Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody | UX, Product Design, UX Research

Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.

Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.

Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

This episode was from a session on Maven! Click here to watch the replay.

If you’re applying to UX jobs and not getting interviews, your resume might be the problem—specifically, how it interacts with the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

In this episode, Sarah Doody breaks down exactly how to format your resume so it gets past ATS filters and lands in front of recruiters and hiring managers.

You'll learn why you need TWO versions of your resume, what formatting mistakes to avoid, and how to tailor your resume for each job posting—without spending hours on every application.

✔️ Why ATS matters and how it scans and ranks resumes

✔️ The difference between an ATS-friendly and a human-friendly resume

✔️ Why two-column resumes can sabotage your chances

✔️ How to use job descriptions to tailor your resume for better results

✔️ Three common resume mistakes that could be costing you interviews

✔️ Why a one-page resume could be hurting your job search

Timestamps

01:04 The Importance of a Strategic Resume

03:08 Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

06:24 How ATS Parses Your Resume

08:19 Formatting Your Resume for ATS

16:23 Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

24:01 Recap and Final Tips

25:23 Conclusion and Contact Information

🎯 How I can help with your UX job search

📋 Get my UX case study template

👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube

Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.

Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.

Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

Welcome to another Open House episode of the Career Strategy Podcast! In this episode, Sarah Doody sits down with Jon Simmons, a seasoned product designer currently navigating the UX job search.

Jon shares his experience of revamping his portfolio, refining his job search strategy, and preparing for senior-level interviews after a layoff. He discusses how shifting his portfolio approach from a website to a presentation format significantly improved his job prospects and how structured storytelling and community support made a difference in his confidence and clarity.

✔️ The importance of stepping back from just tweaking your portfolio and doing deeper self-reflection

✔️ How portfolio presentations (vs. websites) give you more control over your job search narrative

✔️ The role of mindset and confidence in positioning yourself for high-level UX roles

✔️ Why community and structured frameworks can prevent burnout and job search frustration

✔️ Jon’s insights on interviewing for principal product designer roles and adapting to today’s market

Timestamps

01:43 Episode Overview and Open House Context

03:14 John's Journey in Career Strategy Lab

07:12 Portfolio Presentation Insights

15:58 The Importance of Self-Reflection

18:03 Advice for Prospective Members

20:06 Conclusion and Community Highlights

21:47 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

🎯 How I can help with your UX job search

📋 Get my UX case study template

👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube

Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.

Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.

Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

In this special Open House episode, Sarah Doody sits down with Career Strategy Lab (CSL) alum Sarah Page to discuss her journey navigating the UX job market. From being laid off as a creative director to landing a Senior UX Designer role in health tech, Sarah shares the mindset shifts, job search strategies, and portfolio insights that helped her stand out.

She also reveals the unexpected format of her interviews, how she positioned her diverse experience to appeal to hiring managers, and why letting go of what’s out of your control is a game-changer in your job search.

If you’re struggling with rejection, resume gaps, or feeling “overqualified” and “underqualified” at the same time—this episode is for you!

✅ Why job rejections often have nothing to do with you (and how to move forward)

✅ The power of a well-structured portfolio—and why Figma slides worked better than a website

✅ How to confidently position diverse experience (even across industries!)

✅ The mental shift that helped Sarah stay motivated through uncertainty

✅ How social proof (from hiring managers, peers, and CSL feedback) builds confidence

✅ The real role of interviews (hint: sometimes it’s just a vibe check!)

✅ Why finding the right company fit matters more than tweaking your resume endlessly

✅ How Sarah strategically approached salary negotiation and total compensation

Timestamps

01:50 Open House Overview

03:22 Success Stories and Strategies

05:47 Navigating the Job Market

09:15 Interview Experiences

13:45 Negotiating Job Offers

17:08 Advice for Job Seekers

20:45 Conclusion and Farewell

🎯 How I can help with your UX job search

📋 Get my UX case study template

👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube

Until Friday, you can listen to the audio of my free workshop about the UX job search and Q&A about "The 4C Framework To Get Hired In UX" ... list by Saturday, March 15 at 9am PT.

💁‍♀️ I REALLY recommend you also watch the video because seeing the visuals will help you see why you're stuck in your UX job search, the cost of staying stuck, and how to get unstuck.

➡️ Watch the workshop replay here before Sat, Mar 15 at 9am PT.

