Starting 2026 unemployed and wondering what you are doing wrong?

Hundreds of applications. Resume rewrites. LinkedIn Premium. Interview coaching. And still nothing moves?

This is not about working harder.

It is about understanding why the job market changed and how to change your strategy with it.

If this sounds like you, you are not broken.

The system changed.

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"She looked left, looked right, and realized most people in that room would not make the switch. Out of about 20 classmates, only three successfully transitioned."

Jen Tran bet on herself in her mid-thirties with doubt, limited support, and the pressure of who you think you are supposed to be at that age. This is the last guest episode of the season, and it closes out with the truth about career transition — the parts that rarely make it into the highlight reel.

In this conversation, Savan and Jen get into rejection, endurance over talent, and the messy middle after a boot camp ends — when confidence drops and the real work begins. They also talk about her path from HR and learning and development to UX, how anthropology shaped her empathy as a designer, and why something as simple as a workplace potluck can be a real signal of belonging.

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ABOUT JEN TRAN

Jen Tran is a UX designer who made a mid-career pivot from HR and learning and development in her mid-thirties. She studied anthropology, which became the foundation for her empathy-driven approach to design. Her transition story — through General Assembly, rejection, and the messy middle — is one of the most honest accounts of what career reinvention actually looks like from the inside.

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TIMESTAMPS

• 🕐 00:00 – Introduction and holiday greetings• 🕐 04:53 – The joy of workplace potlucks• 🕐 09:47 – Growing up in Orange County• 🕐 10:57 – Career aspirations and college choices• 🕐 14:08 – Transitioning from college to the workforce• 🕐 16:48 – The journey to Kareo and startup culture• 🕐 18:43 – Investing in personal growth• 🕐 22:10 – The role of HR and career pathways• 🕐 24:49 – Discovering UX and software engineering• 🕐 28:02 – The journey to UX: from support to design• 🕐 33:58 – Overcoming challenges in transitioning to UX• 🕐 40:15 – Skillsets for success in UX• 🕐 42:39 – Proud moments in UX design• 🕐 46:02 – Developing empathy as a UX designer• 🕐 50:06 – Reflections on education and career growth• 🕐 54:34 – Looking ahead: future aspirations in UX• 🕐 56:46 – Navigating the tech landscape and AI's impact• 🕐 1:00:03 – The role of leadership in corporate America• 🕐 1:02:54 – Handling difficult conversations in business• 🕐 1:10:31 – Dreaming big: future aspirations and opportunities• 🕐 1:16:37 – Reflections on past aspirations and current realities

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#LifeBetweenTitles #CareerTransition #UXDesign #MidCareer #Endurance #careerpivot #jobsearch #layoff #identity #reinvention #burnout #purpose #unemployment #savankong #midcareerchange #bootcamp #designcareer #anthropology #jobloss #belonging

