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In this episode of The Reboot Era, I sit down with two incredible recruiters who’ve seen it all—hundreds of resumes, countless interviews, and the chaos of the 2025 job market.

These aren’t just any recruiters—they’re smart, candid, and people I deeply trust. We talk about what really happens after you hit “apply,” how hiring decisions get made, and why you might not get a follow-up (even when it felt like the perfect interview). We also dive into compensation transparency, AI in recruiting, job titles, and the weird emotional rollercoaster of rejection emails that say, “Let’s stay in touch.”

Whether you’re job searching, hiring, or just trying to make sense of how recruiting works in this economy, this one’s packed with real insight and actionable takeaways.

You’ll hear about:

• How recruiters actually review resumes (and how long they spend doing it)
• What to say when you don’t have every qualification listed
• How to reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn the right way
• What influences leveling, salary bands, and job offers
• How transparency, timing, and relationship-building play into the process

🔗 Connect with the guests:

• Kiley Simonovich on LinkedIn
• Amanda Jew on LinkedIn

🎧 Tune in, take notes, and maybe rethink that next cold message you send!

👉 Follow on TikTok

👉 Subscribe on YouTube

👉 Connect on LinkedIn

👉 Buy me a coffee or leave a tip to support the show 💸

🎧 All links: https://linktr.ee/draycation

Thanks for supporting The Reboot Era — every follow, share, and tip helps me keep making content for anyone navigating layoffs, pivots, and everything in between.

Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.

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What happens when a UX leader who’s built billion-dollar systems for Fortune 500 companies gets ghosted by recruiters and told they’re “overqualified”? In this episode, Dray sits down with Chris Nelson – former Head of Design at Walmart Fulfillment Services – for a raw, unfiltered conversation on layoffs, LinkedIn noise, AI chaos, and the exhausting ritual of job searching in 2025.

Chris shares stories from Verizon to JCPenney, explains why he left startups behind, and gives insight into the shifting world of user experience and design. They break down how AI is being used (and misused) in the hiring process, the emotional toll of recruiter ghosting, and how networking is more critical than ever.

If you’ve ever yelled “JUST TRANSFER ME TO A HUMAN,” questioned if your resume is cursed, or felt stuck in the black hole of job applications—this one’s for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Relocation layoffs and corporate restructuring
• The “dating app” energy of recruiting
• Overqualification as a silent rejection tool
• Using AI in job search (without replacing your humanity)
• Starting your own thing after corporate burnout

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

🎧 Listen in. Share it with someone who needs to hear it. And remember—you’re not alone in this mess.

👉 Follow on TikTok

👉 Subscribe on YouTube

👉 Connect on LinkedIn

👉 Buy me a coffee or leave a tip to support the show 💸

🎧 All links: https://linktr.ee/draycation

Thanks for supporting The Reboot Era — every follow, share, and tip helps me keep making content for anyone navigating layoffs, pivots, and everything in between.

Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.

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In this deeply human episode of The Reboot Era, we explore the emotional rollercoaster of job loss, job searching, and the quiet fight to keep going. Host Dray Jankowski is joined by two guests — Christine Vela, a seasoned sales and business development expert with decades of experience and multiple layoffs behind her, and Ry Mantione, a marketing pro and creative force navigating unemployment, identity, and reinvention in Los Angeles.

Together, they share stories of resilience, rejection, and self-discovery — from Christine’s pivot into healthcare sales to Ry’s 1,200+ job applications and 87 online courses. We talk candidly about mental health, cutting costs to survive, staying creative, navigating LinkedIn, and why being yourself might be your greatest asset during a layoff.

✨ If you’ve ever felt lost, overlooked, or mentally drained by the job search — this episode is for you.

🔍 We cover:

• Applying to 25–50 jobs a day and still hearing “no”
• The emotional weight of multiple layoffs and restructuring
• How to leverage LinkedIn the right way — without burning out
• Creative ways to find free joy, community, and connection
• Dressing authentically during interviews — and when you feel you can’t
• Courses, certifications, and whether LinkedIn Learning is worth it
• What therapy, jazz nights, and road trips can do for your soul

Whether you’re in your first layoff or your fifth, this episode will make you feel seen, validated, and maybe even hopeful.

