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 connections, and how a simple conversation made a lasting impression with her future employer and led to a job she loves.



Learn more about Merit America here.



CREDITS:

Host: Robert Johnson

Guest: April Tillery

Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan

Created by Merit America



This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Junior Producer: Saakshi Samant

Editorial Assistance: Aishwarya Patil

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram

Visual Design: Alika Gupta



Donate to Merit America here.

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 &amp; 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 connections, and how a simple conversation made a lasting impression with her future employer and led to a job she loves.
 
Learn more about Merit America <a href="https://meritamerica.org/promoted-podcast/">here</a>.
 
CREDITS:
Host: Robert Johnson
Guest: April Tillery
Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan
Created by Merit America
 
This is a <a href="https://www.maedinindia.in/">Maed in India</a> production
Head of Production: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en">Mae Mariyam Thomas</a>
Project Manager: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome">Shaun Fanthome</a>
Producer: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ruchi_saw/">Ruchi Sawardekar</a>
Junior Producer: Saakshi Samant
Editorial Assistance: Aishwarya Patil
Sound Editor &amp; Mix Engineer: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en">Kartik Kulkarni</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/february_31st/">Lakshman Parsuram</a>
Visual Design: Alika Gupta
 
Donate to Merit America <a href="https://funraise.org/give/Merit-America/74abb8ce-20c6-4855-9499-b8455ca78730/">here</a>.

Promoted is a podcast about how to leave low-wage work for good, produced by Merit America, a national workforce development nonprofit that creates fast, flexible pathways to family-sustaining  careers for Americans stuck in low-wage jobs. In this season, Merit America’s career coaches chat with their former learners about their new roles—and how they used AI as a tool to build skills, navigate career transitions, prepare for job interviews, and move toward careers they love. Along the way, you’ll learn how you can leave low-wage work for good, too.

Promoted is a podcast about how to leave low-wage work for good, produced by Merit America, a national workforce development nonprofit that creates fast, flexible pathways to family-sustaining &nbsp;careers for Americans stuck in low-wage jobs. In this season, Merit America&rsquo;s career coaches chat with their former learners about their new roles&mdash;and how they used AI as a tool to build skills, navigate career transitions, prepare for job interviews, and move toward careers they love. Along the way, you&rsquo;ll learn how you can leave low-wage work for good, too.

Promoted

In this episode of Promoted, Merit America coach Rob Kairuz shares an easier way to prepare for interviews: the BAR method. He breaks down the BAR method (Background, Action, Result) and shares some examples&nbsp; so that you can tell your real stories clearly instead of reciting a memorized script (because interviewers don't remember perfect answers - they remember honest ones).
Learn more about Merit America <a href="https://meritamerica.org/promoted-podcast/">here</a>
CREDITS: Host: Rob Kairuz Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan Created by Merit America
 This is a <a href="https://www.maedinindia.in/">Maed in India</a> production Head of Production: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en">Mae Mariyam Thomas</a> Project Manager: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome">Shaun Fanthome</a> Producer: Rachna Sukuru Junior Producer: Aditi Sutar Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha Sound Editor &amp; Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en">Kartik Kulkarni</a>
 Support Merit America <a href="https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/">here</a>

The BAR Method: A Foolproof Way to Nail Every Interview

In this episode of Promoted, Welen Wang shares his journey from 10 years in Supply Chain Logistics to starting a new career. Welen opens up about the challenges of navigating hundreds of job applications, facing rejection, and rebuilding his confidence after years away from interviews. He discusses how using AI, hands-on projects, and company-specific research helped him stand out and prepare for the opportunity that finally came his way. Welen also reflects on the impact of his career change on his family, his vision of the American Dream, and what he hopes to achieve next.

Learn more about Merit America here

CREDITS:
Host: Rob Kairuz
Guest: Welen Wang
Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan
Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan
Created by Merit America


This is a Maed in India production
Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas
Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome
Producer: Rachna Sukuru
Junior Producer: Aditi Sutar
Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha
Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni


Support Merit America here

In this episode of Promoted, Welen Wang shares his journey from 10 years in Supply Chain Logistics to starting a new career. Welen opens up about the challenges of navigating hundreds of job applications, facing rejection, and rebuilding his confidence after years away from interviews. He discusses how using AI, hands-on projects, and company-specific research helped him stand out and prepare for the opportunity that finally came his way. Welen also reflects on the impact of his career change on his family, his vision of the American Dream, and what he hopes to achieve next.
Learn more about Merit America <a href="https://meritamerica.org/promoted-podcast/">here</a>
CREDITS: Host: Rob Kairuz Guest: Welen Wang Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan Created by Merit America
 This is a <a href="https://www.maedinindia.in/">Maed in India</a> production Head of Production: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en">Mae Mariyam Thomas</a> Project Manager: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome">Shaun Fanthome</a> Producer: Rachna Sukuru Junior Producer: Aditi Sutar Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha Sound Editor &amp; Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en">Kartik Kulkarni</a>
 Support Merit America <a href="https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/">here</a>

From Ghosting to Getting the Offer: How Welen Landed His Next Role 

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 Villalobos

Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan

Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan

Created by Merit America





This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha

Junior Producer: Devanshi Chandak  

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram

Visual Design: Alika Gupta

 

Support Merit America here: https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/. 

In this episode of Promoted, Merit America career coach Maria Villalobos explains why having a clear career plan matters in today&rsquo;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.
&nbsp;
Learn more about Merit America <a href="https://meritamerica.org/promoted-podcast/">here</a>.
&nbsp;
CREDITS:
Host: Maria Villalobos
Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan
Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan
Created by Merit America
 
This is a <a href="https://www.maedinindia.in/">Maed in India</a> production
Head of Production: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en">Mae Mariyam Thomas</a>
Project Manager: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome">Shaun Fanthome</a>
Producer: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ruchi_saw/">Ruchi Sawardekar</a>
Director and Video Producer: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/short___round?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=NWltdHB0Yjl6c2p0">Jishnu Guha</a>
Junior Producer: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/adriannelenkerismylove25?igsh=ZzVnZ3djdmYxdXc0">Devanshi Chandak</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Sound Editor &amp; Mix Engineer: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en">Kartik Kulkarni</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/february_31st/">Lakshman Parsuram</a>
Visual Design: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/capefoxalix?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=MWtsc2xnOGF0cWZjZw==">Alika Gupta</a>
&nbsp;
Support Merit America <a href="https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/">here</a>: <a href="https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/">https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/</a>.&nbsp;

How a Strong Network led April to her Dream Job

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