The Job Hunting Podcast

Episode 321 - The job market in 2025 has been flat, competitive, and emotionally draining for many professionals. In this episode, recruiter Geoff Slade and I unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes and what job seekers can do to stand out, especially when everyone’s application starts to look the same. If 2025 felt harsher than you expected, you were not imagining it. As a career coach, I’ve watched experienced professionals, including senior leaders, get caught in longer hiring cycles, more competition, and a colder tone in recruitment communication. In this episode of The Job Hunting Podcast, I sat down with Geoff Slade, Chairman of the Slade Group, for our end-of-year reflection and forward-looking conversation. Geoff has a rare vantage point. His group operates across multiple recruitment brands and covers everything from entry-level roles through to senior executive appointments. He’s also been in the recruitment industry for decades, which gives him pattern recognition that most job seekers never get access to. In this blog post, I’m summarising and unpacking key points from our conversation, with a focus on what corporate professionals and executives can do right now. We discussed the flat job market, the rise of interim roles, the reality of negotiating salary and flexibility, and how AI is changing the way applications look and feel. Most importantly, we talked about how to market yourself so you stop blending in. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Overview of 2025 Job Market Dynamics05:07 Ruthlessness in Recruitment Communication07:49 Impact of Layoffs on Job Seekers10:17 Demand for Interim and Temporary Roles12:59 Negotiating Flexibility in a Tough Market15:32 The Future of Hybrid Work18:12 Tectonic Shifts in Employment Trends21:04 Negotiating Salary in a Challenging Environment23:54 Navigating Job Offers and Salary Negotiations26:56 The Impact of AI on Job Applications29:43 Building Confidence in Job Applications35:09 Strategies for Job Seekers in a Competitive Market40:02 Proactive Job Searching Techniques42:53 The Importance of Action and AccountabilityLinks mentioned in this episode:Episode with Talent Acquisition Manager Leanne BranniganContact me if you need help leading hybrid work environmentsInterview with Anita Ziemer, Executive Director, Slade Group

Episode 320 - Discover the idea of “productive cringe” and how the slightly embarrassing moves you avoid are often the exact moves that unlock new roles, better opportunities, and a more sustainable career. Over the past few months, a phrase has appeared again and again in my coaching sessions with senior professionals. “I know I should post on LinkedIn, but that feels cringe.” “I know I should reach out to that person at my dream company, but that feels cringe.” “I know I should negotiate, but I do not want to be that person.” At first glance, these might sound like small worries. In reality, they tell us a great deal about how mid-career professionals are relating to their work in 2025. Cringe has become a powerful, if unspoken, organising force in many corporate careers. Not the justified embarrassment that comes from genuinely unprofessional behaviour, but the anticipatory discomfort we feel when we imagine colleagues rolling their eyes at our ambition. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 The Cringe Factor in Career Advancement00:53 Understanding Cringe and Its Impact07:21 Overcoming Cringe in Job Search12:06 Networking and Cold Outreach Cringe19:29 Negotiating Salary and Ambitions24:38 Reinventing Yourself and Embracing Change26:09 Learning from Leaders: Embracing CringeLinks mentioned in this episode:Subscribe to My NewsletterJoin my RB Lnkdn ClubThe LinkedIn post about being unemployed during the holiday seasonWork with me to have a clear narrativeArticle about cringe and Gen ZArticle about LinkedIn and cringeAbout the host, Renata...

