Happen To Your Career - Meaningful Work, Career Change, Career Design, & Job Search

A career change isn't permanent—no matter how much time and effort you've invested. After transitioning from academia to a research role, Michal Balass realized within nine months that it wasn't the perfect fit. In this "Where Are They Now?" episode, she shares how the lessons and self-discovery from her first career change made the second one into the federal government smoother, faster, and far more aligned.

What you'll learn

• Why your first career change is often the hardest—and how it prepares you for future pivots
• How to rebrand your skills so employers see your value—even in a new industry
• The role of relationship-building and casual conversations in uncovering opportunities
• Strategies for tailoring your resume to pass strict application reviews (including for federal jobs)
• How to recognize early signs you've outgrown a role before you get stuck
• How clarity, self-awareness, and intentional networking opened doors she didn't know existed

Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!

Want to chat with someone on the team about your situation? Schedule a conversation

Free Resources

What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out!

Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers disc

Related Episodes

1. Figuring Out Your Perfect Career Match (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)
2. Redefining Your Career Identity to Prioritize Family and Well-Being (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)

Mentioned Episode:

HTYC EP 633 - Part 1 - Career After Kids: Redefining Success on Your Own Terms

She had the PhD, the career, the stability—then parenthood changed everything. This episode dives into Michal's bold career change after parenthood and how she stopped living on autopilot.

What you'll learn

• What to do when your career no longer fits the person you're becoming
• Why your job title isn't your identity—and how to separate the two
• How becoming a parent reveals what really matters
• The most common internal roadblocks that hold people back from change
• What makes leaving a stable career so hard (hint: it's not just the paycheck)
• How Michal's "success" story didn't feel like her own

Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!

Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation

Free Resources

What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out!

Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers discover their ideal career and find meaningful, well-paid work without starting over.

Related Episodes

1. Less Stress, Happier Family: Surprising Results From Career Transition (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)
2. Redefining Your Career Identity to Prioritize Family and Well-Being (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)

You're not stuck because you lack ambition—you're stuck because something big has shifted. How Burnout, Breakups, and Babies Trigger Career Change.

In this episode, Scott walks through 3 of the 16 powerful life events—what we call Career Change Catalysts—that often trigger career transformation. You'll hear real stories from people who faced burnout, identity shifts, and quiet career misalignment… and how they used those moments to find more meaningful, purpose-driven work.

If you've felt "off" in your career lately or stayed in a role longer than you should have, this episode will help you recognize the signs—and move forward with intention.

What you'll learn

• How to use Career Change Catalysts to propel you into a career that truly fits (and how to recognize the opportunities)
• The early signs of career misalignment before burnout or health issues hit
• Why "comfort" can keep you stuck longer than fear
• The 3 most common life events that lead to career change
• Why chasing a "better job" doesn't always lead to a better life—and what to do instead

Resources Mentioned:

Full list we've compiled of the 16 career change catalysts: https://happentoyourcareer.com/16-career-change-catalysts/

Steph: From Soul Crushing to SoulCycle: How Steph Made the Leap to Work She Loves

Aaron: Taking Control of Your Career When It's Harming Your Mental Health

Edna: Leaving a Misfit Job in Search of Career Fulfillment

Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!

Want to chat with someone on the team about your situation? Schedule a conversation

Free Resources

What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out!

Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers discover their ideal career and find meaningful, well-paid work without starting over.

Related Episodes

1. How to Figure Out What You Really Want (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)
2. Changing Careers (When You Don't Know Your Next Job Title) (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)

What if quitting isn't the answer? Jill's journey proves that experimenting with your career while still employed can create powerful ripple effects and open new possibilities.

What you'll learn

• Why job searching might be the least important part of a career change
• How to use career experiments to unlock clarity and confidence without quitting right away
• The powerful ripple effect of taking just one bold step
• How Jill turned conversations with strangers into a brand-new life

Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!

Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation

Free Resources

What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out!

Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers discover their ideal career and find meaningful, well-paid work without starting over.

Related Episodes

1. How to Figure Out What You Really Want (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)

2. Stuck in a Career You're Unhappy With? Fear Of Taking Risks Could Be Keeping You There (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)

What happens when burnout, a toxic work environment, and an unaligned life all hit at once? For Jackie, the answer was a bold, full-life transformation. She left a toxic job, ended a long-term relationship, and made a career change that finally felt aligned with her values, her energy, and her purpose.