ALSO ... enrollment is open for Career Strategy Lab's UX job search accelerator from now until Fri, Mar 14 at 9pm PT. Learn more or join here and if you want to chat 1:1 you can book a call here.

🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025

👉 Join Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

💬 Did this episode resonate with you? Tag Sarah on social media and share your biggest takeaway!

Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.

Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.

Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

Promotions don’t just happen—you have to advocate for yourself! 

In this episode, Sarah breaks down the inspiring story of Marco, a Senior Product Designer who secured a 37% increase in total compensation by leveraging his annual review process, gathering compelling evidence, and using the tools from Career Strategy Lab to make his case.

If you’ve ever wondered how to position yourself for a promotion, this episode is a must-listen. Sarah walks through Marco’s exact strategy, from recognizing his value to structuring his performance review, so you can apply the same tactics in your own career.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why promotions don’t happen by chance—you have to make the case for yourself.
• How Marco used UX case studies from Career Strategy Lab to showcase his impact.
• The importance of peer reviews and selecting the right colleagues to vouch for you.
• How to prepare for performance review season all year round—not just weeks before.
• Why documenting your achievements is crucial for both promotions and job searches.

Links & Resources:

• Join Career Strategy Lab to fast-track your job search or promotion

If this episode resonated with you, tag Sarah on social media or leave a quick review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

🎧 Listen now and start setting yourself up for your next promotion!

Timestamps

00:38 The Importance of Strategy in Career Growth

01:02 Case Study: Marco's Journey to Promotion

02:02 Marco's Strategy: Leveraging Career Strategy Lab

04:15 Steps Marco Took to Secure His Promotion

07:54 Key Takeaways: How to Advocate for Yourself

10:28 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

11:36 Conclusion: Stay Connected and Share Your Thoughts

🎯 How I can help with your UX job search

📋 Get my UX case study template

👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube

Want to get hired in UX faster? Click here.

Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher who also founded the UX job search accelerator Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.

Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

In this episode of the Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah Doody breaks down the key steps to getting hired—whether for a full-time job or a freelance contract. Through the story of Emily, a former fashion and beauty marketer turned UX writer, Sarah illustrates how refining your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn profile can dramatically increase your opportunities and earning potential.

Emily’s journey highlights the power of strategic career marketing—starting with a $35/hour contract, she grew her rate to $125/hour in under six months. Sarah shares actionable insights on how you can position yourself as the ideal candidate, attract job offers and freelance clients, and confidently communicate your value to decision-makers.

Key Takeaways

• Why the hiring process for full-time and freelance work follows the same fundamental principles.
• How Emily used Career Strategy Lab to refine her portfolio, LinkedIn, and resume—unlocking new career opportunities.
• The importance of treating every professional interaction as a potential interview.
• How to iterate on your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn profile based on feedback.
• Why contract work can be a stepping stone to full-time roles (or a lucrative career path on its own).
• How Career Strategy Lab can help accelerate your job search—and even count as a tax-deductible expense for freelancers.

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy

01:01 Meet Emily: A UX Writing Success Story

02:34 Emily's Journey to Freelance Success

05:23 The Financial Upside of Freelancing

08:21 Key Lessons from Emily's Experience

11:55 Final Tips and Conclusion

14:12 Wrap-Up and Contact Information

🎯 How I can help with your UX job search

📋 Get my UX case study template

👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube

Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.

Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.

Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

In this episode, Sarah dives into the hidden costs of navigating your job search alone and why a DIY approach may be holding you back. Many job seekers spend months stuck in a cycle of applying, tweaking resumes, and feeling frustrated—without realizing they’re wasting valuable time, missing opportunities, and facing an unnecessary emotional toll.

Sarah breaks down why job searching requires strategy, positioning, and persistence—not just endless applications. She also shares what successful job seekers do differently, including treating their job search like a UX project, getting strategic with LinkedIn, and investing in the right tools and guidance to accelerate results.

If you’re tired of going in circles and want to land a job faster and smarter, this episode is for you!