Episode 319 - When a role disappears or a career stops feeling right, most professionals reach for more control, more effort and more doom scrolling. In this conversation, Professor Stephen G Post explains why generosity, service and “pure unlimited love” are powerful tools for coping with job loss, protecting mental health and realigning your career with a deeper sense of calling. Recording this episode with Professor Stephen G Post felt very different from my usual conversations about job search strategy. We did not talk much about keywords, ATS or networking scripts. We talked about love, service, calling and what happens to you on the inside when your role disappears or your career stops feeling right. As you know, most of my clients are senior professionals who have done everything by the book. Good schools, strong performance, promotions. Then something happens. A restructure, a new CEO, a bad boss, burnout. Suddenly the path that once felt stable looks very fragile. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Navigating Job Market Challenges09:37 The Journey to Finding One's Calling13:27 Advice for Late Bloomers21:18 The Essence of Pure Unlimited Love28:59 Balancing Altruism and Self-Care31:47 The Impact of Meaningful Volunteering33:27 Healing Through Kindness37:51 The Power of Morning Routines39:41 Connecting with Nature47:32 Understanding Happiness and FlowLinks mentioned in this episode:Stephen G. Post's book, Unlimited LoveStephen's LinkedInEpisode 268 - Career Transitions: A Guide for Corporate Professionals Seeking ChangeEpisode 303 - Kyle Samuels returns to share his personal health journey, the lessons it taught him about leadership, and the hiring trends shaping today’s job market. We explore recruitment trends, networking strategies, and how to handle career gaps with confidence.About the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of a...

Episode 318 - I answer real questions from professionals who are worried about a prolonged job search. We talk about whether to use the LinkedIn Open To Work banner, how to cope when your job search has stretched past a year, and what to do when employers say you are “too senior”. In my inbox and on my Zoom screen, the same faces keep appearing. They are senior managers, directors, heads of function, sometimes C suite executives. They are in their forties, fifties, and sixties. They have built careers inside large companies, delivered turnarounds, navigated crises, and led hundreds of people. Now they are sitting at home with a LinkedIn tab open, hovering over a tiny feature that has come to carry enormous emotional weight: the “Open to Work” banner. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:03:49 Introduction to Job Search Questions12:46 Social Network and Job Advice18:01 Dealing with Seniority and Ageism27:05 Presenting Employment Gaps29:08 Unique Job Roles and Search Strategies32:12 International Coaching and Support35:24 Concluding Thoughts and Final QuestionLinks mentioned in this episode:Holiday Job Search SprintRB Lnkdn ClubEpisode 72 - Systemic Gender Biases, Double Standards, Mental and Physical Dangers Affecting Women in the Workplace - with Hannah Piterman Ph.D.Episode 162 - What Happens After We Quit Our Jobs: An Interview with Sara McElroy, Wall-Street Journal’s Poster Girl for the Great ResignationCallings.aiAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on Social Media:

Episode 317 - Losing a job or having a terrible job can pull you straight into survival mode. In this conversation with Jon Rosemberg, we unpack how to move from white-knuckle coping to a more intentional, agentic way of designing your next chapter. Survival mode is a nervous system response, not a personal failure.  In this podcast conversation, I spent time unpacking what survival mode actually is with my guest, Jon Rosemberg, who has studied applied positive psychology and worked as a COO in high-pressure environments. It is easy to forget that our bodies are old hardware running new software. From a nervous system perspective, losing a role or facing long-term unemployment can register as a threat to survival. Identity, status, and income are deeply tied to our sense of safety. When that safety is shaken, the body reacts. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesLinks mentioned in this episode:Job Searching Through the Holidays WebinarJon's personal websiteJon's firmAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on Social Media:LinkedInInstagramFacebookX / Twitter

Episode 316 - Dr. Sheila Gujrathi discusses how to build real influence, find sponsors, and move into executive roles without losing yourself. We unpack how fear shows up and what to do when you aren’t the “obvious” candidate. I recorded this episode to answer a question many experienced professionals wrestle with: How do you keep advancing when you do not fit the traditional mold for senior leadership? My guest is Dr. Sheila Gujrathi, a biotech executive, physician, and scientist who has led programs from idea to approval, served as a CEO and board director, and built platforms to support leaders across the health and life sciences sector. She is known for a high-impact TEDx talk on brave, inclusive leadership with more than a million views, and she co-founded a peer community that connects and develops biotech CEOs. Our conversation is a practical discussion about sponsorship, fear, authentic influence, and the specific moves that help underrepresented leaders rise without losing themselves.  Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction to Sheila Gujrathi04:58 The Journey of Leadership and Advocacy08:13 The Importance of Role Models and Mirrors10:57 Preparing for Success: Mindset and Routine14:16 Grounding Techniques for High-Stress Situations17:11 Building Trust and Authenticity in Leadership20:11 Navigating Executive Presence23:19 Engaging in Conversations and Resetting Dynamics26:19 Trust and Relationship Building29:07 The Future of Leadership and AdvocacyLinks mentioned in this episode:TEDx talk “Shattering the Glass Ceiling by Finding the Right Mirrors.”Sheila's LinkedInThe Mirror Effect (book + workbook)About the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on Social Media:a...

