Promoted

In this episode of Promoted , Merit America career coach Maria Villalobos explains why having a clear career plan matters in today’s fast-changing job market. She breaks down what a career plan is, how to define what you want, research your path, and map out the steps toward a job and future you feel good about.   Learn more about Merit America here .   CREDITS: Host: Maria Villalo...

On this episode of Promoted , Merit America career coach Anne-Marcelle Kouame breaks down how to master the interview question that sets the tone for everything: “Tell me about yourself.” She explains why the first few minutes matter, how to craft a compelling present-past-future answer, and how to use an “I am” statement to showcase your personality and transferable skills...

On this episode of Promoted , Merit America alum Sadie Cassidy talks to her former Merit America career coach, Anne-Marcelle Kouame, about how she was able to recognize and communicate her transferable skills in her job search. Sadie opens up about how she discovered strengths she hadn’t recognized before and explains how everyday experiences can translate directly into in-demand job skills....

Joey Ratcliff, a Merit America career coach, takes you through how building confidence is key to breaking out of low-wage work and creating the career you want in this episode of Promoted . Learn why confidence isn’t always “faking it till you make it,” but about connecting with your story, practicing your skills, and visualizing your future. From recognizing transferable strengt...

On this episode of Promoted , Toneise talks about building a career different from the traditional 9 to 5 job – transitioning from being a senior Store Manager to a User Tester, working as a Program Advisor for kids, and launching her boutique. She reflects on navigating big moves, translating her hands-on skills from “physical to digital,” and the importance of keeping personal...

In this episode of Promoted , Bekah Thompson, a Merit America career coach, talks about how to advocate for yourself in your job search. Bekah shares how to recognize your worth, communicate it with confidence in interviews, networking, and salary discussions, and frame areas of growth as strengths. With practical strategies and actionable tips, she shows how advocating for yourself can help you t...

On this episode of Promoted , Pamellah shares her journey of navigating a new country, learning a new language and culture, and finding her way into the job market. She talks to her former Merit America Career Coach, Bekah Thompson, about the challenges of starting over, her process of building confidence, and how she advocated for herself in her job search. She also shares how leveraging her netw...

Tanesha Washington, a Merit America career coach, explores how AI is shaping today’s job search and what it means for telling your story effectively. Learn the pros and cons of using AI tools, how they can refine your materials and highlight your strengths, and where they risk making your story sound less authentic. From sharpening resumes to preparing for interviews, Tanesha shares practica...

On this episode of Promoted , Marion shares her journey of rewriting her career—transitioning from years in retail to a mental health nonprofit — where she was recently promoted! Marion reflects on how she communicated her career change to employers, highlighting her agility, transferable skills, and ability to get things done. She also emphasizes the importance of staying connected to...

Damisi Fawole, a Merit America career coach, delves into how perfectionism is a real barrier to both your well-being and career success. Discover what perfectionism really is, why it can undermine your progress, and how to recognize perfectionist habits. From spotting patterns to taking steps forward, Damisi shares practical and actionable strategies to help you face perfectionism with confidence....

On this episode of Promoted , Kenisha (Kenie) Griggs talks about her career journey - from working as a massage therapist and marketing manager to building a career in UX design, and doing it all while raising a family. Kenie talks to her former Merit America career coach, Damisi Fawole, about how she began to doubt whether she was qualified for new roles after taking a break to focus on raising h...

In this episode of Promoted , Coreea Allen, a Merit America career coach, dives into how building your personal brand with authenticity can help you stand out in a crowded job market. She breaks down what a personal brand is, why it matters, and how it can reflect both your skills and your values. From defining your story to presenting it on LinkedIn, your resume, in interviews, or through your ne...

On this episode of Promoted , Nathan shares how being authentic helped him move from low-wage work to becoming the first HR and staffing coordinator at his company, building the role from the ground up. He reflects on how staying driven by personal motivation, knowing his worth, and rejecting the pressure to fit into a box helped him create a career that truly reflects who he is. Nathan highlights...

Promoted is a podcast about how to leave low-wage work for good, produced by Merit America, a national nonprofit organization that creates fast, flexible pathways to well-paying careers for Americans stuck in low-wage jobs. In season 2 of this series, we join Merit America’s career coaches to chat with their former learners about key challenges they overcame in moving from low-wage work to c...

Luiz Mattos tells Merit America career coach Masha Finn about how he transformed a personal interest in technology into a career he loves. They talk about the importance of identifying one's passions, breaking down big problems into smaller steps, and adapting to new roles. Luiz tells Masha about how he now gets to do something that truly excites him every day, and hopes to help others do the same...

Maisy Adams, a Merit America coach, talks about the various barriers faced while moving from one career to another and shares practical strategies for overcoming them.  She shares how a positive outlook, a strong support system and clarity of your goals can effectively help you navigate career transitions.   Learn more about Merit America here .   CREDITS: Host: Maisy Adams Creative Directors: Bri...

Briana Coleman, a Merit America alum, shares her journey of navigating various career transitions in a conversation with her former coach, Maisy Adams. Briana opens up about the challenges she faced along the way - from feelings of imposter syndrome to dealing with rejection, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and even homelessness. She highlights the importance of resilience while navigating a t...

Masha Finn, a career coach at Merit America, talks about the importance of focusing on your transferable skills while changing careers and how best to communicate them to prospective employers. Masha explains how to identify skills from your past career that can actually be applicable in other fields, how to refine them and adapt them to different situations and how to showcase them while pursuing...

Haley Jones, a Merit America alum, speaks with their former career coach Masha Finn about how they leveraged their diverse experience in childcare, and project management to transition into a better paying role in the tech industry. Masha and Haley discuss the importance of recognizing and communicating your transferable skills when navigating career transitions, such as leveraging their communica...

Maurice Davis, Merit America career coach talks about how striking a balance between work and your personal life is a vital part of success. He discusses the importance of defining what work-life balance means to you, understanding your priorities and also recognizing your limits in order to achieve this balance effectively.   Learn more about Merit America here .   CREDITS: Host: Maurice Davis Cr...

Andrea Hopson talks about her career transition from the insurance industry into data analytics and how finding a good work-life balance was a huge motivation for her to make the change. She reconnects with her former Merit America coach, Maurice Davis to discuss the importance of her family’s support not only in her decision to make the switch, but also in her new career. She opens up about the o...

Patrick Reynolds, Merit America career coach, talks about dealing with rejection in your career. He explains that rejection is a universal experience that can be disheartening and can shake your self-confidence. However, Patrick offers valuable insights on how to navigate rejection without losing hope or determination. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on your strengths, staying resilient,...

Daniel Sanchez opens up about dealing with rejection throughout the course of his career to his former Merit America coach, Patrick Reynolds. Daniel dealt with rejection – from losing his job as a community organizer to struggling to find new work, which led to a deep sense of failure. He shares how he overcame those feelings of self-doubt, rebuilt his confidence and persevered in pursuing a new c...

Robert Johnson, a Merit America career coach, talks about the benefits of networking for personal growth and career advancement. Robert takes us through the dos & don’ts of networking, how to get better at making connections and why it's an important tool for building a successful career.    Learn more about Merit America here .   CREDITS: Host: Robert Johnson Creative Directors: Brittany Davi...

April Tillery joins her former Merit America coach, Robert Johnson, to talk about how building a network on LinkedIn led her to a career of her dreams working as a production assistant at Industrial Light & Magic (the visual effects company behind the incredible SFX of Star Wars)! April talks to Robert about the challenges she faced building her confidence to approach people and make connectio...