"Feedback is a muscle. And most people never train it."After 15 years at Netflix — from DVD operations to launching their first post-production team to becoming an HR Business Partner — Tré Wright left to build something that had been part of everything he'd done all along: coaching people to see themselves more clearly.Savan and Tré go deep on what it actually takes to build a career with a through line, why the job search process burns people out before they even get an interview, and what the Netflix Culture Deck got right that most organizations still haven't figured out.Tré also talks openly about growing up gay in Jacksonville, Florida in the '80s, coming out later in life, identifying as non-binary trans, and navigating an increasingly hostile political climate — all while helping clients find clarity, courage, and direction in their own careers.ABOUT TRÉ WRIGHTTré Wright is a career and leadership coach based in Burbank, California. After 15 years at Netflix across content operations, digital strategy, and HR, Tré founded a coaching practice focused on early-career professionals, people leaders, and anyone navigating career reinvention. ————————————————————TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Welcome to Life Between Titles01:03 – Growing up in Jacksonville & the old South03:32 – Moving to Atlanta as a young gay man in the '90s07:14 – 15 years at Netflix — from DVD operations to HR Business Partner17:01 – The Netflix Culture Deck and how values were actually lived24:21 – Music retail, Blockbuster, and learning people leadership30:55 – The Sony DVD bridge that led to Netflix33:20 – The through line: passion across every career chapter38:43 – Practical job search tactics — beating doom scroll and burnout41:48 – What a coach actually does (and when you need one)53:57 – Advice for first-time entrepreneurs58:00 – Shiny object syndrome and the truth-teller you need1:08:01 – Identity, masking, and the courage to change1:16:04 – One-word leadership questions: empathy, isolation, and what scares him1:25:47 – What Tré hopes his daughter takes from this conversation————————————————————EPISODE GEAR / RESOURCESNetflix Culture Deck (original) → https://amzn.to/4sMGkAz🌐 Work with Tré → https://www.trewrightconsulting.com/📅 Book a Discovery Session with Tré → https://calendly.com/trewrightcalendar/discovery-sessionSUPPORT THE SHOW 🔵 Teal AI Resume Tool → https://get.tealhq.com/zzNxQ7💚 Online-Therapy Anxiety Test → https://go.online-therapy.com/SHwO😴 Sleep Support Supplement → https://amzn.to/46FciGe📓 Guided Reflection Journal → https://amzn.to/4reFQSB💪 Men's Health & Recovery Stack → https://amzn.to/40K9J29Some links above are affiliate links. They cost you nothing and help support the show.LISTEN📺 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@LifeBetweenTitles🟢 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/1olZo0VDvHh9w0F2D2vEir?si=A0UYDnCoQzKtS0dksS0MrA🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-between-titlesCOMMUNITY📝 Substack → https://substack.com/@lifebetweentitles🧡 Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/cw/LifeBetweenTitles🔴 Reddit → https://www.reddit.com/r/lifebetweentitles/🎵 TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebetweentitles📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lifebetweentitles/💼 LinkedIn → http://www.linkedin.com/company/life-between-titles————————————————————PARTNER WITH LBT💰 Become a Sponsor → https://www.savankong.com/become-a-sponsor🙋 Be a Guest → https://www.savankong.com/contact#lifebetweentitles #careertransition #jobsearch #layoff #identity #jobsearchstrategy #burnout #reinvention #careerpivot #unemployment

In this episode of Life Between Titles, Savan talks with Jason Briefel about the unseen world of federal leadership, policy, and workforce reform. Jason shares a decade of experience representing senior executives across government, describing how agencies struggle to invest in their own leaders, why civil service systems remain outdated, and how culture often outweighs structure. He also opens up about the emotional toll of long job searches, the pressure of living with his parents as a married adult, and how his confidence has changed in this current search. The conversation moves between policy, parenting, personal resilience, and the role of authenticity in leadership. Jason’s reflections offer a clear look at the human side of government, the dynamics that shape public institutions, and the values that guide his work.

Links

💡 Support Life Between Titles

https://www.patreon.com/cw/LifeBetweenTitles

▶️ YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@LifeBetweenTitles

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https://open.spotify.com/show/1olZo0VDvHh9w0F2D2vEir

🍎 Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-between-titles/id1844748787

▶️TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@life.between.titles?_r=1&_t=ZT-91jF5A83B8p

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/savankong/

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#LifeBetweenTitles

#PublicServiceLeadership

#PolicyInsights

#CareerJourneys

#AuthenticLeadership

In this Thanksgiving reflection, I look back on the first two months of Life Between Titles and the guests who shaped it. I share the lessons they taught me about leadership, reinvention, identity, creativity, fatherhood, and the courage it takes to walk into uncertainty. Each guest left me with something meaningful, from empathy to purpose to rediscovery. This episode is my way of saying thank you to everyone who trusted me with their story and to every listener searching for direction. Gratitude has given shape to the hard moments and helped me see how transformation, even when messy, can open new paths forward.

#LifeBetweenTitles

#Gratitude

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#Transformation

In this episode of Life Between Titles, Cheryl Dillon shares a perspective shaped by years of guiding people through major life transitions. She explains why the hardest moments in life often become the catalysts for reinvention and how challenge, discomfort, and uncertainty can reveal the next chapter waiting on the other side. Cheryl also discusses the journey that led her to build Funderful Experiences, her approach to meaningful community, and the mindset shifts that help people move forward when fear and doubt try to pull them back.

💡 Support Life Between Titles https://www.patreon.com/cw/LifeBetweenTitles

▶️ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LifeBetweenTitles

🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1olZo0VDvHh9w0F2D2vEir

🍎 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-between-titles/id1844748787

💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/savankong/

#LifeBetweenTitles, #CareerTransitions, #Inspiration, #PersonalGrowth, #Reinvention

In this episode, I sit down with Pamela Davis, a seasoned professional whose journey reflects a lifetime of resilience, responsibility, and renewal. Pamela raised two daughters on her own, guided them through private school, worked long hours to keep them supported, and later stepped into another demanding chapter caring for her mother through ten years of dementia. In her fifties, she returned to college to earn her degree in education, proving that personal growth can unfold at any stage of life.