Episode 315 - Crisis expert Edward Segal maps the first moves leaders should make when something goes wrong, who to call, what to say, how to brief the media, and how to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Most professionals I speak to who are experiencing a career crisis did not see it coming, and almost all of them did not prepare for it. Corporate professionals still treat crisis management as something that happens to other people, like the CEOs in the headlines and the companies and brands trending on social media for all the wrong reasons. In reality, crises are not confined to boardrooms or news cycles. They unfold quietly in inboxes, performance reviews, and unexpected phone calls from HR. When I sat down recently with Edward Segal, an expert on crisis management, I was reminded that “it’s not if, it’s when.” Every professional, no matter how senior or secure, will face defining career moments that test their judgment, values, and resilience. The challenge is not to avoid these moments, but to prepare for them and respond well when they arrive. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction03:01 Crisis Management Insights from Experience05:00 Understanding Crisis Triggers08:00 Crisis Management in Educational Institutions11:04 Communication Strategies During a Crisis13:55 The Importance of Media Training16:45 Crisis Management for Professionals20:05 Lessons from High-Profile Crises23:09 Final Thoughts on Crisis PreparednessLinks mentioned in this episode:Edward Segal's LinkedIn profileLink to Edward Segal's bookEpisode 304 - In this episode of The Job Hunting Podcast, TV journalist and confidence coach Ashleigh Paholek shares how to project authority and trust in interviews, presentations, and boardrooms. From mastering silence to improving your virtual presence, these strategies will help you influence with confidence — even when you don’t feel it.Episode 309 - Beyond the headlines, workplace scandals reveal deeper lessons about governance, disclosure, and accountability. In this episode, I share strategies for overcoming missteps and rebuilding your professional brand.About the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of 

Episode 314 - Recruiter-turned-Founder Georgie Hubbard unpacks how to pivot with confidence, optimize your resume and LinkedIn, and ditch “spray & pray” for targeted strategies that actually get results.After dozens of conversations with senior professionals over the past few months and the discussions in my latest podcast episode, I keep coming back to the same conclusion. The people who are progressing in this year’s job market are not the ones applying faster or to more roles. They are the ones who have adapted to a hiring system that is more algorithmic and more cautious than it was a year ago. The question is whether your job search strategy reflects this as well. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Career Boldness and Reinvention03:48 Overcoming Fear and Paralysis by Analysis08:20 Cultural Shocks and Resilience in New Environments11:28 Navigating Career Pivots and Transferable Skills16:01 Adapting to Modern Recruitment Challenges22:43 Visibility and Networking in a Competitive Market25:03 Overcoming Precision and Embracing Boldness29:39 The Fear of Regret and Career Transitions33:51 Monetizing Skills and Building a Business39:49 Navigating the Early Stages of Entrepreneurship42:30 Empowering Women in the Age of AILinks mentioned in this episode:Georgie's LinkedinGeorgie's websiteAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on Social Media:LinkedInInstagramFacebookX /...

Episode 313 - Employment attorney Jessica Childress is back, unpacking what “toxic” really means at work, and how to decide if it’s time to stay or go. I'm sure you're well aware that experienced professionals have had to cope with hostile cultures, micromanagement, and difficult leaders in their careers. Some issues are illegal. Many are not. Either way, the impact on your confidence and career can be profound. In this episode, employment attorney Jessica Childress helps us separate what is unlawful from what is simply unhealthy, and to outline a practical approach for documenting issues, engaging HR strategically, and, when needed, negotiating a clean exit.  Start with definitions. Many environments feel corrosive yet are not unlawful. Civility is not a legal requirement. As Jessica put it: “It’s not a workplace civility code. So the law does not require civility.” However, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation tied to a protected class or protected activity are unlawful. Knowing the line matters because your strategy depends on it. If conduct is unlawful, escalate precisely and protect the record. If it is unhealthy but legal, your leverage comes from establishing boundaries, framing your business, and exploring options outside the building. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Advocacy and Employee Rights05:35 Experiencing Toxic Workplaces12:08 Leaving on Your Own Terms17:10 Identifying Toxic Workplaces24:10 Strategies for Surviving Toxic Workplaces32:53 Navigating the Exit Process43:45 Finding Peace After LeavingLinks mentioned in this episode:Episode 213 - Navigating Workplace Rights, a Conversation with Employment Law Expert Jessica ChildressThe Childress firmJessica's book, Peace: Leaving A Toxic Workplace on Your Own Terms (E-Book)About the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. 

