Career Cravings

When did we decide that spending 40 hours a week doing something that drains us, counting down the days until Friday, and spending our weekends recovering from work was normal?

In this episode, I'm challenging one of the biggest beliefs we've accepted about our careers: that work isn't supposed to be enjoyable. Because I don't believe we should have to spend the majority of our lives doing something that leaves us exhausted, disconnected, and constantly looking for an escape.

I've been there myself. I've had jobs I genuinely loved, yet still found myself dreading parts of my workday without understanding why. And what I've learned is that sometimes the problem isn't your entire career. Sometimes it's one small thing that's draining your energy, and changing it can make all the difference.

I'm sharing how a simple conversation with my boss transformed my experience in my corporate HR role, why success on paper doesn't always translate to fulfillment, and how to recognize the signs that something in your career needs to change.

If you've been telling yourself that the Sunday scaries, exhaustion, or constantly waiting for your next vacation are just part of being an adult, I want you to question that. You don't necessarily need to quit your job or completely reinvent your career to feel fulfilled again.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why dreading Mondays shouldn't be your normal
• The difference between career success and fulfillment
• How to recognize what's draining your energy
• Why wanting more doesn't mean quitting your job
• The small changes that can transform your workday

My book, The Career You Crave, is out now! Buy your copy here:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFJWYCRC
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HFJWYCRC

Connect with Irina

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careercoachirina/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinaposan/
• Website: https://www.irinaposan.com/

What happens when you achieve some of your biggest career dreams, but instead of celebrating, you find yourself focusing on everything that didn't go according to plan?

Over the past two months, I've experienced some of the biggest milestones of my career. My debut book, The Career You Crave, became a #1 bestseller on launch day. I traveled to five cities for my book tour, appeared on live television for the first time, and opened doors to speaking opportunities I once only dreamed about.

But behind the celebrations, there was another side to the story.

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what really happened, including the goals I achieved, the expectations I fell short of, and the exhaustion and self-criticism that followed. I'm also revisiting the three big dreams I shared back in Episode 84 and revealing how each one actually unfolded.

As a high achiever, I know how easy it is to accomplish something incredible and immediately focus on what could have been better. I'm sharing the lessons this experience taught me about gratitude, perfectionism, giving yourself grace, and recognizing how far you've come instead of constantly measuring how far you still have to go.

If you've ever reached a major milestone and wondered why it didn't feel as fulfilling as you expected, this episode is for you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why big achievements don't always feel fulfilling
• What really happened behind my book launch and tour
• The hidden cost of constantly chasing bigger goals
• Why being a beginner requires self-compassion
• How to celebrate progress without demanding perfection

My book, The Career You Crave, is out now! Buy your copy here:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFJWYCRC
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HFJWYCRC

Connect with Irina

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careercoachirina/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinaposan/
• Website: https://www.irinaposan.com/

📖 My book, The Career You Crave, is out now! Buy your copy here:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFJWYCRC
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HFJWYCRC

Working harder doesn't automatically mean you'll get paid more.

After years of leading HR and recruitment teams, helping leaders make compensation decisions, and sitting behind the scenes of these conversations, I've learned that there are really only three situations that create a strong business case for earning more in your current role.

In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly what those three situations are and how you can use them to approach your next compensation conversation strategically. Because being loyal, taking on more work, or quietly doing an incredible job doesn't guarantee that someone will notice and offer you more money.

I'm also sharing examples from my own career, including how I used a $660,000 cost saving to demonstrate my impact, what I learned when I realized I'd reached my earning potential at one company, and why sometimes hearing "no" can give you exactly the information you need to make your next move.

If you know you're bringing more value than your paycheck reflects, I want to help you understand how these decisions are actually made and how to build a business case that makes your impact impossible to ignore.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The three reasons companies pay you more
• Why working harder isn't enough
• How to prove your value with numbers
• What makes you difficult to lose
• How to build your case for a raise

Connect with Irina

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careercoachirina/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinaposan/
• Website: https://www.irinaposan.com/

📖 My book, The Career You Crave, is out now! Buy your copy here:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFJWYCRC
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HFJWYCRC

Can you love your career and still want more? Absolutely.

