The Career Ready Podcast

Think speech class is just about public speaking? Think again. In this episode, Pierre Michaels sits down with Cassandra Wingert, Assistant Professor of Speech Communication at College of DuPage, to explore how communication skills shape career success in every field—from healthcare to business to law. Cassandra shares how speech courses build confidence, foster leadership, and prepare students fo...

In today’s episode Michelle interviews Stephanie McLemore, Assistant Professor in the Cosmetology Program at College of DuPage, to explore the dynamic world of cosmetology. Stephanie shares the wide range of career opportunities available in the field, the essential skills needed to thrive, and how students can get started. Learn about the hands-on training, industry insights, and supportive commu...

What can you do with a political science degree? More than you think. In this episode, Rebecca interviews Professor Maureen Heffren-Ponicki to explore the many ways students can turn their passion for politics, justice, and community into meaningful careers. From public service to grassroots organizing, policy research to civic education, Professor Heffren-Ponicki shares real-world insights, perso...

In today’s episode, Marisela interviews Holly Gaydurgis, ASL Interpreter Assistant Professor at College of DuPage. Together, they discuss the two main career paths in ASL interpreting—educational and freelance—highlighting the skills developed in the program, such as ASL and English proficiency, ethical decision-making, and cultural mediation. She emphasizes the importance of immersion in the deaf...

In this kickoff episode of our summer series, host Michelle Malik sits down with Jordan  Rembrecht, the newest Career Specialist at College of DuPage and newest host of The Career Ready Podcast . Jordan shares her career journey—from volunteering in high school and switching majors in college to working in HR and eventually joining Career Services. Hear how mentorship, internships, and involvement...

Stepping into your first job interview can feel overwhelming—but what if you had a personal coach available 24/7? In this episode, we explore how college students and recent grads can use AI tools to prepare smarter, faster, and with more confidence. Learn how to generate common questions, build STAR stories, polish your delivery, and tailor your responses to specific job descriptions—all with the...

In this episode of the Career Podcast, hosts Pierre Michaels and Rebecca Harrington dive into the essentials of career readiness. Pierre interviews Samuel Wilson, a College of DuPage graduate and tax consultant at Deloitte. Samuel shares his inspiring journey from high school electives to landing his dream job. The conversation includes the importance of networking, internships, and leveraging AI...

In this episode of The Career Ready Podcast, we explore two crucial aspects of career success, teamwork and the resume. Mari provides tips and insight to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance your job search, specifically in crafting effective resumes. Before learning about resume AI tools, Pierre discussed the importance of teamwork and accountability in the workplace, drawing insigh...

On this episode of The Career Ready Podcast, Pierre interviews Jim Fuller, General Manager of the student newspaper at College of DuPage. The conversations explore the significant technological disruptions that have reshaped the journalism industry, and how those lessons can prepare us for the AI-driven future. We'll discuss the transition from print to digital, the impact of emerging technol...

Ever wonder how to research careers using AI? In this episode, Michelle talks about ChatGPT and how to use it to start the process of exploring careers. The importance of using AI ethically is discussed and sample questions to ask ChatGPT are provided. Additionally, Michelle mentions career exploration websites to assist in career research. Rebecca starts the episode by providing information on th...

Volunteering isn’t just about giving back—it’s a powerful way to gain valuable skills, build your network, and boost your career prospects. In this episode, Rebecca interviews Joan DiPiero, Community Engagement Coordinator, and we explore how college students can leverage volunteer experiences to stand out in job applications, make meaningful connections, and discover new career opportunities. Mic...

In today’s episode, we will begin our series on using AI for the job search process, and the possible consequences of using AI improperly. In addition, we will be answering a listener question regarding how to prepare yourself for a virtual interview.  Michelle discusses how job seekers can prepare themselves for virtual interviews.   Mari discusses how AI is becoming an essential tool in the job...

