Tired of endless applications to big tech companies without any luck? This episode of The Career Strategy Podcast dives into industries outside of tech that are actively hiring for UX, product design, and tech roles. From health care to finance, education to retail, discover real data showing where job seekers are finding success. 

Sarah talks through why these industries are ramping up their hiring and how your existing skills can transfer seamlessly. Plus, you’ll get tips on how to refine your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn to stand out. 

Listen in to get to know powerful strategies for tailoring your job search and hear exact companies that have hired within these fields. If you're a career switcher, this episode even covers how to leverage your past experience to gain an edge. Stop spinning your wheels and uncover new opportunities in growing fields.

Timestamps

00:00 Translate experiences; leverage resume, portfolio, LinkedIn.

04:49 Consider branching out from tech industry careers.

07:23 Diverse growth in health tech and fintech.

11:12 Ecommerce growth fuels demand for UX talent.

14:05 Fora Travel offers convenient travel planning services.

19:02 Explore niche job boards like BuiltIn, LinkedIn.

21:01 Follow, engage, and share the podcast.

🎬 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.

Ever wondered why a coach without UX experience might be the secret to your job search success? This episode dives into just that, answering a common question: why are the Career Strategy Lab (CSL) coaches not UX experts? 

Discover how the CSL program helps people in user experience, product design, and tech fields navigate their job searches. The episode explains the importance of thinking of yourself as "the product of you” and why great job search coaching involves more than just industry-specific advice.

The episode uses a wedding planner analogy to explain why hiring someone with broad coaching experience is often more valuable than someone with deep but narrow expertise. Listeners will learn that the CSL team is carefully chosen to cover three crucial elements: design, marketing, and sales. Each coach brings a unique set of skills, from sales and storytelling to higher education and hiring experience. The team approach helps candidates market themselves effectively and build strong, authentic relationships. If you're stuck in your job search, this episode provides a fresh perspective on the diverse skills needed to succeed.

Timestamps 

00:00 Career Strategy Lab guides tech job searches.

03:52 Think of yourself as a marketable product.

07:31 Experienced planners can better fulfill your needs.

12:35 Steph helps personalize marketing for job seekers.

15:52 Holistic coaching goes beyond traditional UX feedback.

19:36 Contact us for job search guidance and support.

🎬 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.

Navigating a career change or climbing the job ladder can be daunting, but guidance and support make all the difference. In this episode of The Career Strategy Podcast we take you behind the scenes into an Open House for CSL where you’ll meet 2 professionals, a Senior User Researcher and a Lead UX Designer, who worked with Sarah and her team directly to improve their career materials and stand out in the crowded job market.

In this episode we’ll dive into the unique structure of the Career Strategy Lab, the proven program that breaks down job searching into manageable sprints, from creating a career roadmap to showcasing your portfolio. Sarah also leads a detailed discussion on the "inverted pyramid" approach for creating impactful portfolios that grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.

You’ll hear firsthand from CSL alumni, Meg and Craig, as they share their breakthrough moments and mindset shifts that propelled their careers forward.

Tune in to this episode to learn strategies for crafting compelling resumes, portfolio headlines, and maintaining progress without striving for perfection. 

Timestamps

00:00 Exciting alumni experiences, portfolio workshop, Career Strategy Lab.

08:16 Program guides career path through structured process.

11:38 CSL program helps build materials, provides support.

16:39 Career Strategy Lab: Community-focused career development support.

21:50 Mindset calls tackle career-related emotional barriers.

26:58 Experienced in process; not alone finding work.

35:37 Focus on communication strategies for career advancement.

42:20 Inverted pyramid structure delivers info strategically.

47:54 Craft headlines, supporting content, and proof carefully.

50:55 Inverted pyramid structure for effective storytelling and presentations.

57:11 Break down tasks; use templates; weekly support calls.

01:03:18 Career Strategy Lab benefits all career stages.

🎬 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.

Are you falling into the trap of getting career advice from too many sources? 

In this episode of The Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah explores why a piecemeal approach to job searches and career advancement can lead to confusion and wasted time. 

Join Sarah to discuss the common mistake of piecing together advice from various sources, such as resume reviews, LinkedIn critiques, and one-off coaching sessions, and how this often results in disconnected and conflicting feedback.

After listening, we hope you consider a more holistic approach, where your unique goals and situation are taken into account.

Key Takeaways:

1. Avoid Conflicting Advice:

• Gathering input from multiple sources can lead to a lot of conflicting opinions and suggestions, leaving you more confused than when you started. A consistent approach can streamline your path.

1. Tailored Strategy Matters:

• Just like in physical therapy, personalized plans are crucial. A piecemeal approach may leave you with disconnected advice that doesn’t take your specific goals and situation into account.

1. Long-Term Cost Efficiency:

• While piecemeal services might seem cost-effective initially, the time and money you spend in the long run—without achieving your goals—can outweigh the benefits. A holistic, personalized approach can provide better ROI.

Timestamps 

00:00 Piecemeal approaches lead to disconnected and conflicting advice, causing confusion.

03:34 Why individualized professional help yields better results.

09:20 Sending your resume for reviews without providing context leads to conflicting feedback, causes costly rework and delays in job applications prolonging unemployment.

11:14 A piecemeal approach to job searching can be stressful and inefficient.

14:26 Career Strategy Labs' job search accelerator for its holistic approach.

🎬 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.

Do you really need 3 to 5 projects in your portfolio before applying for jobs? Could focusing on quantity be a mistake? In today’s episode of the Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah explores why the quality of how you discuss your projects outweighs the sheer number of them. 

