A Letter from Ramon Santillan
Interview Coach and Career Consultant

Everything you were taught about the job search and interviewing has changed.

Two things happened my junior year in college that made me rethink how we approach the job search.

The first was when I went to the career services to get my resume "reviewed". I had spent hours researching my target company and carefully selecting the right words so that my experience would not only match with the role, but also put me as the top candidate. This was in September of 2001 mere weeks after the 9/11 attacks. The tech bubble had burst, the economy wasn't doing well, and of course no one knew if we were going to be attacked again. On top of all that, some of us had to get an intership if we wanted to graduate in time.

As I sat in the hallway waiting my turn to meet with a little, sweet old lady, I kept on hearing her give the same advice given to everyone else that went in before me: "Put your mission statement at the top." "Make it broad so you can apply to all the jobs possible." "Don't forget to put your job tasks! That's the only way you're going to stand out!"

"How am I supposed to stand out if we're all doing the same thing?"

By the end of the 30 mins, my beautiful, custom-made resume, had been butchered into a bland, generic, resume. My resume looked like everyone else's! How am I supposed to stand out if we're all doing the same thing?!?!

Later on that week, I was at a networking event where a big accounting firm was doing recruiting. The head guy there was falling all over me telling me how he needed someone just like me. That is until I told him I wasn't getting a Master's in Accounting. I've never seen someone turn around and walk away so fast!

As he literally walked away he said over his shoulder "No Big Four Accounting firm is going to hire you...ever!"

As I left that event, I decided that I was going to take charge of my career from that moment on. I was going to read all the books on resumes, networking, interviewing, and negotiation. Some were good, most were not. However that didn't stop me from absorbing all this knowledge and applying it to my job search. This was my career so I wasn't going to take a passive role.

While my peers (and fellow competitors for the rapidly diminishing available internships) did the same thing everyone else was doing, I knew I had to stand out (remember no connections, no 4.0GPA, and no direct experience?). I knew I couldn't do the bare minimum and expect to achieve excellent results. Not only did I have to do more than everyone else, I also had to stand out in my interaction and how I projected my skills and my abilities. So I researched the company and the roles extensively. Even though I didn't know who I would be meeting with, I researched all the potential people I would be meeting with. I came up with examples and stories that I could bring up if I needed to. I even wore a gray suit to the interview going against the Career Services advice to wear black or blue. In a see of the same candidate with different names, I stood out...in a good way.

Less than 40 days after that one guy had said I no Big 4 accounting firm would want me, not only did I get an interview, I had an offer from one of the premiere Big 4 Accounting firms. As a student, I got a signing bonus and a salary that would make most full-time people blush. Best of all, it was the exact job I had set my eyes on.

Since then I've gone on to work at the biggest accounting firm in the world, the world's biggest oil & gas driller, and the world biggest deathcare company as well as leading my own tax consulting firm. Throughout that time, I've helped friends, mentees, and complete strangers get the skills needed to finding a job that they love through one-on-one and online coaching.

For the past 5 years I have helped dozens of students of my program through one-on-one coaching, seminars, and workshops get to the next step of their careers.

And now I want to help you.

I created Interview Ready! the only course to help you identify, find, and get a job you love. I will walk you through every step of the process from figuring out what your next opportunity is, to creating a resume that sells on your behalf, preparing for the interview and even negotiating your salary. This is a proven method that works in all industries and will help you get to the next step in your career.

— Ramon Santillan, PersuasiveInterview.com