Darci Smith
Recruiting Consultant and Career Coach
Darci Smith is a recruiting consultant and career coach based in Redwood City, CA. With over 8 years of experience in recruiting, Darci now owns Roklyn Consulting, working with financial firms to hire financial advisors, support staff, and others within the industry. She also runs Career Coach Darci, a career advice platform where she helps mid, senior, and C-level corporate professionals looking for assistance with their job search, resume, LinkedIn, and overall career strategy. Darci uses her valuable experience in the recruitment industry and uses it to support job seekers through both 1:1 coaching and through sharing insights on social media @careercoachdarci where she reaches over 300,000 followers.
Education
- BS, Business Administration, South Carolina State University
- MBA, California State University, Los Angeles
Professional Achievements
- Featured Career Expert on CNN Business, Daily Mail, and NY Post
- Published Co-Author on Amazon's Best Seller "Beyond the Broker, Navigating Financial Advisory Independence"
- Published Co-Author on Amazon Best Seller "Forever Athlete, Connect with Your True Identity Daily"
Certifications & Organizations
- Committee Member of the Financial Planning Association
- Member of the Redwood City Rotary Club
Favorite Piece of Advice
You are in charge of your career path. Be your own advocate. Block off personal time to check in with yourself and make sure you are on the path you want to be on.
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Forum Comments (6)
How do I answer tough job interview questions?
Remember, interviews are conversations. The interviewer has likely been on your side of the table before. If you're caught off guard, just say: “That’s a great question. I haven’t thought about it before—can I take a second?”
Or ask for clarification: “Just to make sure I understand, are you asking about X?”
That shows composure and authenticity—qualities that matter more than perfect answers. Authenticity really goes a long way in interviews.
That shows composure and authenticity—qualities that matter more than perfect answers. Authenticity really goes a long way in interviews.
How to write a killer cover letter
Some companies don’t read them, but if a posting asks for one, you should absolutely submit it, even if it’s just to show initiative. Sometimes, the act of submitting one is enough to land the interview.
Use tools like ChatGPT or other AI platforms to help draft one based on your resume and the job description. Then rework it in your own words.
Keep it short—one page max. Highlight the three most important things you bring to the table . If you lack direct experience, focus on your enthusiasm and what you’ve learned about the company.
Use tools like ChatGPT or other AI platforms to help draft one based on your resume and the job description. Then rework it in your own words.
Keep it short—one page max. Highlight the three most important things you bring to the table . If you lack direct experience, focus on your enthusiasm and what you’ve learned about the company.
Tips on how to ask for a raise? I'm nervous!
Asking for a raise for the first time can be nerve-wracking. The best thing you can do is come prepared with evidence of your value
. Go through your email and collect “kudos”—messages where someone thanked you or acknowledged good work. Screenshot those and save them in a document. You should also include any data or performance metrics that show you exceeded expectations, whether it’s calls made, projects completed, or KPIs hit.
When it’s time for the meeting, start on a positive note: “I’ve really enjoyed working here this past year, and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’d like to discuss my financial growth and what a raise might look like.” Make a specific ask, whether it’s a percentage increase or a dollar figure. They may meet you halfway, but the key is that you have to ask. They likely won’t initiate it for you.
When it’s time for the meeting, start on a positive note: “I’ve really enjoyed working here this past year, and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’d like to discuss my financial growth and what a raise might look like.” Make a specific ask, whether it’s a percentage increase or a dollar figure. They may meet you halfway, but the key is that you have to ask. They likely won’t initiate it for you.
What should I say when asked "what are your salary expectations?"
If the job posting includes a salary range, reference it. For example, say, “I saw the posted range is $70K–$80K. Ideally, I’d like to be at the higher end.” If no range is listed and you know what you want, give a number based on your worth, not your past salary
. For instance, “Based on my skills and experience, I’m looking for something between $50K–$60K.”
If you really don’t know, you can turn the question around respectfully: “I’m focused on finding the right fit and team. Do you have a budget allocated for this role?” That often prompts the recruiter to reveal the range. But be prepared—they might still press you for a number. It’s best to have a researched range in mind.
You can use tools like:
You can also just go to Google and type:
“I live in [City, State], this is the job title, and this is the industry—how much should this job pay?”
That search will lead you to sites like Glassdoor, Salary.com, and LinkedIn, which will give you salary benchmarks. From there, compare your own experience (how many years you’ve been in the industry, what you've achieved) and figure out where you fall in that range.
You can also ask mentors or peers in similar roles what the standard compensation looks like. Even Reddit forums or industry-specific Slack groups can be surprisingly helpful.
I think it's really important to come into an interview with a salary range in mind. If you don’t advocate for yourself, no one else will. Not providing a range can make the interviewer think you’re unsure of your worth and potentially give them the opportunity to lowball you.
If you really don’t know, you can turn the question around respectfully: “I’m focused on finding the right fit and team. Do you have a budget allocated for this role?” That often prompts the recruiter to reveal the range. But be prepared—they might still press you for a number. It’s best to have a researched range in mind.
You can use tools like:
- Glassdoor
- Payscale
- LinkedIn Salary Insights
- Levels.fyi (especially for tech)
You can also just go to Google and type:
“I live in [City, State], this is the job title, and this is the industry—how much should this job pay?”
That search will lead you to sites like Glassdoor, Salary.com, and LinkedIn, which will give you salary benchmarks. From there, compare your own experience (how many years you’ve been in the industry, what you've achieved) and figure out where you fall in that range.
You can also ask mentors or peers in similar roles what the standard compensation looks like. Even Reddit forums or industry-specific Slack groups can be surprisingly helpful.
I think it's really important to come into an interview with a salary range in mind. If you don’t advocate for yourself, no one else will. Not providing a range can make the interviewer think you’re unsure of your worth and potentially give them the opportunity to lowball you.
What are the best jobs for introverts?
Personally, I don’t like putting people in boxes based on personality tests. I’ve seen introverts thrive in roles like sales, which are usually seen as “extroverted” jobs—because they’re passionate about the product or cause.
That said, many introverts might feel more comfortable in roles with less social stimulation, like tech, software engineering, data analysis, or operations. But more than personality type, I think environment and leadership matter most. The right manager and culture can make any job a fit.
That said, many introverts might feel more comfortable in roles with less social stimulation, like tech, software engineering, data analysis, or operations. But more than personality type, I think environment and leadership matter most. The right manager and culture can make any job a fit.