In today’s episode, Michelle interviews Nicole Magats, Talent Acquisition Partner at TransChicago and Director of Marketing & Social Media at HRA of Greater Oak Brook, about current job trends. Nicole talks about changes in hiring and the job market this Spring, the impact of AI, why employers may ghost applicants, as well as how to stand out during the job search process. Mari starts the epis...

In today’s episode, Marisela interviews Casey Emerich, Professor of Office Technology Information at the College of DuPage. Together, they discuss the valuable skills and strengths gained through studying Office Technology, how students can prepare for various career pathways, and the experiences and opportunities young professionals should consider to prepare for these fields. Tune in to learn mo...

In today’s episode Pierre interviews Julia diLiberti, Professor of Humanities at College of DuPage. Throughout the interview the skills and strengthen developed when studying the humanities are discussed and how they prepare students for many career paths. The differences between CTE (Career Technical Education) and KAO (Knowledge for All Occupations) is covered along with specific details about s...

In this episode, we dive into the exciting world of video game development and design! College of DuPage Professor Steve Santello, a renowned expert in video game design, joins us to explore the ins and outs of building a career in this dynamic field, discussing everything from the skills needed to break into the industry to the latest trends shaping the future of gaming. Whether you're a bud...

Listen to this episode to learn how to research careers and get back into the workforce after a career break. Tips on career exploration and how to update your resume are shared. Pierre starts the episode by providing information on the NACE Competency of Critical Thinking. Topic #1 (Competency): Pierre discusses some key behaviors from the Critical Thinking competency. This competency is a part o...

In this episode, Pierre interviews Kash, a student at College of DuPage, to hear about her career journey. Kash shares insight how she moved from being undecided on a future path to finding early career success. Many of her tips and insight relate to networking and the value of building up connects for the future. Michelle returns to the podcast with a listener question about next steps after rece...

Making a career change can feel overwhelming, but the right research can make all the difference. In this episode, we dive into actionable strategies for exploring new career paths, from identifying transferable skills to leveraging informational interviews and online tools. Whether you’re switching industries or pivoting roles, we’ll guide you through practical steps to gather the insights you ne...

In this episode, Mari sits down Elizabeth Gomez de la Casa and Rosie Carbajal-Romo to discuss the unique process first-gen students experience when transitioning from college to the workforce. We explore topics like imposter syndrome, accessing career resources, building professional networks, and the power of mentorship. Whether you're a first-gen student, educator, or ally, this conversatio...

In today’s episode, we discuss the value of reaching out to professionals to help you learn about careers. The concept of informational interviews, also known as career conversations, is discussed along with ways of identifying come connections and things to ask after the connection has been made. We also provide information on Career Launch a program that teaches best practices in network to supp...

In this episode, hosts Rebecca Harrington and Pierre Michiels shine a spotlight on apprenticeships—an exciting way to get paid while pursing your career. Pierre kicks things off by discussing the importance of Career and Self Development, emphasizing the need for setting goals and seeking feedback. Then, Rebecca interviews Daneille Kuglin Seago from Project HireEd at College of DuPage, diving into...

In today’s episode, we discuss things to help you star exploring career options when you do not have a path in mind. Ideas and resources shared will help you understand different ways job are classified to help discover possibilities based on your interests. We also provide information on multiple resource based on Department of Labor data to help identify and research careers. Resources discussed...

During this episode of the Career Ready Podcast, we discuss the current job market and growing trends in the workforce. Topics discussed include remote work, AI on the job, hot jobs, and more. We also explore the workforce database Career Coach. Visit College of DuPage Career Coach   Listeners in the College of DuPage community can visit our website . All other listeners are encouraged to view the...

Join us as we look back at our favorite episodes from the first two years of The Career Ready Podcast. Also meet our new host, Marisela Morales! Episodes reflected on include: Episode 4 : How to Stand Out in the Application Process - Interview with Recruiter Amanda Whiddon Episode 13 : Your Pitch Networking Episode 25 : Careers in Horticulture Episode 31 : How to Have a Successful Internship with...