for you from the shadows. Make them proud.

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

The best candidates are already in motion.

Building, connecting, creating "value" (yes I know you hate that word as a job seeker at times)

Breaking down a piece I've been working on in mock interviews with folks

let's have a week 🤝

Ps) someone embody conversations > applications this past week, I highlighted them in my newsletter here 👇🏼

https://lnkd.in/g44PJ6vT

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've had 3 clients this past week encounter the same obstacle: roles they loved, but requiring 5+ detailed application questions.

- Not "just another hoop to jump through."
- Not "questions no one reads."
- Not "busy work from HR."

They're all fair questions, I don't mind them but it can take time!

The best play?

→ Answer them if you love the role.
→ Answer them if you've been tapped for it.
→ Answer them with a unique side of yourself.

I used to read hundreds of these responses.
No one wants robotic garbage about "producing value for stakeholders."

You have cool stories.
You do things outside of work.
You've worked on awesome projects.

Share it.

People want to see that side of you - the human behind the resume.

These questions aren't obstacles. They're opportunities to stand out when everyone else is copying and pasting.

Ps) I'm dropping a few cool roles here in the next hours + highlighting a job seeker who's top tier. Subscribe in the comments if you want that in your inbox!

The smartest candidates assess their interviewer before asking a single question (here's why it matters)

Not every interviewer has the same context.

The best candidates don't ask generic questions.
They gather intelligence strategically.

Don't miss out obsessively preparing for your interviews, there's always more to do and if you're going to spend time - focus on the questions. Interviews can be won there 🤝

I watched my clients land ~$426k in combined comp over the last week. My 3 reasons why they won (and you can too)

1. Stay even-keeled through the chaos

→ This market will test you. One week you're interviewing at a top-tier startup or FAANG. The next week your pipeline is empty.

→ We weren't always great at this, but it's mandatory now. The emotional rollercoaster will drain you if you let it.

2. Keep creating options until the very end

→ You never know when someone will pull the rug or come through. I wouldn't be against entertaining calls up until a few days before your first day.

→ More options mean more leverage. More leverage means better outcomes.

3. Ask PHENOMENAL questions

→ The bar is low here, which means you can stand out fast.

→ Grab information from a 1st round interview that you'll use in the 3rd round when you get closer to the specifics of the role.

And here's the bonus most people miss:

Speed wins.

→ From scheduling interviews to responding to the team
→ The market rewards people who move with urgency
→ Fast doesn't mean sloppy - it means intentional

These aren't theories.

They're what my clients did to win $426k in offers (not including ~10% bonuses per person).

ps) 6 interviews this week across 11 folks, let's keep the motion!

I didn't realize how many folks are out there running a service with people where they don't spend time with them.

Won't get on a call.
Won't respond to a message. 
Won't grab a coffee in-person. 

Don't work with someone that doesn't make time. You're better off taking a risk with someone that'll dive into the trenches with you. 

Food for thought, let's have a Saturday

3 coaching engagements wrapped up recently. Here are the questions I asked to close them out:

"What was the first moment you thought, 'Oh… this is different than anything else I've tried'?"

"What part of the process felt uncomfortable at first, but ended up mattering the most?"

"If someone shadowed you for a week during the search, what would they be surprised you weren't doing?"

"What would you tell '3-months-ago you' to stop worrying about?"

"If someone came to you today saying 'the market is terrible,' how would you respond now?"

These calls have been incredible:

- Honest feedback that helps me serve better
- Proof that the right questions unlock clarity
- Laughs and shocking realizations

This matters because:

- You stop repeating what didn't work
- You admit where you were wrong
- You learn what actually moved the needle

The people you serve deserve your best work.
Ask the right questions.

Take their progress seriously.