Episode 312 - If you second-guess your success, Alison Shamir shares the mindset shifts and tools that help professionals recognise and overcome imposter thoughts. For years, clients have reached out to me with this dilemma: They are capable, experienced professionals who are unsuccessful in their job search. Usually, this is my diagnosis: They are not short of qualifications; they are short of traction.  Listening back to my conversation with imposter syndrome expert Alison Shamir, I was struck by how precisely her framework matches what my clients have faced in their careers. That is, a human tendency to discount our own track record, especially when they're unemployed and looking for work. It is a cycle in which the external system is harder to read and the internal narrator becomes louder, precisely when professionals need to demonstrate clear business value. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Understanding Imposter Syndrome: A Personal Journey13:18 The Role of Managers in Identifying Imposter Syndrome25:44 Recognizing Imposter Syndrome in Job Candidates26:36 Understanding Imposter Syndrome and Its Signs27:40 Conquering Imposter Syndrome: Control vs. Elimination29:03 The Three Pillar Framework for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome31:50 Real-Life Examples of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome35:03 Triggers of Imposter Syndrome and Their Impact38:23 Personal Experiences and Relatable Stories44:38 External Factors and Confidence in Job Searching48:20 Controlling the Controllables: A Key TakeawayLinks mentioned in this episode:Alison's LinkedInAlison's bookAlison's websiteLearn more about Renata's courses and servicesAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on...

Episode 311 - Leanne Brannigan spent years hiring. Then she was laid off, and used social media to document her experience job searching while unemployed. Her story exposes how the system treats candidates and what we can do better. I spend my weeks advising professionals who assumed that their extensive work experience and a tidy LinkedIn profile would carry them through a choppy market. Then they collide with reality: Long hiring cycles, few roles at their level, automated screens that reward keywords over judgment, and interview panels that want evidence, not eloquence. The latest episode of my podcast features internal recruiter turned job seeker, Leanne Brannigan, who walked through that reality from both sides of the table. Her story crystallizes the themes I see daily and points to a more disciplined way forward for corporate professionals who want to compete at the top end of the labor market. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction to the Journey03:25 Navigating Redundancy and Job Search06:24 Building a Supportive Community10:10 Emotional Impact of Job Loss13:03 Strategies for Job Searching16:05 The Role of Networking19:17 Sharing Experiences Publicly22:20 Candidate Experience and Feedback24:55 Reflections on the Job Market29:54 The Impact of Redundancy on Job Seekers31:57 Encouraging Transparency in Candidate Experiences34:50 Navigating Vulnerability on Professional Platforms40:50 Developing an Application Strategy46:59 Positive Experiences in Recruitment Processes52:26 Making Decisions Between Job Offers59:26 Embracing a New Role in Talent AcquisitionLinks mentioned in this episode:31 Days of ActionReset Your CareerRB Lnkdn ClubAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on Social...

Episode 310 - Most job seekers focus on what they should do. In today’s episode, we dig into what they aren’t doing and why that’s costing them jobs. At a time when headlines are dominated by artificial intelligence, layoffs, and economic uncertainty, the themes from my discussion with Nick Waterworth, CEO of Ambition, on The Job Hunting Podcast (ep 309) deserve a closer look. His insights align with what I hear daily from my clients, and he offers explanations and advice that will benefit many job seekers on their path to career advancement and success in the hiring process. As a career strategist working with experienced professionals, many of whom are navigating the turbulence of mid-to-late career transitions, I found the conversation with Nick enlightening.Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction and Setup01:58 The Journey into Recruitment04:53 The Evolution of Recruitment07:54 Adapting to Technology and AI11:09 Navigating Hybrid Work Environments14:01 Current Job Market Dynamics16:58 The Over 50s in the Workforce28:21 The Dual Faces of Interim Assignments31:11 Hiring Trends and the Need for Adaptability35:18 The Challenges of Job Ads38:25 Navigating the Recruitment Process41:19 Concerns in Recruitment for 202545:25 Common Misconceptions Among Job Seekers52:23 Understanding Niche Markets in RecruitmentLinks mentioned in this episode:Ambition Group WebsiteNick's LinkedIn ProfileAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on Social Media:LinkedInInstagram

