Today I had one of the most unexpectedly intense phone interviews of my journey in Canada — and I believe the lessons can help many of us in this group. I received a call from someone at a major Toronto-based company (hiring manager or recruiter — still not sure!), and I honestly thought it would be a quick check-in about availability and salary expectations. But it turned into a 20-minute blend of behavioral, technical, and situational questions — all over the phone, with no video, no faces, just voice and mindset. Here’s what happened and what I learned: 🔹 1. They started by clarifying my location Because the role wasn’t posted in my city, she opened with questions about why I want to move to Toronto. I explained my reasons clearly and confidently — and the conversation flowed naturally from there. 🔹 2. Salary expectations — @Alex B training saved me When she asked about my expected salary, my first thought was to say $75K.But then I remembered Alex’s golden rule:👉 Ask for their range first. So I calmly asked: “What is the company’s salary range for this role?” She shared a range above $85K plus benefits, which surprised me in the best way. I acknowledged it as fair and said I’d be open to discussing it more as the process moves forward. That one move probably saved me from underselling myself by thousands. 🔹 3. Technical + behavioural questions combined Within 20 minutes, she covered: - Technical tasks - Scenarios - Behavioural patterns - Availability - Start date This reinforced something important: Big organizations use short, structured calls to filter fast and stay efficient. 🔹 4. I asked my questions — and it changed the energy At the end, I asked two deeper questions: 1. “What does success look like in the first 90 days for this role?” 2. “Is this a new position or a replacement? What does the onboarding process look like?” These questions shifted the conversation from “candidate evaluation” to “future collaborator.” And before ending the call, I told her:“ Even though I can’t see you, I’m receiving a very positive vibe. I hope I’ll get to meet you in person or virtually.” She laughed — and I felt the connection strengthen.

please follow below example and tell us about your story (good, bad or ugly, BE REAL BE RELAXED, you are in a safe zone here) in the comments: Include your linkedin profile link, a win/fail, a goal and an obstacle/struggle (*could be physical or mental limitation*) in your personal career story! Let's gooooooo🔥🔥 ✅Hi Everyone, This is Alex Amir. here is my linkedin profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/abajestani/ Please feel free to send me an invite. Wins: My biggest career Win is that I was able to enter my dream company PWC early in my Career (and yes I did a lot of work to get there) then moved on to KPMG, 2 of the big4! Where I was fortunate enough to be able to work and learn from many industries and various large size companies, through consulting in Human resource systems, mainly "Workday"! Then I got tired of employee routine and followed some contractors who were working for Big4 ! I tried to network with them and learn their secrets but wasn’t successful! As they were very conservative about these contracts! Long story short, with my willpower and curiosity personality, I found it! I learned a way to became an independent consultant! And get high-paying clients! All of a sudden my income tripled!! Lots of fun, Amazing pay and amazing flexibility! This lifestyle helped me choose my preferred projects to work on and decline the rest! I have consulted various clients in Workday HR systems such as Major Banks,Retails (Loblaws), Healthcare ( Cancer Care Ontario), etc across different industries which gave me a great perspective. In workday data conversion consulting industry, we go by total number of employees of the companies portfolio we consulted , for me this number is above 1 million headcount, having 100,000 under loblaw and metro stores chain itself! I have consulted as Workday Data and HRIS solution architect and currently as a Senior Workday ERP Engineer at a large healthcare organization across 10 states and I work remotely. But I do travel alot between US and Canada!

Happy Monday, Breakthrough Elites. Every week is a new chance to rewrite your trajectory, and this week carries extra weight because this Thursday is the last Thursday of the month. You already know what that means: 🏆 Prize Day. Leaderboard Celebration. Recognition for the strongest players in the community. We will reveal the champions of the 30-day leaderboard, and one thing is always clear. Those who rise to the top do it through consistent action, smart engagement, and real commitment. Take a look at the leaderboard right now. Everyone at the top earned their spot through showing up, helping others, asking questions, networking with intention, and taking action even when life gets busy. if you are new, learn about smart networking here. Inside BTE, leveling up is not just a badge. It reflects who you are becoming: ✨ Your activity ✨ Your discipline ✨ Your networking habits ✨ Your learning speed ✨ Your seriousness about transformation We have seen this again and again. When members level up inside BTE, they level up outside of BTE too. LinkedIn grows, confidence grows, opportunities grow, salaries grow, and your identity changes. This community is built on possibility, belief, courage and bold action. So use today, Monday, to reset your engine with intention. Post something. Celebrate a small win. Ask a question. Drop value under someone else’s post. Reach out and connect. Push your identity forward. Because on Thursday’s call, we’re not just announcing winners. We’re showcasing what is possible when you choose to engage at a higher standard. This week, make yourself visible. This week, raise your energy. This week, level up and show everyone, including yourself, what you can really do. 🔥 MEN vs WOMEN — LEADERBOARD CHALLENGE THIS WEEK! 🔥 I noticed something very interestin in the leaderboard Last 30 days → 70% of the Top 10 are WOMEN. Last 7 days → 70% of the Top 10 are MEN.

Job searching isn’t easy — especially in specialized fields. Some days feel strong, some slow, and some completely silent. But progress doesn’t stop just because you can’t see it. Every application, every message, every interview, every small improvement… Remember: Your skills still matter. Your experience still has value. A rejection is not a verdict — it’s a redirection. You don’t need perfection.You just need consistency. Show up. Improve a little every day. Stay focused and stay hopeful. The opportunity you’re looking for is real — and it may be only one connection or one conversation away. Don’t quit. Your breakthrough is closer than you think. @Kizen 🧲@Alex B @Behnoud Shayesteh@Alex B @Mahyad Aghigh @Behnoud Shayesteh @Zara Vajihi @Saman Bazmi @Behnaz Gharahgozlo @Maz Mohammadi @Mahmoud Sahebari @Mo Mand @Thomas Nikai @Ramin Ansari @Reza Goli

Hi everyone,I wanted to share a quick experience with you all. I recently applied for a position and then reached out to the recruiter on LinkedIn. Fortunately, my resume caught their attention, and the recruiter called me. Now, I’ve been invited to move forward to the next stage of the interview process.Just wanted to share this update with the community!