The Career Diet Podcast

Welcome back to The Career Diet Podcast!

What happens when you finally get the career you worked so hard for... and one day realize you don’t want it anymore?

That’s where career coach and Career Cravings founder Irina Posan found herself—sitting in the parking lot of her dream job, trying to convince herself to walk inside. She had the Director title, a great boss, and was being groomed for the next big promotion. Everything was going exactly to plan. But something had changed.

In this episode, Irina and I talk about “identity lag”—> what happens when you’ve changed, but your career hasn’t caught up. We share the signs we both experienced when careers we once loved stopped feeling right, and how to start exploring what’s next without throwing away everything you’ve built.

If you’ve ever thought, “this is exactly what I wanted... so why doesn’t it feel right anymore?” this conversation will help you look at that feeling differently.

• Why a career you once loved can suddenly stop feeling right
• What “identity lag” is and how to recognize when it might be happening to you
• The subtle signs that you may have outgrown your old definition of success
• Why the obvious answer to “what’s next?” might not actually be what you want
• How to explore a completely different career direction without blowing up your life
• Why conversations can help you test your next move before making a big decision

Irina Posan is a career coach and founder of Career Cravings. After 15 years in HR, she now helps professionals build careers that feel meaningful and connected to the lives they actually want to live. She is also the author of The Career You Crave and host of The Career Cravings Podcast.

If you’re an experienced professional who has achieved success but no longer feels fulfilled by the path you’re on, it may be time to look beyond the next promotion and get clearer on what you actually want.

Book a free strategy call with my team to identify what may be holding your career back and explore how the Star Candidate Program can help you build a stronger path toward your next $150K+ offer: https://thecareerdiet.com/podcast-call

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thecareerdiet/

LinkedIn:

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

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/careercoachirina/

LinkedIn:

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

Irina Posan Website:

www.irinaposan.com

The Career Cravings Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7vj83mBzyS6eFUKr9tS2aA

Welcome back to The Career Diet Podcast!

AI has made it easier than ever to apply for jobs. So why does getting noticed by the right employer seem harder than ever?

In this episode, I sit down with Mac Prichard, a recruitment and career expert with more than 25 years of experience, to talk about what’s actually happening on both sides of the hiring process and why the fundamentals of a strong job search matter even more in the era of AI.

We dig into the employer perspective: what happens when technology makes it possible for candidates to apply at scale, how that changes the hiring process for the employer and why sending more applications isn’t giving you an advantage.

Mac shares what he sees successful job seekers doing differently and we also talk about where AI can make your search better, without letting it replace the human connection that ultimately helps you stand out.

If you’ve been wondering whether the old rules of job searching still apply in an AI-driven market, this conversation offers a refreshingly practical perspective.

• What AI has changed for job seekers and employers
• Why applying to hundreds of jobs may not be the advantage you think it is
• The job search fundamentals Mac still sees working after 25+ years in recruitment
• Why clarity about what you want can make your search more effective
• How relationships and referrals help you stand out when employers are overwhelmed with applications
• Where AI can genuinely help your search and where the human element still matters

Mac Prichard is a recruitment and career expert, founder of Mac’s List, and host of the Find Your Dream Job podcast. He has more than 25 years of experience in recruitment and brings a unique perspective from working with both employers and job seekers.

Ready to take a more strategic approach to your job search?

If you’re an experienced professional struggling to cut through the noise of today’s competitive, AI-driven job market, we can help you build a clearer strategy for finding and landing the right senior-level opportunity.

Book a free strategy call with my team to identify where your search may be getting stuck and learn how the Star Candidate Program can help you move beyond applications and build a more effective path to your next $150K+ offer: https://thecareerdiet.com/podcast-call

Connect With Me

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thecareerdiet/

LinkedIn:

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

LinkedIn:

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

Mac’s List

https://www.macslist.org/

Find Your Dream Job Podcast:

https://www.macslist.org/podcasts

If you’ve applied to 30, 60, or even 100+ roles, I understand why. Going wider feels safer. More applications should mean more chances to land an interview… right?

But what if a bigger job search is actually making you a weaker candidate?

In this episode, we’re talking about focus and what it really means when you’re searching for a senior-level role. Because focus does not mean choosing three companies and hoping for the best. And it also doesn’t mean applying to everything that “might be a fit”.

So what does a focused search actually look like? I’ll break it down and share how one of our clients changed her approach after a rejection—and went on to land a nearly $200K offer at the same company.

If your job search keeps getting wider but your results are not improving, this episode will help you rethink where your time and energy should actually go.

• Why applying to more roles can create a false sense of safety
• How a broad search quietly weakens your positioning
• What being focused actually means at the senior level
• How to balance target companies with great opportunities already on the market
• Why going deeper on fewer opportunities can make you a much stronger candidate

If you're applying consistently but your search still feels scattered or is not producing the results you want, we can help.

Schedule a free strategy call with my team to identify where your search is losing focus and see how the Star Candidate System can help you build a clearer target, stronger positioning, and a more intentional path toward your next $150K+ offer.

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thecareerdiet/

LinkedIn:

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

Welcome back to The Career Diet Podcast! If you're getting interviews but not offers, it's time to rethink your strategy.

The approach that helped you land a $70K or even a $100K role won't get you a $150K+ offer. At the senior level, employers aren't just deciding if you're qualified… they're deciding whether you're the right investment.

In this episode, we break down the difference between interviewing and positioning, why that distinction matters more as you move into senior roles, and what employers need to believe about you before they'll make an offer. I also walk you through the simple framework we use with our clients to prepare for interviews strategically.

