Early Career, Real Talk: The Hiring Truths Nobody Tells You

You've done everything right: updated your resume, practiced your answers, applied to dozens of jobs. So why does it still feel like the process is a mystery?

The truth is, most candidates only ever see their side of the hiring process. Understanding what's happening on the other side can change how you search, how you apply, and how you show up.

In this candid Chat & Learn, William Chichester, Senior Manager of Early & Emerging Talent at Zillow, pulls back the curtain on the hiring process, sharing the real, unfiltered perspective that comes from a career spanning nearly two decades of recruiting and talent leadership, including his current work leading early talent at Zillow.

This isn't a polished "tips for your resume" session. It's an honest conversation about what actually moves the needle, what trips candidates up, and what you can do right now to approach your job search with more clarity and confidence.

What you'll walk away with:

• What hiring teams actually pay attention to (and what matters less than you think)
• Why qualified candidates don't always advance, and what you can learn from those patterns
• The resume, networking, and interview missteps that are easy to avoid once you know what they are
• How to demonstrate potential when your experience is still limited
• What actually builds credibility and helps you stand out

Who should attend:

This session is designed for students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals who are actively job searching or preparing to enter the workforce. Whether you're applying to your first internship or pursuing your first full-time role, this conversation will give you a more honest picture of what hiring really looks like and how to show up with confidence.