Hired, Not Fired

Guest: Nick Smith, Co-Founder and Head of Talent for AstraPack Ready to break out of the job-hunting crowd and become the candidate that hiring managers talk about? This week, Nick Smith returns to share perspectives from nearly a decade of recruiting for the likes of Meta and Amazon Prime Video—where competition is fierce and the bar is sky-high. • Why do the questions you ask at the end of an in...

Guest: Ashli White, Early Career Recruiting Lead, Allegheny County Department of Human Services Ever wondered how to stand out to get that interview? Ashli White has seen it all, from students who shine in the first 30 seconds to others who fade into the background before ever submitting a resume. In this episode, Dr. Deb Samuels-Peretz chats with Ashli White about what really gets recruiters talk...

Guest: Dr. Patricia Stewart, Director and Educator, Community Engagement Specialist, Michigan State University Everyone says “networking matters” but how do you actually get comfortable walking into a room packed with strangers, or handle those painfully awkward moments where you totally blank on what to say? In this episode, Patty Stewart returns to share smart, practical strategies for networkin...

Guest: Rex Trewin, Assistant Vice President of Early Careers at Wells Fargo With more than three decades of experience, Rex Trewin has helped shape university recruiting from every angle: campus career centers, top employers, and industry organizations. Back for a second episode, Rex Trewin sits down with Dr. Deb Samuels-Peretz to dive into what makes some early-career candidates stand out—and why...

Guest: Olivia Gatison, Talent Manager of Early Careers at URBN What's the quickest way to stand out—or flame out—when you're new to a job or internship? Olivia knows firsthand. After ten years working her way up from sales associate to leading early career development across Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropologie Group, she’s seen where early talent shines and where they trip themselves...

Guest: Mark Houldsworth, Vice President Executive Recruiter at Bank of America With over 25 years of recruiting experience, and a special focus on financial services, Mark Houldsworth knows what it takes to launch a successful career in banking. But is it all high-stakes deals and number crunching, or is there more behind the scenes? This week, Dr. Deb Samuels-Peretz chats with Mark about what ban...

Guest: Nick Smith, Recruiting & Talent Acquisition Pro (Meta, Lucid Motors, Twitch, Prime Video) Back by popular demand, Nick Smith returns with more insider secrets from nearly a decade hiring at some of tech's most iconic companies. What actually happens after you land the interview—and how can you stack the odds in your favor with the recruiters rooting for you behind the scenes? In this ep...

Guest: Candace Lamb , Director of Career Development at Thomas Edison State University What does it take to break through in today’s job market? In this week’s episode, Dr. Deb Samuels-Peretz sits down with Dr. Candace Lamb, a seasoned career development leader, coach, and advocate for Gen Z job seekers, to explore why resumes and technical skills are just the starting point. Get a peek into “hidd...

Guest: DJ Lee, Senior Assistant Director at Bentley University's Multicultural Center What’s really going on behind the buzzword “psychological safety”, and why does it matter for Gen Z entering the workforce? In this episode, DJ joins Deb Samuels-Peretz for a candid conversation on how young professionals can show up confidently and authentically at work. • Is your new workplace psychologically s...

Guest: Rex Trewin, Assistant Vice President of Early Careers at Wells Fargo If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to land a job at a leading bank, or thought a banking career was only for business majors, this is the episode for you. With over 30 years of experience ranging from university career centers to global employer leadership, Rex Trewin is the ultimate insider when it comes to recr...

Guest: Dr. Patricia Stewart, Director of Education and Development Programs at Michigan State University Are you convinced that only extroverts succeed at networking, or worried you’ll sound awkward when starting a conversation? In this episode, Patricia Stewart joins Deb Samuels-Peretz to shake up the usual networking advice with real-world strategies that feel approachable (even if you’re shy)....

Guest: Shannon Roche, University Recruiter and Internship Program Coordinator at Sevita Ready to break into healthcare or human services, but worried your resume is too thin? Shannon Roche returns for another episode to share what really matters when hiring for entry-level jobs including why your personality might matter more than your experience. In this episode, Dr. Deb Samuels-Peretz and Sevita...

Guest: Jon Schlesinger, Executive Director, Hiatt Career Center at Brandeis University He’s back! On this episode of Hired Not Fired, Jon Schlesinger returns to share the inside scoop on what employers are actually looking for from Gen Z job candidates. As Executive Director of the Hiatt Career Center, Jon has a front-row seat to the evolving world of campus recruiting—and he’s spilling the tea on...