Episode 309 - Beyond the headlines, workplace scandals reveal deeper lessons about governance, disclosure, and accountability. In this episode, I share strategies for overcoming missteps and rebuilding your professional brand. Every so often, a string of corporate headlines forces us to confront the evolving nature of leadership. In recent months, the departures of high-profile CEOs from Astronomer, Nestlé, and Super Retail have done exactly that. Each case was triggered not by financial mismanagement or strategic failure of disclosure. More specifically, in relation to personal relationships that crossed professional boundaries. These stories are not about romance or morality. They are about power, trust, and the unforgiving spotlight under which modern leaders operate. For my clients and listeners, experienced corporate professionals navigating career transitions, these scandals are not distant boardroom dramas. They are cautionary tales that shape hiring practices, redefine professional expectations, and serve as stark reminders that reputation can shift overnight. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Crisis Management in Corporate Relationships02:38 Lessons from Recent Corporate Scandals05:03 Understanding Power Dynamics and Policies10:12 Coaching Through Crisis16:06 Accountability and Communication Strategies20:46 Crisis Response Protocols25:59 Rebuilding Reputation After a Crisis32:24 Long-term Strategies for Personal Brand RecoveryLinks mentioned in this episode:Work with meEpisode 307 - From the rise of portfolio careers to the growing importance of digital transformation, the 2025 Interim Executive Survey highlights how executives are choosing new ways of working.Link to my TV interview about AstronomerBook mentioned: Firing BackNestle press releaseRich roll podcasta...

Episode 308 - Rejections are part of the job search and they can also guide your next steps. In this episode, Renata answers questions about resumes, layoffs, LinkedIn gaps, and how to pivot into new opportunities.In recent months, the messages I receive from clients and podcast listeners have become increasingly urgent. Experienced professionals, many in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, are being forced to navigate layoffs, endless rejections, and the unsettling prospect of having to pivot careers in an economy that feels unstable at best.  The questions raised by hundreds of participants in a recent webinar I joined, organized by the job seeker’s platform Callings.ai, painted a vivid picture of where corporate professionals stand today.  This moment is not unique. Labor markets cycle, as history shows us. Yet 2025 has brought together a particular mix of challenges: post-pandemic restructuring, political shifts that have left government professionals in limbo, funding cuts, and AI-driven restructures. For executives and experienced professionals, these shifts create both barriers and opportunities. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction to the Webinar and Podcast Episode04:36 Handling Rejection and Staying Motivated12:53 Applications, Resumes, and LinkedIn Strategies26:32 Career Pivots and Returning to Old Employers36:05 Interviewing and Closing the Deal42:48 Application Strategies and TimingLinks mentioned in this episode:Join the RB Lnkdn Club to improve your presence on LinkedInWatch the Layoff webinarFollow the other panellists: Albert QianFollow the other panellists: Matthew SorensenFollow the other panellists: Garrett RiceThe Job Hunting Podcast interview with Garrett Rice, CEO of Callings.ai (282)Search The Job Hunting Podcast episodes by category or keywordAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde,...

