Deepali Vyas Website

Deepali Vyas

Executive Recruiter, Career Strategist & Author

Deepali Vyas is a career and executive coach based in New York City, NY. With over 25 years of executive recruiting experience, Deepali is known as The Elite Recruiter, recognized for helping professionals navigate the modern workplace with clarity, strategy, and confidence. She is an executive search leader, keynote speaker, and podcaster who has advised Fortune 500 companies, hedge funds, and private equity firms on critical leadership hires and organizational talent strategy. Her mission is to help ambitious professionals articulate their value, build powerful brands, and navigate the corporate game with confidence. With over 1 million followers across social media platforms, Deepali is also one of the most followed voices on careers today, known for her practical, direct, and empowering guidance on job search, leadership, and workplace dynamics. Her insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNBC News, Forbes, UNILAD, and more.

Education

  • BS, Finance, University of Colorado at Boulder
  • MS, International Finance, The London School of Economics and Political Science

Professional Achievements

  • Reviewed more than one million resumes and conducted more than 50,000 interviews, helping thousands of professionals secure senior and executive roles
  • Founder of Vyas Media and The Elite Recruiter, a career education and coaching platform
  • Host of the podcast Corporate Confessions, interviewing leaders, innovators, and workplace experts about the evolving world of work
  • Generated tens of millions of views across TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, where she reaches a combined audience of over one million followers
  • Serves as an advisor to emerging startups in AI, data science, and career technology innovation
  • Nationally recognized keynote speaker, presenting on topics such as the future of work, AI and employment, leadership visibility, and career strategy for organizations including Bayer, Northwestern University, and global financial and technology firms
  • Currently authoring a book with HarperCollins, scheduled for publication in 2026

Certifications & Organizations

  • Certified Executive Coach, Columbia University Coaching Learning Association

Favorite Piece of Advice

Your skills won’t speak for themselves—you have to speak for them. In every role, you are not just doing the job, you are teaching people how to see your value. Document your wins, tell your story, and make your impact impossible to ignore.

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Forum Comments (6)

What are some good skills to put on a resume?
I've reviewed a million resumes. I hate when people put things that are intangible without context. For example, when people say "I am a visionary leader." How are you visionary?

I want to see your cognitive and strategic skills, not their vague descriptions. I don't want a long list of bullet points that you are a problem solver, that you have great communication skills, that you are a leader.

I want to see your technical skills and the tools you're proficient in. For example, "I have a project management skillset and I use these tools: AirTable, monday.com, and Asana." If you're a coder, what language do you use? If you're in marketing, what tools are you using in your marketing tech stack? If you put down cross-functional leadership, then I want to see you say, "I manage global teams across this many time zones or in these specific departments." I want context, not superfluous words.

My other rule is, the resume should get you in the door, but your reputation should keep you there. Save stories about how you have great adaptability, emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and learning agility for the interview. Your resume should be tailored exactly to their job description so that it passes their initial screen.
How do I answer tough job interview questions?
If you get hit with a tough interview question that you didn't prepare for, I think you look more senior and put together if you actually answer honestly.

For example, if you don't know the answer to a question, you can say, "I don't know the answer to this question. It's a really thoughtful question. I might have missed the mark, but I'm happy to research it, and I'd love the opportunity to come back to you with a thoughtful answer."

You can also try a reframe. You could say, "That's interesting. I haven't been asked that before. Let me reframe it." Then you redirect and pivot to something tangential that you do know. This way, you keep the flow of the interview going. Even if the other person can tell you didn't answer it directly, you're saving face.

I'm a big believer that you don't have to apologize. You just need to normalize it. The interviewer is interested in how you think and problem-solve, so feel free to think out loud with them, too.
How to write a killer cover letter
I think the traditional cover letter is dead. Now what you need is what I call a "punchy email." You want it to be snappy, attention-grabbing, and to-the-point.

I recommend an opening line that describes the function of what you do. Then next, you have three bullet points that are lightning facts that a hiring manager should absolutely know about you. These facts should be quantifiable, like "I save the company 20% in cost savings," or "I helped grow revenue by 30%" or "we launched the product two quarters earlier than scheduled."