One month after the release of The Career You Crave, I’m answering your biggest questions about the book, my writing journey, and how to create a fulfilling career without blowing up your life.

I’m sharing who I wrote this book for, the hardest stories to include, and how becoming a mother and surviving cancer changed my definition of success. I also explain why career fulfillment evolves as your life changes and how I built Career Cravings while staying in my corporate role for eight months.

If you feel that quiet pull toward something more but don’t know where to begin, this episode will help you take your first step with greater clarity.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How motherhood, cancer, and major life changes reshaped what I wanted from my career
• Why your definition of career success should evolve as you do
• How to approach a career change using my three-step framework: see yourself, trust yourself, and choose yourself

Connect with Irina

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careercoachirina/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinaposan/
• Website: https://www.irinaposan.com/

📖 My book, The Career You Crave, is out now! Buy your copy here:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFJWYCRC
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HFJWYCRC

What does it really take to build a successful career and a fulfilling life?

For my 100th episode, I’m joined by the person who has influenced my career more than anyone: my husband, John.

John shares how he went from working in technical support to becoming Chief Revenue Officer at DocuSketch, without following the traditional path to the C-suite. We talk about people-first leadership, building a professional reputation that creates future opportunities, and why chasing titles won’t guarantee career fulfillment.

We also get personal about work-life balance, avoiding burnout, raising our son, and what has helped us continue growing together after 17 years.

If you want practical career advice from an executive who has built successful teams while staying deeply committed to his family, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the people you work with can shape your career success
• How your reputation and personal brand create future career opportunities
• How to define success beyond job titles while protecting your life outside work

Mentioned & Helpful Links

• Get your copy of The Career You Crave: https://www.irinaposan.com/book
• Chicago Book Tour Tickets: https://www.irinaposan.com/tour

Connect with Irina

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careercoachirina/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinaposan/
• Website: https://www.irinaposan.com/

📖 My book, The Career You Crave, is out now! Buy your copy here:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFJWYCRC
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HFJWYCRC

What if your next career opportunity found you before you even started applying?

That’s exactly how I landed my dream Director role without submitting a single job application.

In this episode, I’m sharing the LinkedIn strategy that made it possible. Drawing on my experience leading recruitment teams, I’ll show you what recruiters actually look for, how LinkedIn Recruiter works, and why some of the best career opportunities are never advertised.

Whether you’re actively job searching or simply want to be ready when the right role appears, you’ll learn how to make your LinkedIn profile discoverable to recruiters without alerting your current employer.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to attract recruiters without actively job searching
• The LinkedIn feature most professionals overlook
• Why 70% of the best opportunities are never posted
• How to become the candidate recruiters search for
• The mindset shift that can change your next career move

Mentioned & Helpful Links

• Get your copy of The Career You Crave: https://www.irinaposan.com/book
• Chicago Book Tour Tickets: https://www.irinaposan.com/tour

Connect with Irina

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careercoachirina/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinaposan/
• Website: https://www.irinaposan.com/

📖 My book, The Career You Crave, is out now! Buy your copy here:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFJWYCRC
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HFJWYCRC

What if the success you worked so hard for no longer fits the life you want?

In this episode, I’m joined by executive coach, keynote speaker, and Career Slay® founder Kelly Poquiz Burke. After building an award-winning marketing career and leading Super Bowl campaigns for major brands, Kelly was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant during the pandemic.

That experience forced her to reconsider what success meant and whether the career she had built still aligned with the person she had become.

Kelly and I explore why achievement doesn’t always create fulfillment, how to recognize career misalignment, and why work-life alignment may be more meaningful than work-life balance.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to recognize when your definition of career success no longer fits
• Kelly’s framework for making career decisions based on your values
• How to create greater fulfillment through work-life alignment

Mentioned & Helpful Links

• Get your copy of The Career You Crave: https://www.irinaposan.com/book
• Book Tour Tickets: https://www.irinaposan.com/tour

Connect with Kelly Poquiz Burke

• Website: https://careerslay.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellypoquizburke/
• Career Slay: https://www.instagram.com/careerslay/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-burke/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@careerslay
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@careerslay

Connect with Irina

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careercoachirina/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinaposan/
• Website: https://www.irinaposan.com/

📖 My book, The Career You Crave, is out now! Buy your copy here:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFJWYCRC
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HFJWYCRC

You know what you want. You’ve listened to that voice telling you there’s more for you. Maybe it’s a career change, a promotion, a side business, a book, or an idea you can’t stop thinking about.

