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Career ComposerThe STARR Method for Answering Behavioral Interview QuestionsWelcome back to another episode of Career Composer! It's finally yours - the BEST interviewing technique out there, made simple! Ready, set, let's talk about THE STARR METHOD.The STAR (R) Method is a behavioral interviewing technique that ensures you make the most of your answers and have the biggest possible impact on your interviewer(s). Once you get the hang of it, it is SO EASY! (I promise!)In this episode:What are behavioral interviews and why do hiring managers use them? Erin breaks down the STAR(R) method acronym and wh...2025-07-1414 minCareer ComposerThe Prelude: Feel like you do worse in real interviews? DO THISThe Prelude is your music appetizer to our main Career Composer episodes! Erin introduces today's career topic, chats about music, gives her weekly song recs, and catches you up on all things Career Composer. Thanks for listening!Career Composer Playlists Submit Your Song & Playlist Recs! Socials:Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, Threads: @careercomposerYouTube: @careercomposerEmail: careercomposerpodcast@gmail.com1:1 Career Coaching Services: Email Erin at careercomposerpodcast@gmail.com for information about her coaching services! Use "1:1 Career Coaching"...2025-07-1404 minCareer ComposerJob Searching is Like the Dating AppsSeason 2 is HERE! Career Composer is back and today's episode is a spicy one! And honestly, it might hit a little too close to home......Because job searching is like the DATING APPS.Whether you're swiping right or hitting "apply" on your favorite job search platform, the similarities are real! We cover:Why job searching and dating apps feel exactly the sameWhat filters CAN and CAN'T do for you in your job search and on the dating appsFake jobs and fake dating profilesWhy cyber-stalking is actually smart before interviews and dates!The importance of...2025-06-3021 minCareer ComposerThe Prelude: Season 2 is Here! + The REAL Pink Pony ClubThe Prelude is your music appetizer to our main Career Composer episodes! Erin introduces today's career topic, chats about music, gives her weekly song recs, and catches you up on all things Career Composer. Thanks for listening!Career Composer Playlists Submit Your Song & Playlist Recs! Socials:Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, Threads: @careercomposerYouTube: @careercomposerEmail: careercomposerpodcast@gmail.com1:1 Career Coaching Services: Email Erin at careercomposerpodcast@gmail.com for information about her coaching services! Use "1:1 Career Coaching"...2025-06-3005 minCareer ComposerCreativity at Work: Why Innovation is Gen Z's Bass Line with Arianna RisiliaArianna Risilia joins Career Composer for our new GUEST EPISODE discussing how to be more creative at work! Arianna is an Elementary General Music Teacher and an AMAZING singer and musician who also loves nature and trying new things. She approaches life with optimism and curiosity and has a LOT to say about why creativity is key to our success as young professionals!We talk about:Ella Fitzgerald, Bob Marley, Joni Mitchell, and all things jazz!Why creativity is key to our success, both at work and in life.HOW to tap into your c...2025-04-071h 14Career ComposerLinkedIn I: START HERE to Get Your LinkedIn Profile Networking Ready!Welcome back to Career Composer! Networking season is in full swing, so we’re kicking off a 3-part series to help you create a LinkedIn profile that’s ready to go! LinkedIn and networking are all about one thing - CONNECTION. After listening to this episode, you’ll feel like the main character in your own movie, and employers will leave your LinkedIn profile feeling connected to YOU and your professional brand. Kind of like how it feels leaving the movie theater after watching the best movie ever!In this episode, Erin teaches you:How to...2025-03-2436 minCareer ComposerIs the Universe Telling You No?What if nothing in your career is going as planned? It almost feels like the universe is telling you no... You are not alone! In this episode, Erin's got you covered with real life examples of other 20-somethings who have felt this way, too. Erin talks about:When to change course or power throughNoticing when signs are pointing you in a different directionThe role we play in our own career trajectories and how external circumstances can influence our careersIt's okay to be totally confused about your career next steps! And what to do next if this i...2025-03-1036 minCareer ComposerYour Guide to Work, Travel, and Building a Life You Love with Nathalye ChonaNathalye Chona joins Career Composer for a conversation about work, travel, and building a life you love! Nathalye is the Director of Finance and Accounting at Ziflow, has a dual master’s degree in International Business and Finance from Hult International Business School, and is the founder of Boston Girls Who Walk. Nathalye has done it all, from moving to the U.S. from Venezuela and achieving enormous success early in her career, to traveling to 15 different countries in 2023! This episode is what Career Composer is all about - figuring out who we are, growing in our careers, and ta...2025-02-2454 minCareer ComposerMaking Friends in a New City!!!Moving to a new city for your career? Wondering how to make new friends as an adult? Whatever your situation, this episode is for YOU. Your host, Erin Ahart, talks about her experience moving to two new cities and breaks down EVERYTHING she did to make new