Learn from what's working ✌🏼

Resume and LinkedIn Rewrites 🔹Interview Prep 🔹Crafting Effective Career Marketing Materials That Create Positive Outcomes 🔹Insights From A Hiring Manager’s Perspective 🔹Actionable Advice To Get You Hired

I’ve sat on the other side of the hiring table — as a Senior Executive and Fortune 500 hiring manager — and I know what gets a resume noticed and what gets ignored. That insight fuels everything I do.

I work 1:1 with professionals to craft high-impact resumes and LinkedIn profiles that stand out in today’s competitive job market. No outsourcing, no templates — just personalized, strategic career marketing materials built from the ground up.

When you partner with me, you'll get:

✅ A 60–90 minute Career Debrief session where we dive deep into your experience, value proposition, and the narrative that positions you as the ideal candidate.

✅ A custom-written resume tailored to your goals, with targeted keywords, a compelling Executive Summary, and a modern design — delivered in PDF and Word formats.

✅ A LinkedIn profile transformation that elevates your professional brand, leverages the power of your “About” section, and aligns with the skills most in demand for your target roles.

✅ Insider-level interview prep, where I coach you from a hiring manager’s perspective — what we want to hear, and what turns us off.

What I offer goes beyond formatting and buzzwords. I help you articulate your value in a way that resonates with real decision-makers — because I’ve been one.

What I Do:
✔️ LinkedIn Profiles & Branding
✔️ Resume Rewrites
✔️Resume and LinkedIn Reviews
✔️ Interview Prep & Mock Interviews
✔️60 minute 1:1 Q&A sessions.  Just me answering your questions about resumes, LinkedIn profiles, interviews and job search strategy.


I specialize in guiding professionals through the often overwhelming process of telling their story authentically and persuasively. If you’re ready to reignite your job search and get real traction, I’m here to help — personally.

What Others Are Saying

“Matt is a true professional and great at what he does! He has a way of taking your experience and showcasing how those transferable skills are part of what makes you ready for the next stage in your career.”

“After previously working for Matt when I saw he was doing resumes and helping with image on LinkedIn I knew he was the right person for the job. He has been on the other side of the hiring desk for many years and knows what hiring managers are looking for from a prospective candidate.”


👉If you are interested in moving your job search reach me at matthewjtooker@gmail.com


Matt Tooker

Over 45 and job hunting, here is a hard question:
Are you positioning yourself as a commodity… or as a solution?

A commodity competes on price. A solution competes on value.

When I review resumes from experienced professionals, I often see this:
↳ 25 years of experience ↳ Worked at respected companies ↳ Managed large teams ↳ Responsible for big budgets

That is background.
What is missing?
The problem you solve.

Companies don’t  hire experience. They hire outcomes. They are thinking:
 Can you modernize legacy operations Can you mentor a young leadership bench Can you increase revenue without increasing headcount

If you are over 45, your advantage is not longevity. It is pattern recognition. Judgment under pressure. Scar tissue. Perspective.

Stop presenting your career timeline.
Start presenting your value proposition.
You are not a commodity on the shelf.
You are a targeted solution to a very specific business problem.

Act like it.

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Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.
Ask about an individualized 60 minute resume or LinkedIn consultation.
DM me about my resume review service

Resume Rewrites & LinkedIn Branding🔹Interview Prep🔹Crushing Ageism One Client At A Time 🔹 Ex-Fortune 500 Senior Manager🔹Work With A Former Hiring Manager🔹 Jump Start Your Job Search

One glaring resume omission my 45+ year-old clients have in common:
They neglect to mention promotions.  

Why promotions are important:

↳ They demonstrate career progression and growth, showing that your work has been consistently recognized.

↳ They highlight increasing levels of responsibility, signaling trust and confidence from leadership.

↳ They provide tangible evidence of strong performance, achievement, and value to the organization.

↳ They differentiate you from peers by showing you were selected for advancement over others.

↳ They enhance your personal brand narrative, from entry-level contributor to trusted leader.

Maybe you take promotions for granted, hiring managers and recruiters don’t.

