Today, we’re delighted to welcome back return guest, Austin Belcak, who joined us way back on episode five to talk about how to land a dream job at the salary you deserve, as well on episode 89 where he shared his insights on building an exceptional resume that gets real results. Through his personal experiences, Austin has developed a uniquely effective job search system that helped him go from being a new grad with a biology degree (and a job in healthcare) to landing interviews at multiple tech companies, including Microsoft, where he ended up working for over five years and was promoted multiple times.

Austin is the founder of Cultivated Culture, where he helps people secure jobs they’re passionate about, without relying on the need for traditional experience or online applications. The platform is a hugely valuable resource for job seekers and offers multiple free tools, including a resume builder and analyzer. He also hosts The Dream Job System Podcast where he shares bite-sized, highly actionable career advice. Additionally, Austin’s work has been featured in multiple publications including, Forbes, Business Insider, and Fast Co. Through his work he has helped thousands of job seekers earn roles at top companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon, without ever needing to apply online.

In today’s conversation with Austin, we delve into the subject of networking, why he’s found it to be infinitely more effective than traditional job-searching methods, and how he developed a jobs system that could help others just like him. We unpack why traditional approaches proved particularly ineffective for him, why he needed advice from people with first-hand experience, and how he went about reaching out to those individuals who could give him the insights he needed to succeed. Our conversation also examines some of the most common misconceptions when it comes to networking and what can be done to address them. 

Austin’s parting message emphasizes the importance of investing in yourself and actively creating things that other people will find interesting, before breaking down exactly how this will help your networking journey in the long run. His story serves as a powerful reminder that following your intuition and finding a braver path, will often be far more effective than sticking to more traditional routes. Join us today to hear all of Austin’s eye-opening insights as we discuss the nuances of networking and finding the job you truly want! 

 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Some background on today’s guest, Austin Belcak. [02:03]

• How Austin founded Cultivated Culture. [05:45]

• What made him reject traditional job search practices and try a different approach. [11:35]

• Key factors that helped him determine the job he was looking for and where he wanted to work. [15:36]

• How Austin found high-achieving individuals who would understand his experience, especially coming from a non-traditional background, and how he reached out for their input. [17:33]

• Common misunderstandings around networking and advice on how to address them. [19:55]

• Learning how to cultivate persistence when it comes to networking. [26:58]

• Why people are more ready to invest in people who are already investing in themselves; how to establish channels that create value and make it easier to network. [31:09]

• Where you can find Austin online. [35:16]

 

For More Information:

Austin Belcak on LinkedIn

Austin Belcak on X

Austin Belcak on Instagram

Cultivated Culture

Cultivated Culture Blog

Cultivated Culture Podcast

Cultivated Culture Tools

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Listen to Finding Brave Episode 5: How to Land a Dream Job at the Salary You Deserve with Austin Becak 

Check out Finding Brave Episode 89: Building a Crazy Effective Resume that Gets Real Results with Austin Belcak 

 

———————

Are you ready for a BIG positive shift in how you’re working and what you’re capable of achieving today in your career and leadership? Let’s work together and make that happen!

While you might know me best as a podcast host and writer, a key focus in my work is career and leadership coaching and training for mid to high-level professional women around the globe. In my top-rated Career & Leadership Breakthrough 1:1 Program and The Most Powerful You video and live course, I help female executives and leaders experience what they want most, which includes more confidence, impact, recognition, advancement, financial reward, well-being, and fulfillment. And I also help them close their power gaps and make headway towards their most exciting visions for the future. 

In the past 17 years, I’ve worked with over 20,000 women across 6 continents. Before that, I served as a therapist, and prior to that, I was a corporate VP managing multi-million-dollar budgets and global initiatives. I leverage all of that experience to help women build a new chapter of work to reach their highest and happiest potential in careers they love. For organizations looking for top-level career and leadership coaching to support the emerging and seasoned female leaders in your workforce, please feel free to contact me here.

Check out Career & Leadership Breakthrough Coaching Program – Kathy Caprino and Most Powerful You training. I hope you’ll register now. I’d love to support you!

 

———————

Need some great podcast production support? Check out We Edit Podcasts!

Hi, folks! Kathy here. So, are you thinking of launching a new podcast or have you been at it a while and recognize it’s time for more or better production help to create the best podcast you can? I totally understand — I’ve been podcasting for over 6 years and know how challenging it can be. That’s why I’m very excited to share key info about the great product team I’m using called We Edit Podcasts. I’ve been working with them for well over a year, and I’ve been so happy with the results!

They’re a full-service production agency and their services give me access to a wonderful team of seasoned audio engineers and editors who help create a polished, professional sound. And they work hard to ensure that my particular podcasting approach and style comes through in every episode. They also help me make sure my guests are reflected in the best possible light through the creation of terrific show notes, which is an important part of the show for me. Their process is easy and streamlined, and their responsiveness and customer service are terrific too.

If you’re ready for better production help, definitely check them out and take advantage of their FREE trial episode, allowing you to sample their process and quality to see if it’s a great fit for you. I’m confident you’ll love them. Just paste this link into your browser:

>> http://weeditpodcasts.com/findingbrave <<  that’s my special link for you. Book your free call! Happy podcasting!

 

———————

Order Kathy’s book The Most Powerful You today!

In Australia and New Zealand, click here to order, elsewhere outside North America, click here, and in the UK, click here.

If you enjoy the book, we’d so appreciate your giving the book a positive rating and review on Amazon! And check out Kathy’s digital companion course The Most Powerful You, to help you close the 7 most damaging power gaps in the most effective way possible. 

Kathy’s Power Gaps Survey, Support To Build Your LinkedIn Profile To Great Success & Other Free Resources

Kathy’s TEDx Talk, Time To Brave Up & Free Career Path Self-Assessment

Kathy’s Amazing Career Project video training course & 6 Dominant Action Styles Quiz

 

———————

Sponsor Highlight

I'm thrilled that both Audible.com and Amazon Music are sponsors of Finding Brave! Take advantage of their great special offers and free trials today!

Audible Offer

Amazon Music Offer

 

Quotes:

“[The traditional] process did not really work for me. I applied to over 300 places, I didn't get any results. And so I had to find a different path to getting a job.” — @austinbelcak [0:09:01]

“Essentially, I took a very different approach to job searching. And that became the system that we teach our clients today. But a lot of it was rooted in networking. And a lot of it was rooted in relationships rather than applications.” — @austinbelcak [0:09:13]

“When we buy into the system that we're told is the right way to go it can be really hard to keep going and going and going because you're not doing it because you believe it's the best way to do it. You're doing it because other people have told you that it's the best way to do it.” — @austinbelcak [0:13:31]

“All these people I was going to advice for, they wanted to help, [and] they were well-meaning, but they didn't really get my situation.” — @austinbelcak [0:16:35]

“I went out, and I tried to find those people who had gotten those roles coming from a non-traditional background.” — @austinbelcak [0:17:33]

“If you want people to invest in you, start investing in yourself. Start building interesting things. And that's going to be [the] magnet that attracts other folks.” — @austinbelcak [0:34:11]

 

Watch our Finding Brave episodes on YouTube!

Don’t forget – you can experience each Finding Brave episode in both audio and video formats! Check out new and recent episodes on my YouTube channel at YouTube.com/kathycaprino. And please leave us a comment and a thumbs up if you like the show!