But knowing what you want isn’t the part that changes your career. Taking action is.

And this is where so many people freeze because they assume a career change requires a dramatic leap. They think they need to quit their job, risk their financial security, or have the entire plan figured out before they begin.

I know that fear because I experienced it when I started considering my own career transition from corporate HR to building Career Cravings.

In this final episode of my three-part series inspired by The Career You Crave, I’m sharing how I began turning my career clarity into action. I’ll take you inside the conversations I had with my husband, my financial advisor, and my boss before I made a change.

I’ll also show you why the safest way to explore a career pivot is to stop endlessly thinking about your idea and start testing it in the real world. The more information you gather, the more confident your next decision can become.

You don’t need to blow up your career to build a new one. You need to take the next small step that gives you more clarity than you have today.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to start planning a career change without immediately quitting your job or putting your financial security at risk
• Which conversations can help you prepare for a career transition and make your next move with greater clarity and confidence
• Three practical actions you can take this week to test your career idea, gather real-world information, and move your dream out of your head

Mentioned and helpful links

Book tour tickets: https://www.irinaposan.com/tour
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careercoachirina/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinaposan/
Website: http://www.irinaposan.com/

📖 My book, The Career You Crave, is out now! Buy your copy here:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFJWYCRC
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HFJWYCRC

Have you ever felt like you’re meant for more in your career, even if you can’t quite explain what “more” looks like yet?

In part two of my three-part series inspired by The Career You Crave, I’m exploring what happens after you recognize that something in your career no longer feels right.

Knowing you want something different is one thing. Trusting yourself enough to listen to that feeling is another.

For years, I felt pulled toward something more while continuing to pursue the career I thought I should want. I ignored that inner knowing until it began affecting my sleep, draining my energy, and making it impossible to keep pretending everything was fine.

In this episode, I’m sharing what it cost me to ignore that feeling and the life-changing moment that finally pushed me to listen.

I want this episode to help you quiet the outside noise, put other people’s expectations aside, and create enough space to hear what you actually want.

You don’t need to quit your job or have your entire future figured out. You just need to be willing to listen.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why feeling "meant for more" matters
• The hidden cost of career misalignment
• Why your intuition gets louder when ignored
• The question that makes fear feel smaller
• How to get clear on what you actually want

Mentioned and helpful links
Book tour tickets: https://www.irinaposan.com/tour
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careercoachirina/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinaposan/
Website: http://www.irinaposan.com/

📖 My book, The Career You Crave, is out now! Buy your copy here:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFJWYCRC
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HFJWYCRC

You landed the promotion. You checked every box. On paper, your career looks exactly the way you imagined it would.

So why does something still feel missing?

In this first episode of my three-part series inspired by my new book, The Career You Crave, I’m sharing the story behind my own career crisis and the realization that changed everything for me: achievement and fulfillment are not the same thing.

After finally landing what I thought was my dream role, I found myself asking a question I couldn’t ignore:

Is this really the life I want?

That question forced me to look beyond the job title, the promotions, and everything I thought I was supposed to want. I had achieved the career I had worked so hard for, but it still didn’t feel fulfilling.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for wanting more or wondered why your success hasn’t brought you the fulfillment you expected, this episode will help you look inward and begin asking the questions that matter most.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why achieving your dream career doesn’t automatically lead to fulfillment
• The important difference between achievement and fulfillment, and how confusing the two can leave you feeling stuck
• How to recognize the subtle signs that your career may no longer be aligned with who you’ve become
• Why looking inward, instead of immediately chasing the next promotion, can help you find more meaningful work
• How to begin defining success based on what truly matters to you, rather than what society expects from you

Mentioned and helpful links

Get my book for free by joining my VIP launch team: https://www.irinaposan.com/VIP
Book tour tickets: https://www.irinaposan.com/tour
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careercoachirina/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinaposan/
Website: http://www.irinaposan.com/