What you'll learn

• How to identify when a "better" job still isn't the right one
• How to recognize when burnout is a sign of deeper misalignment
• What it takes to make a courageous career change and build a life that fits

Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!

Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation

Free Resources

What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out!

Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers discover their ideal career and find meaningful, well-paid work without starting over.

Related Episodes

1. Executive Burnout: Making A Midlife Career Change (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)
2. Stuck in a Career You're Unhappy With? Fear Of Taking Risks Could Be Keeping You There (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)

The way you communicate could be the reason you're stuck, OR the reason you get ahead. Charles Duhigg shares the Supercommunicator framework that helps you nail interviews, lead better meetings, and have the career-defining conversations that actually get results.

What you'll learn

• How to shift from "saying the right thing" to actually connecting
• How top performers approach important conversations differently
• How your communication style could be holding you back (and how to fix it)
• How to connect deeper and be heard in any conversation
• How small changes in how you speak can lead to big results

Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!

Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation

Free Resources

What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out!

Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers discover their ideal career and find meaningful, well-paid work without starting over.

Related Episodes

1. Designing Career Experiments and Testing New Careers (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)
2. An Overthinker's Guide To Making Better Career Decisions (Spotify /Apple Podcasts)

What happens when career growth pulls you away from the work that you actually love? Dan Ruley's career transition story is a powerful reminder that true success starts when you reconnect with what matters most, even if that means going back to what your 10-year-old self always knew (just not in the way you'd imagine)

What You'll Learn

• Will stepping down from a high-ranking role can lead to greater career satisfaction for you?
• How Dan turned an unexpected job loss into the best career opportunity of his lifetime
• How success in a role doesn't always equal fulfillment—and what to do about it
• What if your biggest career shake-up is actually your greatest opportunity?
• How to transform an unexpected job loss into a launchpad
• What to do when outward success no longer feels satisfying

Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!

Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation

Free Resources

What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out!

Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers discover their ideal career and find meaningful, well-paid work without starting over.

Related Episodes

1. An Overthinker's Guide To Making Better Career Decisions (Spotify /Apple Podcasts)
2. Should I Quit My Job? How to Know It's Time (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)

Your strengths aren't just what you're good at—they're your career compass. When you ignore your signature strengths, even great opportunities become draining. Discover how one IO psychologist used her strengths to break free from the "great opportunity trap" and find work that truly energizes her.

What you'll learn

• Why your signature strengths should guide your career experiments and decisions
• How to get valuable feedback from friends and family about your natural talents
• The difference between skills you can do versus strengths that energize you

Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!

Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation

Free Resources

What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out!

Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers discover their ideal career and find meaningful, well-paid work without starting over.

Related Episodes

1. Discover Your Strengths to Find Your Ideal Career (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)
2. Should I Quit My Job? How to Know It's Time (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)
3. Designing Career Experiments and Testing New Careers (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)
4. Finding Your Ideal Career Fit by Conducting Career Experiments (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)

Tired of sending dozens of applications into the void with no response? The real problem isn't your resume or the job market, it's that most people use job boards like slot machines, hoping to get lucky. Discover how one person went from months of rejected applications to landing their dream job in just one week by changing their entire approach to job searching (and how you can too!)

Don't forget to check out our previous episode on how you can build your own "Ideal Career Profile".

What you'll learn

• How spending months on unclear applications wastes time you could use identifying your ideal role
• Why doing internal work before job board surfing transforms your entire job search strategy
• The specific steps to examine past experiences and identify what truly energizes you at work

Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!

Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation

Free Resources

What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out!

Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers discover their ideal career and find meaningful, well-paid work without starting over.

Related Episodes

1. How to Figure Out What You Really Want (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)
2. Discover Your Strengths to Find Your Ideal Career (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)

Thinking about returning to work after a career break, but feeling paralyzed by the gap on your resume? After years in a demanding executive role, Caroline found herself burned out, unfulfilled, and wondering if this was really "success." Find out how she gave herself permission to walk away, take a two-year career break, and rebuild a work life that finally fits her life and her values.

What you'll learn

• How to translate 17 years of experience into compelling value propositions when returning from a career break
• The counterintuitive strategy of stating exactly what you want instead of apologizing for your career hiatus
• How to leverage assessment tools like StrengthsFinder to rebuild confidence and articulate your unique strengths

Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!

Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation

Free Resources

What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out!

Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers discover their ideal career and find meaningful, well-paid work without starting over.

Related Episodes

1. How to Figure Out What You Really Want (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)
2. Figuring Out Your Perfect Career Match (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)