The Job Search Playbook: From Resume to Offer

You are NOT broken! (The system is).

Between AI-driven hiring tools, leaner recruiting teams, and a flood of layoffs across nearly every industry, today's job search is a different beast than it was even two years ago. Many companies have slowed hiring despite not having massive layoffs. Most companies are using AI screening software. (And, we bet you already know this: hiring managers are looking for unicorns).

Whether you're actively job hunting, recently laid off, looking to future-proof your career, or aren't a unicorn, this session is built for you.

DWKC and KCIMA  are bringing the community together - and this one's on us! You read that right. We understand the struggle is real, so this event is 100% free. All you need to do is RSVP and show up.

We see you, we're rooting for you, and we'll be right there with practical tools to help you land your next opportunity.

Thank you to our location sponsor, Serendipity Labs - Overland Park.

─━─━ Meet the Experts! ─━─━

Carrie Gill

As the Executive Director of Digital Media at Walz Tetrick Advertising (WTA), she leads integrated strategy across media, social, search, analytics, and email. With 20+ years of experience in the industry, Carrie is known for building high-performing teams and delivering measurable business results. Before WTA, she held leadership roles at MMGY Global, Intouch Eversana, MBB and VML, where she led award-winning campaigns for brands including Choice and Carlson Hotels, Coors Light, Einstein Brothers Bagels and Tom’s of Maine. Carrie is passionate about how the intersection of media, technology, creative, and data is elevating the Kansas City Digital community.

Jennifer Spencer

Jen is the founder and president of The Spencer Group, Inc., a recruiting firm specializing in advertising, marketing, creative, digital, social, and performance marketing talent. Since launching The Spencer Group in 2001, Jen has helped organizations of all sizes build and scale high-performing marketing teams, placing talent from entry-level professionals to executive leadership, including CMOs. An active leader in the Kansas City marketing community, she has served on several industry boards and is currently the Events Director for Digital Women of Kansas City. Jen is also a sought-after speaker on topics including career development, personal branding, interviewing, salary negotiation, and executive presence. 

Kimberly Spencer

Kimberly is Vice President and Career Coach at The Spencer Group, Inc., bringing more than 26 years of recruiting and talent acquisition experience to help professionals navigate their career journeys. She has led Talent Acquisition for major organizations, including VML and Lockton Companies, overseeing teams of top-performing talent acquisition specialists and partnering with hiring managers across a wide range of disciplines. Her extensive experience gives her a unique, firsthand understanding of what employers look for in resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and interviews. Kimberly works closely with candidates on everything from resume development to interview preparation, helping them present their skills and experience with confidence. Her coaching style is practical, personalized, and rooted in strategies that deliver results in today’s competitive job market.

Caroline Surber

Born and raised in Kenya, Caroline moved to the US for college and discovered a lifelong passion for human resources. With over 15 years of HR experience, she currently serves as the Area HR Manager at HDR, leading our Missouri/Kansas HR team. Caroline specializes in coaching leaders, building engaging work environments, and driving strategies that truly support people. Based in Lee’s Summit, she balances her professional life by exploring the world, diving into a good book, and enjoying the outdoors—whether that’s hitting a hiking trail or catching live music.

Caroline serves as a Board Member for Music Theater Heritage and as a club officer for TGIF Toastmasters in Overland Park, where she helps others and herself hone leadership and communication skills.  

Yolanda Villegas

Yolanda has built marketing teams, hired marketing talent, and experienced the challenges of a job search herself - giving her a firsthand understanding of what it takes to stand out in today’s market. As a Senior Recruiter with LandaJob and founder of Villegas Marketing, she brings 20+ years of experience across global brands, agencies, and multicultural marketing firms. Having been on both sides of the hiring process, Yolanda helps bridge the gap between what employers expect and how candidates present themselves. Through LandaJob’s Career Navigation Program, she works with job seekers to sharpen their messaging, strengthen their personal brand, and compete more effectively in an increasingly complex hiring landscape. 

Suzanne Wolff

As the owner of LandaJob, Suzanne connects great people with great companies - part matchmaker, part career translator. With 25+ years in marketing and creative and 15 in recruiting, she can spot the right fit - and the wrong one, a mile away. A former designer and creative director, she’s been on both sides of the hiring table and isn’t afraid to call out what’s broken. After interviewing hundreds of candidates throughout her career, she co-developed the LandaJob Career Navigation Program, where she helps job seekers stand out in a crazy job market and beat today’s AI-heavy hiring system with sharper resumes, stronger LinkedIn profiles, and storytelling that actually gets results.