✅ The #1 hidden cost of a DIY job search (hint: it’s not just time wasted)

✅ Why “busy work” like tweaking your resume daily doesn’t move the needle

✅ How to spot FSP activities (False Sense of Progress) and focus on what works

✅ The missed opportunities that cost you job leads and interviews

✅ The mental and emotional toll of job searching alone—and how to fix it

✅ How to structure your job search like a UX project to get hired faster

✅ The biggest mistakes job seekers make on LinkedIn (and what to do instead)

✅ Why successful job seekers seek feedback early and often

📌 How to Post Strategically on LinkedIn (Podcast

📌 Steven’s Success Story – How He Landed a UX Research Role

📌 Join Career Strategy Lab & Get Expert Guidance

00:21 Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast

01:04 The Hidden Costs of Navigating Your Job Search Alone

02:47 The Real Impact of a DIY Job Search

03:18 Time: The Most Expensive Hidden Cost

05:59 Missed Opportunities in Your Job Search

09:58 Mental and Emotional Toll of a DIY Job Search

13:59 What Successful Job Seekers Do Differently

14:12 Treating Your Job Search Like a UX Project

16:08 Understanding the Users of Your Job Search

18:35 Learning from Proven Tools and Guidance

20:41 Creating Structure and Accountability

25:21 Breaking Free from the DIY Approach

27:42 Conclusion: Reflecting on Your Job Search Approach

29:05 Career Strategy Lab: Your Next Step

30:29 Final Thoughts and Farewell

🎯 How I can help with your UX job search

📋 Get my UX case study template

👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube

In this episode, we’re taking you inside a Career Strategy Lab Open House, where we chat with Jane, a UX researcher who landed a Principal UX Researcher role at Whole Foods—despite having no prior U.S. work experience or connections!

Jane’s story is an incredible example of what’s possible when you shift from a scarcity mindset to a strategic approach in your job search.

🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ Why treating your career like a product roadmap leads to better opportunities

✔️ How Jane overcame imposter syndrome and job search doubts

✔️ The biggest mistakes she made before joining Career Strategy Lab

✔️ The power of clarity in choosing the right roles and companies

✔️ How she landed a job above the level she applied for

✔️ Why negotiation isn’t just about salary—it’s about strategy

Whether you're feeling stuck in your job search or just need some motivation, Jane’s experience will inspire you to take action and own your career strategy.

✨ Considering Career Strategy Lab? Jane shares why she believes it’s a priceless investment in your future.

🎧 Tune in now and get ready to rethink how you approach your job search!

🎯 How I can help with your UX job search

📋 Get my UX case study template

👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube

Many career coaching programs use cohort-based models to keep participants accountable. But do they really work? In today’s episode, we’re tackling a common question: Is Career Strategy Lab’s UX Job Search Accelerator run in cohorts? Spoiler alert—it's not! And there’s a very good reason why.

Host Sarah Doody breaks down why strict cohort schedules can be limiting, how Career Strategy Lab takes a different approach, and why focusing on outcomes over rigid timelines creates a better job search experience. Whether you’re treating your job search like a full-time job or balancing it alongside a 9-to-5, this episode will help you stay accountable without the stress of falling behind.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why traditional cohort-based courses can actually slow you down or leave you behind.

✅ How Career Strategy Lab builds daily and weekly habits to keep you accountable.

✅ The power of sprint check-ins, deadlines, and structured flexibility for job seekers.

✅ Why focusing on outcomes over schedules is key to success.

✅ The "Three E’s" method: Execute, Engage, Encourage—and how it keeps you on track.

Links & Resources:

🔗 Learn more & apply: careerstrategylab.com/apply

📩 Questions? Send a message on LinkedIn to Sarah Doody

🎯 How I can help with your UX job search

📋 Get my UX case study template

👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube

If you’ve been stuck in an endless cycle of tweaking, redesigning, and overanalyzing your UX resume, this episode is for you. Sarah breaks down why perfectionism keeps you from landing interviews, how to shift your mindset, and what you should focus on instead. She also shares why conflicting resume advice from too many sources slows you down and how Career Strategy Lab can help you streamline your job search with a clear, strategic approach.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why endlessly tweaking your resume is delaying your job search

✅ The dangers of Frankensteining feedback from multiple sources

✅ How to create a minimum viable resume and start applying now

✅ The biggest resume myths that might be holding you back

✅ Why clarity in your resume, LinkedIn, and portfolio is crucial for landing interviews

✅ How Career Strategy Lab can help you build a job search strategy that works

Timestamps:

01:08 The Resume Sprint Announcement

02:45 The Resume Rut: Why Perfection is the Enemy

04:09 Breaking Down the Resume Rut

09:20 The Importance of a Clear Career Strategy

12:07 How Career Strategy Lab Can Help

15:53 Community Support and Feedback

20:32 Conclusion: Get Out of the Resume Rut

🎯 How I can help with your UX job search

📋 Get my UX case study template

👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube