Are you tired of applying to hundreds of jobs and hearing nothing back? In Episode 4 of Exit to Excel, we're calling out the biggest mistake job seekers make: spray-and-pray applications. It doesn’t work—and today, we’re replacing that outdated approach with a winning job search strategy that actually gets results.Host LeTonta (a former HR exec and layoff survivor) breaks down why blindly applying to everything is hurting your chances—and how to fix it. You’ll learn how to stop being a generic applicant and start positioning yourself as the obvious choice.We’ll walk you through the Winning Game Target Strategy, a proven framework to narrow your focus and increase your success:✅ Define your Ideal Arena (location, company size, industry, and culture)✅ Analyze your competition and uncover your unique value✅ Build and prioritize a targeted list of 25-50 companies✅ Use AI prompts to research companies faster and smarterPlus, hear real-life questions from job seekers and success stories that show the power of playing to win—not playing the numbers game.

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:04:00) - #ASKLT 

(00:06:30) - The Spray & Pray Epidemic

(00:10:50) - The Winning Game Target Strategy

(00:16:25) - Building Your Ideal Arena

(00:24:15) - Competition Analysis & Target List Building

(00:35:20) - Action Items  

(00:38:40) - On Next Week's Episode 

#EXITTOEXCEL #LETONYASHAW #JobSearchStrategy #CareerChange #TargetList #GetTheInterview #PlayToWin #careercoach #Laidoff #jobseekers #HR #ASKLT #JobNews #JobLoss #JobSearchSUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitToExcel SOCIAL MEDIA: -FOLLOW Exit To Excel on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exittoexcel -FOLLOW Exit To Excel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exittoexcel/ AUDIO -LEAVE a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exit-to-excel-podcast/id1818659967-STREAM on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xJt7D1UQGgwwgM8XhoNmCShow Email: [email protected]

If your resume feels flat, if interviews leave you tongue-tied, or if you're applying to dozens of jobs with no traction, this episode will change the game. LT introduces the concept of your Championship Identity — a powerful way to articulate your unique value by thinking like a pro athlete preparing for a championship. You’ll learn the exact difference between “Generic Gary” and “Championship Charlie,” how to craft a 30-second positioning statement that turns heads, and why most people fail not because they aren’t qualified — but because they can’t clearly express why they matter. LT walks you through a proven process: auditing the real problems you’ve solved, identifying your hero moments, and measuring your impact. You’ll also get powerful AI prompts to help uncover patterns in your experience and build a personal brand that works across resumes, LinkedIn, and interviews. This episode isn’t about getting a job — it’s about winning the right job. If you're ready to stop being just another applicant and start showing up like the obvious choice, you're in the right place.

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:55) - ASKLT

(00:06:00) - On Today's Episode

(00:10:52) - Generic Player Problem

(00:12:15) - The Championship Identity Formula

(00:16:40) - The Positioning Statement That Wins

(00:21:05) - AI As Your Personal Brand Coach

(00:25:50) - Championship Consistency

(00:26:50) - Putting In The Work

(00:28:27) - On Next Week's Episode

#EXITTOEXCEL #LETONYASHAW #JobSearchTips #careerdevelopment #PersonalBRanding #Laidoff #ChampionshipMindset #careercoach #linkedintips #interviewprep

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AUDIO

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Show Email: [email protected]

Ever wonder how layoffs really happen behind closed doors? In today’s episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what I call “The Before”—the critical weeks and months of planning that unfold long before anyone hears those dreaded words in a conference room. I’ll walk you through the real layoff timeline, from executive decisions made in boardrooms to legal planning and manager training. You’ll hear what signs actually matter, how to tell the difference between mass layoffs and individual terminations, and what’s really going through your manager’s mind during that difficult conversation. I’m also sharing two personal stories—one where I was completely blindsided, and one where I saw the writing on the wall.We’ll also explore how to use the F48 Framework as a proactive tool when you start seeing the signs—not just as a recovery plan after the fact. Plus, I’ll reveal actual language from corporate layoff scripts and explain what your manager legally can’t tell you. Because when it comes to layoffs, knowledge isn’t just power—it’s protection.(00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:10) - #ASKLT Promo (00:04:02) - On Today's Episode (00:05:55) - Behind the Curtain - How Layoffs Are Really Planned (00:16:30) - Mass Layoffs vs. Individual Terminations(00:23:45) - Warning Signs That Actually Matter(00:40:10) - Inside the Layoff Conversation(00:54:00) - #ASKLT(00:57:20) - On Next Week's Episode #EXITTOEXCEL #LETONYASHAW #LaidOff #Layoffsexplained #InsideHR #humanresources #LayoffwarningSigns #CareerProtection #HRinsider #Jobsecurity #CareerResilience #JobLoss #JobNEws #Jobs SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitToExcel SOCIAL MEDIA: -FOLLOW Exit To Excel on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exittoexcel -FOLLOW Exit To Excel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exittoexcel/ AUDIO -LEAVE a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exit-to-excel-podcast/id1818659967-STREAM on Spotify:Show Email: [email protected]

On the first episode of Exit To Excel LeTonya Shaw breaks down what to do in the first 48 hours after being laid off. LeTonya discusses he first layoff and how she learned over 20 years the proper way to handle being laid off. She breaks down hour by hour how to deal with this stressful process.

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:00:05) - Exit To Excel Introduction

(00:03:20) - #ASKLT Explainer

(00:06:40) - My First Time Being Laid Off

(00:09:30) - The First 48 Framework

(00:12:05) - E2E Exit Checklist

(00:12:40) - Hour One

(00:21:00) - Hours 2-6

(00:25:00) - Hours 10-48

(00:35:15) - Legal Insights & Red Flags

(00:41:40) - Common Mistakes & Success Stories

(00:46:00) - E2E Exit Checklist Information

(00:47:40) - On Next Week's Episode

#EXITTOEXCEL #LETONYASHAW #Laidoff #JobSearch #Jobsearching #Podcast #HR #ASKHR #AskLT #JobNews #Jobloss #joblosssupport

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AUDIO -

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-STREAM on Spotify:

Show Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Exit To Excel podcast Hosted by LeTonya Shaw. This podcast is for anyone navigating the emotional and practical challenges of job loss. Whether you're reeling from the initial shock, figuring out your next steps, or searching for motivation to rebuild, we'll walk this path together. Each episode will blend personal stories, expert insights, and actionable strategies to help you move from exit to excellence—regaining control, finding clarity, and turning this transition into an opportunity for transformative growth.

#ExitToExcel #LeTonyaShaw #ASKLT #humanresources #HR #AskHR #Podcast #JobSearch #Laidoff #joblosssupport #JobLoss #Introduction

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@ExitToExcel

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-FOLLOW Exit To Excel on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exittoexcel -FOLLOW Exit To Excel Experience on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exittoexcel/

AUDIO

-LEAVE a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts:

-STREAM on Spotify:

Show Email: [email protected]