Then you close with, "I have built this, and I want to directly support your team's function in this manner." If you deliver the letter that way, the recruiter knows exactly who you are, what you did and how you did it, and why they should hire you.
Tips on how to ask for a raise? I'm nervous!
Before you ask for a raise, make sure you have the right timing. Don't ask for a raise in a storm! You need to pick a moment, ideally after a big win or at the start of fiscal planning. Avoid chaotic moments at all costs, e.g., during layoffs, budget freezes, or leadership changes.

Next, do NOT wing it. This is the time to be airtight in your business case. Do not say, "I have been here for three years and I've worked really hard." Instead, say, "In the last 12 months, I delivered specific results: revenue increase, cost savings, process improvements, team growth, etc. Based on market benchmarks and my expanded scope, I believe my compensation should reflect that level of impact. How do we get me there?"

If your manager says, "Not in this cycle," you say, "I appreciate that. However, what metrics do we put in place for me to achieve, so that when we have this conversation in the future, I can receive this raise?" Perhaps you don't get the timing right, but this way, you set the stage to hold them accountable in the future. This is called "anchoring your ask."

After the conversation, email them with a follow-up confirming exactly what they said. This way, you have a paper trail and have evidence to point to during your next conversation.
What should I say when asked "what are your salary expectations?"
I promise, when a recruiter asks salary expectations, they're not trying to trap you.
What they're trying to do is anchor the deal. So my rule is, don't lead with a number, lead with knowledge. Generally, I feel like whoever says the number first generally loses. If you give a number too early, you're negotiating against yourself. So, I always recommend candidates to say, "I'm flexible and more focused on my qualifications for the overall role right now. Can you share a range for that budgeted position?"

When you know their range, you have more power. Now, if they push you for a range, make sure to go right back to market data and not emotion. What you need to do is anchor in evidence and not ego. So, say something like, "based on my research, for roles similar in the market, positions like this typically range between X and Y. I'd expect to be somewhere in that range, depending on the total package, but I'd also like to hear what the team is thinking. I may have some flexibility between base, bonus, and long-term incentives, but I'm sure we can work that out." This way you give some flexibility but also set a boundary with a range grounded in market evidence.

My final advice is to delay the number gracefully. When you delay, try to get as much information as you can. If you end up knowing like the team size, the success metrics, or their sales volume, you'll be able to calculate a more accurate number that makes you an even better fit.
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Co-authored Articles (9)

A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing an Expression of Interest (EOI)

Career and executive coach Deepali Vyas shares how to write an EOI that proves you're the perfect candidateIn business writing, an expression of interest (or EOI) is a document usually written by prospective job applican...

How to

Quit a Job over Text (with Examples)

Ready to move on to your next opportunity, but not sure how to let your boss know over text? With recent shortages in the workforce giving workers more leverage, you may have seen viral screenshots where fed-up employees...

108 Deep Questions to Ask Yourself (Backed by Experts)

Career and executive coach Deepali Vyas shares her favorite questions to help you figure out what you wantAre you interested in digging deep and really getting to know yourself better? If so, it may be time for some self...

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Invest in Yourself

Career and executive coach Deepali Vyas shares easy & effective ways to invest in yourselfWhat does it mean to invest in yourself? It's even more valuable than just investing money in profitable ventures. Investing in yo...

The Best Excuses to Quit Your Job (& How to Tell Your Employer)

Expert advice on how to quit your job with or without notice Quitting a job is never easy—even if it's a terrible fit for you. And even if you can't stand your employer, you still don't want to burn any bridges on the ...

How to Write a Professional Self-Introduction Email (with Examples)

Career and executive coach Deepali Vyas shares the best ways to introduce yourself to recruiters, colleagues, & moreIntroducing yourself by email can feel intimidating, especially in a professional setting. However, by i...

How to Ask About a Job Vacancy over the Phone

Make a good first impression to set the stage for an interviewPicking up the phone to inquire about a job vacancy can be a good way to make a strong first impression with a potential employer. This also gives you a chanc...

How to

Find Your Dream Career

When you were little, people probably asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Maybe you said a doctor, or an astronaut. Maybe you said an actor, or a lawyer, or a police officer. With starry eyes, you dreamed o...

How Do You Get a Part-Time Job On & Offline

Learn how to find listings, apply to jobs, & ace the interview While academics are always important, money can be an issue when it comes to a full schedule. Getting a part time job is a great way to build your resume, fo...