Now navigating unemployment after years of caregiving and service, Pamela speaks openly about disrupted routines, disappointment, and the uncertainty that comes with stepping into a new chapter. She also shares what brings her joy, how she reconnects with her creativity, and how she is learning to prioritize her own well-being after a lifetime of caring for others.

This conversation is about evolving identity, rediscovering purpose, and reminding yourself that it is never too late to create space for your own dreams.

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#LifeBetweenTitles #CareerReinvention #NewBeginnings #ResilienceStories #UnemploymentJourney #WomenInTransition #CreativeRenewal #CaregiverStories #LifeTransitions #FindingPurpose

In this first episode of Office Hours, host Savan Kong talks with longtime HR leader Ringo Nishioka about what really happens behind the scenes when layoffs, promotions, and performance reviews unfold. Ringo shares decades of experience from inside the world of human resources, explaining how employees can protect themselves, how to negotiate an exit package, and what it actually means to be “layoff resistant.”

This is an unfiltered look at the business of people. Whether you are between jobs, managing a team, or just trying to understand how to stand out and stay visible, Ringo’s perspective offers clear, actionable advice for anyone navigating today’s uncertain workplace.

Ringo's Blog: http://hrnasty.com/

Hashtags:

#LifeBetweenTitles #OfficeHours #CareerAdvice #Layoffs #HRInsights #JobSearch #Leadership #WorkCulture #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #FutureOfWork

Support Life Between Titles: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LifeBetweenTitles 

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeBetweenTitles

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1olZo0VDvHh9w0F2D2vEir

🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-between-titles/id1844748787

💼 Follow Savan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savankong/

In this solo episode, Savan Kong opens up about a recent health scare that forced him to slow down and reflect on what it really means to show up authentically, even when life doesn’t look perfect. After experiencing a seizure earlier in the week, he shares how the moment reshaped his understanding of progress, recovery, and self-worth. This isn’t just a story about setback; it’s about slowing down long enough to remember what matters. Savan talks about guilt, grace, and the surprising kindness that comes when you finally give yourself permission to rest. He also shares what’s ahead for Life Between Titles: • New expert segments featuring HR leaders, recruiters, life coaches, and mental health professionals • A new conversational series with Mike Lee, diving into creativity, compassion, and cultural reflections • Continued stories from real people navigating change and rediscovery If you’ve ever felt uncertain, burnt out, or in-between, this episode is a reminder that showing up imperfectly is still showing up.

Support Life Between Titles: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LifeBetweenTitles ▶️

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeBetweenTitles

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1olZo0VDvHh9w0F2D2vEir

🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-between-titles/id1844748787

💼 Follow Savan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savankong/

Hashtags: #LifeBetweenTitles #SavanKong #Podcast #Resilience #SelfReflection #MentalHealth #CareerTransitions #Authenticity #Healing #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #RestAndRecovery #Empathy

What does it mean to move beyond survival and start creating something that didn’t exist before? In this powerful episode, Savan sits down with Vanny Whitchelo, host of Khmer Voices and co-founder of the Cambodian Cultural Center of Vancouver, for a deeply personal conversation about courage, community, and the next generation of the Cambodian diaspora.

Born in the same refugee camp as Savan, Vanny shares how she turned reflection into action—launching a podcast, co-founding a nonprofit, and building community while working full-time and raising two kids. Together they explore the guilt many 1.5 and second-generation Cambodians feel, the weight of honoring their parents’ survival, and the responsibility to carry that story forward through joy, not trauma.

This episode is about starting before you’re ready, finding meaning in the work you create, and redefining what it means to thrive.

Support Life Between Titles: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LifeBetweenTitles 

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeBetweenTitles

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1olZo0VDvHh9w0F2D2vEir

🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-between-titles/id1844748787

💼 Follow Savan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savankong/

#LifeBetweenTitles #KhmerVoices #CambodianDiaspora #SecondGeneration #Resilience #Identity #Community #Courage #Storytelling #Leadership #Purpose #VannyWhitchelo