Guest: DJ Lee, Senior Assistant Director, Bentley University Multicultural Center Ever wondered what employers really mean when they talk about “emotional intelligence”? In this episode, TheRealMe’s Dr. Deb Samuels-Peretz sits down with DJ Lee, Senior Assistant Director at Bentley University’s Multicultural Center—to unpack the must-have soft skill every Gen Z candidate needs as they enter the pro...

Guest: Meredith Trotta, Global University Relations Leader at Veeam Software Ready to go from intern to full-time hire? In this episode, we welcome back Meredith Trotta of Veeam to reveal what really turns an internship into a high-impact launch pad for your career—and what separates those who get job offers from those who don’t. • What are the habits and qualities that help interns stand out? • W...

Guest: Nick Smith, Recruiting & Talent Acquisition Leader Ever wonder what goes through a recruiter’s mind when they open your resume? In this episode of Hired Not Fired, Dr. Deb Samuels-Peretz sits down with Nick Smith, whose nearly decade-long career includes hiring for Meta, Lucid Motors, Twitch, and Prime Video. Nick pulls back the curtain on what really happens next when applications pile...

Guest: Jon Schlesinger, Executive Director of the Brandeis University Career Center How do you actually stand out and “land well” after graduation? This week, Deb sits down with Jon Schlesinger, the powerhouse behind Brandeis University’s Career Center and an expert on what really drives student success in today’s unpredictable hiring landscape. Ever heard of the “chaos theory of careers”? Jon bre...

Guest: Shannon Roche, University Recruiter and Internship Program Coordinator at Sevita What does it really take to break into entry-level healthcare and human services? In this episode, Shannon Roche joins Deb to pull back the curtain on recruiting for the industry’s largest provider—and to share fresh insights for Gen Z job seekers. Wondering if your camp counselor experience or volunteer hours...

Guest: Meredith Trotta, Global University Relations Leader at Veeam Software Ever wondered what it really takes to turn your internship into a full-time offer with a major tech company? In this episode, Meredith Trotta returns to share insider tips on what makes Veeam's internship program stand out—and how students can use these opportunities to launch a rewarding career. • What’s actually expecte...

Guest: Jenny Hofler, Head of Early Career Talent & Partnership Initiatives, LabCorp Ever bombed an interview so badly you swore you’d never try again? So did Jenny Hofler—but that’s not where her story ends. In this episode, Jenny returns to share the surprising twists and tough lessons behind her own job search journey, including a humbling experience interviewing at Amazon and what happened...

Special Guest: Ann Darda of Elevated Organizations In this episode, we welcome back Ann Darda, seasoned HR leader and founder of Elevated Organizations, for part two of an insightful conversation. With decades of experience guiding talent acquisition at top biotech and pharma companies, Ann joins Host to reveal what truly helps new grads break into competitive entry-level roles. Tune in to discove...

Guest: Cici Lyne, Early Careers Talent Acquisition Partner at PTC What’s it really like to hunt for your first job as a Gen Z grad—and what do hiring managers actually want to see from early-career candidates? In this episode, Cici Lyne from PTC joins us again and pulls back the curtain on her unique journey from student athlete to tech industry recruiter. Cici shares how she turned college challe...

Guest: Meredith Trotta, Global University Relations Leader at Veeam Software Meredith Trotta knows what makes entry-level candidates move to the top of the stack. She’s built early career talent pipelines at industry leaders like Time Inc., Equifax, and now Veeam Software. In this episode, she joins Dr. Deb Samuels-Peretz to dig into Veeam’s hiring approach for early career roles, from software en...

Guest: Ann Darda, HR Leader & Consultant, Elevated Organizations Ever wondered what it’s really like to launch your career in biotech or big pharma? This week, Deb Samuels-Peretz sits down with Ann Darda—a seasoned HR exec with over 30 years’ experience in talent acquisition and strategy at some of the biggest names in the industry. Ann shares her insider’s perspective on what entry-level life...

Guest: Jenny Hofler, Head of Early Talent & Partnership Initiatives at LabCorp What does it take to land a coveted internship at a global healthcare leader like LabCorp? In this episode, Jenny Hofler dishes out the inside scoop on LabCorp’s early talent programs—and reveals what happens behind the scenes at this North Carolina–based company that touches millions of lives worldwide. Jenny share...