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Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.
Ask about an individualized 60 minute resume or LinkedIn consultation.
DM me about my resume review service

Myth Buster Tuesday. - Blizzard Edition
Myth vs Reality: What Hiring Managers Want In A Resume

After sitting on both sides of the hiring table, this is where many job searchers go wrong:

Myth: Listing responsibilities proves you can do the job. Reality: Results get attention. Show impact. Revenue grown. Costs reduced. Time saved. Teams built. Outcomes matter more than tasks.

Myth: A generic resume works for multiple roles. Reality: Tailoring wins. Managers want to feel like you want this job, not any job. Alignment to their needs is everything.

Myth: Fancy formatting and graphics help you stand out. Reality: Substance stands out. Clean structure, strong bullets, measurable wins. Make it easy to read and easy to say yes.

You want your resume to make a statement.
Make it obvious. Make it relevant. Make it about them.

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Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.
Ask about an individualized 60 minute resume or LinkedIn consultation.
DM me about my resume review service

Your resume is close but not getting interviews.
If you are applying and hearing crickets, the issue may not be your experience. It may be how it is presented.

Willing to make a small investment to improve your results?
A resume audit might be the answer.

A resume audit is a detailed, section by section review of your resume through the eyes of a former hiring manager. Me.

When I conduct a resume audit, I ask:
↳ Does this clearly communicate your brand? ↳ Does it focus on outcomes instead of just experience? ↳ Is it obvious why you are a strong candidate for the role?
↳ Does anything create confusion or doubt?

After a thorough review, you receive a comprehensive report outlining what is working, what is not, and specific recommendations to strengthen it.

Who is this right for?
↳ Professionals who feel their resume is close but not converting ↳ Job seekers who want expert feedback before committing to a full rewrite ↳ Anyone who wants clarity on why their resume is not getting traction

And the investment is significantly less than a full resume rewrite.

If your resume is not producing the results you want, this could be the most practical next step.

DM me if you would like the details.

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Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.
Ask about an individualized 60 minute resume or LinkedIn consultation.
DM me about my resume review service

Myth Buster Monday for the 45+ Job Seeker:  Resume Edition
 Myth: I should try to hide my job gaps
Reality: Trying to hide anything creates suspicion. Recruiters are trained to spot gaps in seconds. A gap is not the problem. A vague explanation is. Own it. Frame it. Show what you learned, built, and then move on!

Myth: I should only include paid experience, not volunteer work
Reality: Hiring managers care about impact, not payroll status. If you led a nonprofit initiative, grew membership, managed a budget, or delivered measurable outcomes, that counts. Volunteer work that demonstrates leadership, strategy, or execution absolutely belongs on your resume. 

Myth: I should not include links to any digital media like LinkedIn
Reality: Recruiters are going to look you up anyway. Make it easy for them. A strong LinkedIn profile, portfolio, website, or project link adds depth and credibility. Your resume opens the door. Your digital presence strengthens the case.

Stop playing defense in your job search.
Opt for clarity, transparency and credibility. . That’s what lands interviews.

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Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.
Ask about an individualized 60 minute resume or LinkedIn consultation.
DM me about my resume review service

Your LinkedIn profile should market you, not your employer.
Many professionals unintentionally write their profiles like corporate copy:

“We deliver world-class solutions…” “Our mission is to transform industries…”

But hiring leaders aren’t searching for the company you represent, they’re looking for the leader behind the results.

↳ Your profile should position you as a brand of one. Highlight your achievements, your leadership story, and the business outcomes you’ve driven.

When someone views your profile, they should immediately understand what makes you valuable,  independent of where you work.

Your employer already has a marketing department. Your profile? That’s yours.

Need help creating a LinkedIn profile that will highlight your brand?
DM me.

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Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.
Ask about an individualized 60 minute resume or LinkedIn consultation.
DM me about my resume review service

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The Battle

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Matt Tooker

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Engagements

Likes

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