• Why interview preparation for a $150K+ role should look different than it did earlier in your career
• The difference between interviewing well and positioning yourself as the obvious hire
• Why your experience doesn't speak for itself—and what employers actually want to hear instead
• The three questions behind our Interview Alignment Plan
• How to connect your experience directly to a company's biggest priorities

Ready to level up your interview strategy and position yourself for your next senior-level role?

Book a free strategy call with my team. We will look at your job search, identify where you are getting stuck, and show you how we can help you move toward your next $150K+ opportunity faster.

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thecareerdiet/

LinkedIn:

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

You can be hitting every number and still be a bad leader. That was Robert Adams' wake-up call. Right after losing the VP role he thought was the peak of his career, a mentor told him bluntly: "You've left your people behind you."

In this episode, I sit down with behavioral leadership coach Robert Adams to unpack the important lessons behind his 40-year leadership journey. From working in his family's catering business as a kid to running a $400M division— he shares the moments that forced him to rebuild his leadership style from the ground up.

We talk about why being great at your job isn't enough once you're leading people, how to get honest feedback instead of the polite kind, and the leadership framework he built around something surprisingly simple: a table setting.

Are you overwhelmed trying to figure out which companies you should actually be targeting? In this episode, I break down my framework to help you identify the right target companies—so you can stop panic-applying, stop wasting hours on roles that aren’t aligned, and finally start making traction in your job search.

Ready to land your dream $150k+ offer in 2-5 months? Don’t miss our free live event, the “150K+ Offers Job Search Sprint.” Only 50 spots available, apply here to grab yours now.

Follow The Career Diet on Instagram: @thecareerdiet

Connect with me on LinkedIn: Anna Belyaeva

Find more resources on my website: thecareerdiet.com

You’re great at what you do. You’ve worked with name-brand clients, maybe even held a big title at a company everyone knows.

And now that you’re job searching, you can’t help but think — How could they not give me the job? It’s a no-brainer!

In this episode, we talk about why having the experience isn’t the same as knowing how to build visibility and communicate your value in a way that gets you hired for a $150k+ role.

Because when you’re selling a high-value product — you — a polished resume isn’t enough.

If you’re ready to learn the skills to position yourself a strategic hire, book a free Career Strategy Call with my team here. https://thecareerdiet.com/podcast-call

Follow The Career Diet on Instagram: @thecareerdiet

Connect with me on LinkedIn: Anna Belyaeva

Find more resources on my website: thecareerdiet.com

Are you waiting to feel completely "ready" before going after the senior-level roles and high-tier salary you actually want?

It might surprise you, but I wasn't always the confident person I appear to be today. From psyching myself up just to make a phone call to my ski coach, to completely freezing up in front of a room full of people during business school, I had to build my confidence from the ground up.

In this episode, I am pulling back the curtain on my own career journey to share the pivotal mindset shifts that helped me get to where I am today.

If you are waiting for the "perfect" moment to finally feel ready for your next big career leap, this episode will challenge how you think about self-doubt, competence, and success.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

• The reality of "natural" confidence (spoiler: it’s not what you think).
• Why waiting to feel ready is the fastest way to stay stuck.
• The uncomfortable, necessary experiences that actually build resilience.
• How to stop letting fear dictate your next move.

Ready to land your next senior $150K+ role in weeks, not months?

Book a free strategy call with us to narrow down what’s breaking down in your senior job search, what exactly needs to change, and how we can help.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecareerdiet/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabelyaeva/

In this episode, I share exactly how to strategically block your calendar so you stop job searching only "when you feel like it."

What You’ll Learn:

• Why job searching while employed gives you a strategic advantage and less pressure.
• How to build a non-negotiable schedule that works with your actual daily energy levels.
• The exact difference between vague tasks and the concrete goals required to land a multi six-figure role.
• How to plan your sessions ahead of time so you never waste an hour just scrolling open roles.
• Why you must focus your limited time on just two main priorities: networking and interview prep.

Ready to stop guessing and get a detailed plan with specific goals?

Book a call with us to explore if the Start Canada program is a fit for you

Welcome back to The Career Diet Podcast! If interviews have ever felt like high-pressure auditions where you’re being judged, it’s time to change your approach. Interviews aren’t about convincing someone to hire you—they’re about having a real conversation and deciding together if the fit is right.

In this episode, I’m sharing what most job seekers don’t realize about the interview process, how hiring managers are really thinking, and how to reclaim your confidence before you even walk in the door.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ How to shift the power dynamic and show up as a confident collaborator

✅ Why interviews are mutual evaluations—not one-sided tests

✅ What’s going on behind the scenes for hiring managers (and how it helps you)

✅ The mindset shift that changes everything about how you interview

✅ Three powerful journaling prompts to help you feel grounded and in control

🚀 If you're ready to stop doubting yourself and start showing up as the star candidate you are, this episode is for you!

Want to master the interview process once and for all? Enroll in Master the Interview 2.0 and gain lifetime access to the tools, frameworks, and practice you need to shine in every interview: https://thecareerdiet.com/the-star-candidate/

Ready to take action towards your dream 6-figure career? Book a free call with my team today, and let’s explore how we can support your career journey: https://thecareerdiet.com/podcast-call

Ready to become the candidate every hiring manager wants? Enroll in the Star Candidate Program today! Click here to join: https://thecareerdiet.com/the-star-candidate/

Follow The Career Diet on Instagram: @thecareerdiet

Connect with me on LinkedIn: Anna Belyaeva

Find more resources on my website: The Career Diet