friends - including what worked and what didn't. You'll leave this episode knowing exactly how to get started. Erin even gives her advice for how to build and maintain new friendships and stay motivated to put yourself out there when loneliness takes all your energy. After all, loneliness actually impacts job performance...2025-02-1044 minCareer ComposerAll Industry Interview Prep ChecklistFinally!!! Everything you need to prepare for your upcoming interview, all in one place! Erin Ahart shares how to prepare for an interview like you're packing for vacation, and provides listeners with an interview prep checklist that applies for all interviews across all industries. She covers: What you physically need to bring with you if you’re interviewing in-personWhat to wear and traveling to your interviewErin's favorite interviewing tricks to keep in your back pocketHow to mentally prepare, including how to do your research, what you need to know going in, and how to change your mindset so you...2025-01-2735 minCareer ComposerHow to Answer Tell Me About Yourself in an Interview with Matt NorawongIn this episode of Career Composer, host Erin Ahart dives into how to answer the question 'Tell me about yourself' in an interview. Erin shares how to use the present, past, future model to craft the perfect response. She emphasizes the importance of making a great first impression and setting the stage for the rest of the interview. (And by the way, we can learn a LOT from Opening Acts in music when answering 'Tell me about yourself' and opening up the interview.) Special guest Matt Norawong shares his answer to this question, providing listeners with a real-world example...2025-01-1333 minCareer ComposerE5 All I Want For Christmas is a JobE5 All I Want for Christmas is a JobWelcome back to another episode of Career Composer! In our special holiday episode, Erin dives into: Navigating the job search during the holiday season and why it’s a great time to apply; Insider HR tips on job postings and what to expect from employers; Emailing employers and keeping open lines of communication during the holidays; Handling nosy relatives and their career questions at family gatherings, including hysterical advice from Reddit and Quora! In the music portion of this episode, Erin highlights cozy fall and winter music and mus...2024-12-0920 minCareer ComposerEvery Factor You MUST Consider Before Going to Grad SchoolGrad school can be an important step towards achieving your career goals, but is it always necessary? Erin shares what she's learned from coaching master's and PhD students in her full-time job and getting her own master's degree. She discusses the importance of industry research, cost, the balance between school and personal life, long-term benefits, and the importance of what you learn versus just having the degree. Erin emphasizes the value of work experience and soft skills and highlights how to make informed career decisions. She also explores alternatives to grad school, such as certifications, professional associations, and gaining...2024-11-2542 minCareer ComposerShould I Go to Grad School? with Sarah MarsanE3 Should I Go to Grad School? with Sarah MarsanIn this episode of Career Composer, Erin Ahart chats with her friend Sarah Marsan about her journey deciding whether to go to grad school. Sarah shares her story from undergrad to her current role, the challenges she's faced, and what helped her make her decision. Erin also gives a sneak peek into the next episode where she will share her own perspective as a career counselor on every factor you should consider before going to grad school. Timestamp: Career content - 6:33Career C...2024-11-1131 minCareer ComposerThe Death of the Resume TemplateE2 The Death of the Resume TemplateCareer counselor and host Erin Ahart explains why using resume templates can negatively impact your job search. She discusses the components of a good resume and highlights common mistakes found in templates. Erin provides tips for creating an applicant tracking system (ATS) friendly resume and recommends resources for finding sample resumes. Listen to today's music recs in Career Composer's master playlist below!Timestamps: Career content - 4:04Penn State Career Guide (Pages 23, 27, & 28) Career Composer Playlists Submit Your Song & Playlist Recs!2024-10-2815 min
Career ComposerA Cover Letter is Like a Love LetterE1 A Cover Letter is Like a Love LetterWelcome to the first episode of Career Composer with Erin Ahart! In this episode, Erin explains how writing a cover letter is similar to writing a love letter and shares a three-step process to make your cover letters stand out. Additionally, she introduces herself, her background, and shares the unique music-themed approach of this podcast. Don't miss her story about the spicy love letters between Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms!Timestamps: Career content - 6:41Career Composer Playlists Submit Your...2024-10-0716 min
The Juice with JeffThe Juice with Jeff #187On this episode of the podcast, Erin Lackore conducts and co-produces a fantastic interview with me thru Zoom. This is Lisa's very first time on the podcast.
During the interview, Erin and I had a conversation on several topics like:
Since Erin turned 50 this past year and I will hopefully be turning 50 in October, what 50 things would you like to do? Neither of us could think of 50, but we each did talk about several things we wanted to do over the course of this year.
As part of this discussion, topics that a...2024-01-281h 13