In this episode, we'll discuss:

- Why “3 to 5 projects” is a myth

- Importance of storytelling in your portfolio

- How to highlight your thought process and impact

- Applying with just one strong project

- Actionable steps to strengthen your portfolio

Tune in to unlock strategies to boost your career and ensure your portfolio stands out to recruiters and hiring managers.

Timestamps

00:49 Quality over quantity matters in portfolios greatly.

05:20 Demonstrate your detailed thought process and decisions clearly.

09:09 Frame your portfolio as an engaging narrative.

10:44 Emphasize storytelling in your portfolio to stand out.

14:21 Prioritize quality over quantity; resources and templates available.

🎬 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.

Are you stuck in a never-ending job search and unsure if investing in a career program is worth it? In this episode of the Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah breaks down the real cost of DIY-ing your job hunt and how a 3-month job search accelerator can actually pay for itself. 

In this episode, you’ll discover three crucial ways to rethink investing in your career. First, learn how the time spent job hunting affects your potential earning and find out why landing a job faster can mean extra cash in your pocket. Second, see how programs like the Career Strategy Lab can lead to significant salary bumps—enough to cover the program’s cost. Finally, explore flexible payment options to make career investments more manageable. 

Tune in to understand how smart investments can shorten your job search and boost your income. Don't miss the chance to turn strategic career thinking into real financial gains.

"If you get hired faster, like in 3 months instead of 6 or 9 or 12, that means you are now earning a salary, which then you can use to do a variety of things. Right? Obviously, you know, pay for your living expenses and such. But you might be able to pay down debt or invest in your retirement portfolio and things like that. And the sooner you can start doing those things, the more time that you have to leverage that principle of compound interest." - Sarah Doody, Host of the Career Strategy Podcast. 

Timestamps

00:39 Exploring Career Strategy Lab investment vs. DIY job search costs.

03:38 Invest time in career growth for faster, more effective job placements.

06:49 Evaluate job search costs; consider investing in Career Strategy Lab for significant benefits.

12:17 Flexible, interest-free payment plans enable affordable career advancement programs.

🎬 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.

Thinking about pausing your job search until after the election? You might want to think again.

This episode of The Career Strategy Podcast tackles the common question: Should you wait until political uncertainty settles to move forward in your job search? 

Get ready to learn why holding off could actually set you back and why companies aren't hitting pause on hiring. The key is to stay proactive and not fall into the "election waiting game” because job markets don't stop for elections and continuing your job search now can give you a competitive edge. 

Sarah shares actionable tips like updating your resume, enhancing your portfolio, and reconnecting with your network, all of which can set you up for success even during uncertain times.

Why wait for a job rush post-election when you can get ahead now?

Timestamps 

00:45 Businesses are hiring now to meet goals for 2025, independent of political outcomes. Delaying job applications until after elections increases competition.

07:05 Focus on what you can control: prepare your resume, update your portfolio, optimize LinkedIn, build relationships, and start applying for jobs now, regardless of external uncertainties like the election.

08:30 Despite uncertainty in the job market, people are still being hired, especially in UX and product roles, even outside the tech industry. The Career Strategy Lab program helps job seekers build resilience and stand out regardless of external circumstances.

11:41 Job search shouldn't stop for elections; starting now is strategic.

🎬 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.

Miss our UX careers workshop from Thu, Sep 26, about how to advance your career with UX and product principles? Or, prefer to listen on the go versus watch the video? Listen to the workshop until Wednesday, October 2! If you want to watch the video or have questions about Career Strategy Lab, just email us at [email protected]

🎬 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.

Ready to make your resume stand out? In this episode, Sarah walks through a 11-question checklist to transform your resume and boost your chances of landing that dream job. From making sure your bullet points start with engaging action verbs to tailoring your resume for each job application, these tips are straightforward and actionable. 

You’ll learn: 

• Why columns might hurt your resume's chances in applicant tracking systems, and learn the importance of quantifying your achievements, even if the numbers aren’t huge. 
• Why a one-page resume could be holding you back
• Why adding space between bullet points is important and so much more… 

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to polish their resume and make a strong first impression with recruiters and hiring managers.

Whether you're actively job hunting or preparing for future opportunities, this episode is packed with actionable advice to ensure your resume stands out.

Timestamps 

00:49 Optimize your resume with these 11 questions.

04:31 Start resume bullet points with unique action verbs.

08:00 Quantify achievements with specific numbers on resumes.

10:11 Use job description titles for better matching.

15:11 Use action verbs and numbers; tailor resume.

17:30 Avoid columns; they confuse applicant tracking systems.

23:23 Avoid "final," AI-related terms in resume filenames.

24:41 Ensure resume readiness using this detailed checklist.

🎬 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.

In today's episode Sarah shares an incredibly practical and efficient tip that's going to revolutionize your job search strategy: batching. 

Sarah discusses actionable advice on how to group similar tasks to stay focused and save time, from updating your resume to networking on LinkedIn. 

She walks you through different approaches and schedules for organizing these tasks & staying accountable through completion, whether on a weekly or monthly basis.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by your job search, this might be the game-changer you need to take control and reduce stress in your job search.

Timestamps

00:05 Unlocking career success, seeking impact, flexibility, growth, and fair pay.

01:51 Streamline your job search with batching; grouping similar tasks together.

04:05 Effective job search strategies.

06:22 Maximizing job application efficiency by batching cover letters and resumes.

07:18 Protect your calendar, schedule and stick to your job search plan.

08:10 Importance of planning & taking ownership of your calendar for accountability.

🎬 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.