Follow Today’s Guests:
🔗 Christine Vela on LinkedIn
🔗 Ry Mantione on LinkedIn

👉 Follow on TikTok

👉 Subscribe on YouTube

👉 Connect on LinkedIn

👉 Buy me a coffee or leave a tip to support the show 💸

🎧 All links: https://linktr.ee/draycation

Thanks for supporting The Reboot Era — every follow, share, and tip helps me keep making content for anyone navigating layoffs, pivots, and everything in between.

Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.

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In this episode of The Reboot Era, I sit down with Jean-Baptiste — better known online as Jean the AI Guy — for a fast-paced, unfiltered conversation about artificial intelligence, automation, and the wild future we’re already living in.

From working with luxury brands like Chanel and LVMH to becoming one of the earliest adopters of ChatGPT, Jean shares how he fully transitioned into the world of AI. We talk about how he automates everything in his life (yes, even grocery shopping and meal planning), how to actually get better results from ChatGPT, and why creativity — not credentials — is now the most valuable skill.

If you’re curious about what AI can really do, what most people are getting wrong with prompting, or why theater might just become the last truly human art form… this episode is for you.

We cover:

• How Jean built a daily AI system that saves him hours each week
• Why you need to stop giving AI narrow prompts and start zooming out
• What tools like GPT-4o and Gemini can actually do today
• Why the best artists are using AI — not fighting it
• The scary (and exciting) future of automation, job displacement, and AI-powered robotics
• How Jean is helping others use AI to cut their workload in half
• And yes… what he’s building next

This is one of those “hit record and vibe” episodes — part geek-out, part future-shock, part pep talk.

🎧 Whether you're AI-curious, a creative, or just trying to survive the tech wave — Jean’s perspective will leave you inspired, informed, and maybe even a little scared (in a good way).

Connect with Jean:
📎 Jean’s LinkedIn

👉 Follow on TikTok

👉 Subscribe on YouTube

👉 Connect on LinkedIn

👉 Buy me a coffee or leave a tip to support the show 💸

🎧 All links: https://linktr.ee/draycation

Thanks for supporting The Reboot Era — every follow, share, and tip helps me keep making content for anyone navigating layoffs, pivots, and everything in between.

Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.

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Angela Delk joins The Reboot Era and does not hold back. A seasoned software sales pro turned digital artist, Angela takes us through the highs, the lows, and the straight-up WTF moments of her layoff journey—from inequitable quotas and being gaslit in meetings, to launching her bold new art brand after nine months of job-hunting frustration.

We talk:

• The real reason behind some layoffs (and the corporate spin that follows)
• Why “just rewrite your résumé” is the most tone-deaf advice ever
• Unfair quota distribution and what happens when you actually speak up
• Launching a creative career while jobless and stressed—but somehow more at peace
• Petty HR processes, soulless rejection emails, and the art of painting your wall with wine

No music. No filters. Just two layoff survivors gossiping like it’s happy hour with a severance check.

🖼️ Check out Angela’s vibrant digital art: prettybold.shop
💬 Want to connect? Find her on LinkedIn and let her know you listened.

🎧 Subscribe to The Reboot Era for more raw stories, corporate chaos, and reinvention realness.

👉 Follow on TikTok

👉 Subscribe on YouTube

👉 Connect on LinkedIn

👉 Buy me a coffee or leave a tip to support the show 💸

🎧 All links: https://linktr.ee/draycation

Thanks for supporting The Reboot Era — every follow, share, and tip helps me keep making content for anyone navigating layoffs, pivots, and everything in between.

Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.

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What happens after you toss your cap in the air… and the real world hits harder than expected?

In this episode of The Reboot Era, Dray sits down with A’jadynn Coleman, a recent marketing graduate from UMass Dartmouth, who opens up about navigating her post-grad life with honesty, humility, and hustle. From working at a salon while job hunting to building her marketing portfolio, optimizing LinkedIn, and chasing her dream of landing a role in the beauty industry—A’jadynn shares what the job search really looks like when you’re just starting out.

This isn’t just a conversation about rejection emails and résumés. It’s about figuring things out one step at a time, staying hopeful, and recognizing the value of networking, self-advocacy, and continuous learning—even when the job offers aren’t pouring in.

Whether you’re a recent grad, a career pivot-er, or just someone in the messy middle of a transition, this episode reminds you: you’re not alone—and the first step is still a step forward.

🎯 Topics Covered:

• The emotional rollercoaster of graduating early
• Landing a job through Instagram DMs
• Rejections, ghosting, and rebuilding confidence
• Creating a marketing portfolio (and why it matters)
• Where to look for early-career roles in marketing
• Incorporating AI tools like ChatGPT into your workflow
• Why your network might be your best asset

📣 A’jadynn is open to networking and connection—find her on LinkedIn and show her some love!

—

🔁 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help others navigating their own Reboot Era.

👉 Follow on TikTok

👉 Subscribe on YouTube

👉 Connect on LinkedIn

👉 Buy me a coffee or leave a tip to support the show 💸

🎧 All links: https://linktr.ee/draycation

Thanks for supporting The Reboot Era — every follow, share, and tip helps me keep making content for anyone navigating layoffs, pivots, and everything in between.

Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.

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When Rob Saro was unexpectedly laid off, he had two choices: spiral or strategize. In this episode of The Reboot Era, Rob takes us through the moment he got the call, the emotional and mental toll of being laid off for the first time in nearly two decades, and how he transformed that anxiety into action — landing a new job in under 60 days while also building and launching his own SaaS product, TimeTrackerAI.

From documenting his layoff journey day by day on LinkedIn to mentoring job seekers and rewriting his personal and professional narrative in real time, Rob’s story is a masterclass in resilience, small wins, and smart pivots.

We talk:

• The mindset shift after being blindsided by a layoff
• His exact job search system — what worked, what didn’t
• Why he posted every single day on LinkedIn
• The power of helping others during your own lowest moments
• Building TimeTrackerAI to solve his own burnout
• Advice for job seekers and aspiring founders alike

💡 Whether you’re currently in between roles, navigating a career pivot, or just looking for inspiration to take action — this one’s for you.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Rob’s LinkedIn
• Rob’s Blog + Layoff Playbook: robsarro.com
• Try TimeTrackerAI – 30-day free trial, no card required!

—

📢 The Reboot Era is a podcast for anyone who’s ever asked: “I got laid off… now what?” Real stories, raw moments, and reminders that reinvention is always possible.

👉 If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s rebooting right alongside you.

👉 Follow on TikTok

👉 Subscribe on YouTube

👉 Connect on LinkedIn

👉 Buy me a coffee or leave a tip to support the show 💸

🎧 All links: https://linktr.ee/draycation

Thanks for supporting The Reboot Era — every follow, share, and tip helps me keep making content for anyone navigating layoffs, pivots, and everything in between.

Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.

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In this episode of The Reboot Era, Dray sits down with two guests—Fredrico Salianga and Jake Lender—who share powerful, honest stories of navigating life after layoffs. From scammy interviews to side hustle wins, freelance struggles to career pivots, this conversation is packed with lessons, laughter, and real talk about what it means to rebuild after getting knocked down by the job market.

🔗 Topics We Cover:

• The emotional rollercoaster after getting laid off
• When recruiters ghost you (or worse—fake you out)
• Turo, side hustles & making it work while unemployed
• Consulting vs. full-time: pros, cons & real-life struggles
• Using ChatGPT & AI tools to save time & build smarter
• Certifications that matter (and how to pick the right ones)
• Networking, resilience, and redefining success post-layoff

🎙️ Whether you're unemployed, pivoting, or just tired of the BS in corporate hiring, this episode will leave you feeling seen—and maybe even a little inspired to take your next leap!

🔗 Connect with the guests:

• Fredrico Salianga (check him out on Turo in the Boston area!)
• Jake Lender - https://www.jakelender.com/

💥 The Reboot Era is your go-to space for career reinvention, raw stories, and rebuilding with purpose. Subscribe, rate, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

👉 Follow on TikTok

👉 Subscribe on YouTube

👉 Connect on LinkedIn

👉 Buy me a coffee or leave a tip to support the show 💸

🎧 All links: https://linktr.ee/draycation

Thanks for supporting The Reboot Era — every follow, share, and tip helps me keep making content for anyone navigating layoffs, pivots, and everything in between.

Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.