Episode 307 - From the rise of portfolio careers to the growing importance of digital transformation, the 2025 Interim Executive Survey highlights how executives are choosing new ways of working. JOIN THE RB LNKDN CLUB NOWIn this week’s episode of The Job Hunting Podcast, I spoke with Donna Burr, Partner in Interim Executive Management at Watermark Search International, about the findings of their 15th Annual Interim Executive Survey. With 15 years of data and nearly 900 survey respondents in 2025, this report offers invaluable insight into how executives are choosing to work flexibly in interim roles, what organizations want from interim executives, and how career models are evolving. Our discussion revealed trends that are essential for anyone navigating today's and future job markets. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction to Interim Executive Management04:40 Understanding Portfolio Careers07:42 Insights from the 15th Annual Survey10:39 Adapting to Client Needs13:37 Business Transformation Roles16:39 Challenges in Interim Executive Roles19:40 Self-Agency in Career Management22:34 Networking and Building a Portfolio Career25:39 Discipline and Consistency in Interim Work27:32 Navigating the Executive Landscape28:58 Gender Balance in Executive Roles32:09 The Age Factor in Leadership37:00 Global Perspectives on Interim Executives41:07 Career Pathways Beyond C-Suite43:57 AI as a Leadership Amplifier51:11 Final Thoughts on Executive TransitionLinks mentioned in this episode:Join the RB Lnkdn ClubLink to the ReportEpisode 78 - Portfolio Career: What Is It, and Is It for You? - with Jacinta WhelanEpisode 31 - Me Inc: Opting for short term contract workEpisode 103 - How to make successful career transitions - with Donna BurrEpisode 111 - Portfolio Career: An Alternative Path to C-Level Jobs, with Julia...

Episode 306 - This episode explores how LinkedIn activity can protect you from layoffs, attract opportunities, and build long-term credibility.  I believe that LinkedIn activity is the new career currency. In fact, I am certain of that, and I have clients’ results to prove it. To determine if professionals were already aware of this fact, I ran a poll on LinkedIn a few weeks ago, asking where people felt most stuck in building their presence on the platform. The answers surprised me, though perhaps they shouldn’t have. It wasn’t the profile. It wasn’t resume-style updates. The real struggle was posting and activity. Knowing what to say, how to say it, and how to balance the risk of being visible with the fear of misstepping in front of employers and peers seems to be the biggest barrier for professionals when it comes to fully embracing LinkedIn. This result mirrors what I hear daily from clients and listeners of my podcast. Corporate professionals, including senior executives with decades of experience, remain uneasy about engaging on LinkedIn. And yet, engagement, rather than a polished profile, is increasingly what recruiters, boards, and decision-makers evaluate when considering candidates. And it makes sense. In today’s hybrid world of work and a job market filled with AI-generated content, the difference between those who can express themselves and communicate their expertise with confidence, knowledge, and empathy gives them an incredible advantage. They stand out in a sea of sameness.  Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Understanding LinkedIn Challenges01:19 The Importance of LinkedIn Activity12:29 Navigating Employer Approval and Restrictions19:31 Building a Professional Brand on LinkedIn27:37 Leveraging LinkedIn Algorithms for Success35:55 Introducing a New LinkedIn Support GroupLinks mentioned in this episode:Join the RB Lnkdn GroupAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on Social Media:a...

Episode 305 - Many professionals dream of a board career, but few know how to get there. In this episode, I unpack the three biggest blockers and share a roadmap to help you secure your first board role. A large number of experienced professionals are eyeing board appointments as the next chapter in their careers. In a recent LinkedIn poll I conducted, nearly eight in ten respondents said they wanted a board role within the next five years. The allure is understandable. Board seats promise influence, intellectual challenge, and the prestige of shaping an organization’s future without the grind of day-to-day operations. But there’s a catch. While the appetite for board roles is surging, the path to securing one remains opaque and, for many, deeply frustrating. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 The Demand for Board Roles09:58 Understanding Board Expectations17:33 The Appointment Process for Board Members25:51 Becoming Board Ready39:34 Strategizing for Board PositionsLinks mentioned in this episode:Are you aiming for a paid board seat in the next 5 years?How to Be a Chairperson vs a Board MemberHow to Be a Chairperson vs a Board MemberNavigating Your Way to a Board SeatSteps to Secure Your First Board PositionAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on Social Media:

Episode 304 - In this episode of The Job Hunting Podcast, TV journalist and confidence coach Ashleigh Paholek shares how to project authority and trust in interviews, presentations, and boardrooms. From mastering silence to improving your virtual presence, these strategies will help you influence with confidence — even when you don’t feel it. I coach experienced professionals who are navigating a turbulent job market. When we start working together, some things are easier and faster to update: resumes get polished, LinkedIn profiles refreshed, and applications start converting to interviews. Yet they remain puzzled by a frustrating reality: despite their decades of experience, they are struggling to get traction with their interviews, network, and even with their employers once they start working. It’s tempting to point to market forces. Hiring freezes, cautious budgets, and a glut of qualified applicants are real obstacles. But a quieter, more personal factor often separates the candidates who advance from those who do not: executive presence. And this is when working with a coach for a few months can help. https://www.renatabernarde.com/ In a recent conversation with Ashleigh Paholek, an experienced television journalist and communications expert, I was reminded how little this skill is discussed and how much it matters. Our talk reinforced something I’ve seen in my coaching practice: career opportunities often hinge less on what you say than on how you say it. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction and Background05:17 The Journey from Journalism to Coaching10:21 Understanding Confidence: Internal vs External15:17 The Importance of Conciseness in Communication20:12 Voice and Tone: The Power of Nonverbal Communication25:27 Body Language and Its Impact on Perception30:17 The Role of Appearance in Job Interviews35:14 Final Thoughts on Building ConfidenceLinks mentioned in this episode:The Social Day Club, where I met Ashleigh PaholekAshleigh's websiteAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. 

Episode 303 - Kyle Samuels returns to share his personal health journey, the lessons it taught him about leadership, and the hiring trends shaping today’s job market. We explore recruitment trends, networking strategies, and how to handle career gaps with confidence. The last time I spoke with executive recruiter Kyle Samuels, we were deep in conversation about executive compensation. This year, the conversation was very different. Kyle returned to my podcast with not only market insights but a deeply personal story. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, undergone major surgery, and endured six months of chemotherapy. On top of that, he continued to lead his firm, Creative Talent Endeavors, during one of the toughest job markets in recent memory. His experience illuminates three critical themes for corporate professionals today: resilience in the face of disruption, the centrality of relationships, and the rapid changes occurring in recruitment and hiring. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Weathering the Storms: A Personal Journey03:48 Facing Cancer: A Life-Altering Diagnosis09:16 Navigating Business During Health Challenges12:57 The Importance of Health Over Work16:47 Raising Awareness: The Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer22:06 Returning to Work: Balancing Health and Career24:25 Navigating Personal Challenges and Resilience26:11 Diversity and Inclusion: Progress and Challenges29:00 The Job Market Landscape: Candidate Experiences33:27 Networking and Relationship Building in Job Searches41:51 Emerging Job Trends and the Role of AI52:46 Conclusion: Embracing Change and Future OpportunitiesLinks mentioned in this episode:Episode 226 - This Recruiter Wants You to Rethink Your Salary Expectation, with Kyle SamuelsEpisode 279 - What Job Seekers Can Learn from Sales ProfessionalsAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on...

Hardly a week goes by without news of another high-profile layoff. From tech giants like Meta and Tesla to government agencies and financial institutions, corporate professionals at every level find themselves confronting an unsettling new normal. As a career coach, outplacement provider, and host of The Job Hunting Podcast, I've observed firsthand the toll layoffs are taking both financially and emotionally. In this episode’s conversation with Steve Jaffe, author of "The Layoff Journey: From Dismissal to Discovery," we unpacked the psychological impacts of job loss and how professionals can emerge stronger.  Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Navigating Layoffs: A Personal Journey02:07 Understanding the Stages of Grief in Layoffs04:52 Coping Mechanisms and Emotional Resilience07:57 The Impact of Identity Loss11:02 Managing Anger and Bargaining13:42 The Importance of Rest and Recovery16:49 Finding Meaning and Moving Forward25:25 The Importance of a Well-Rounded Life27:24 Shame and Identity in Unemployment29:07 Owning Your Professional Identity30:58 The Job Search as Full-Time Work33:59 Building and Utilizing Your Network37:14 Resilience in Job Searching39:04 The Role of Career Coaching40:55 The Value of a Strong Network46:05 Living with Intentionality51:38 New ChapterLinks mentioned in this episode:Link to Purchase Steve's bookAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on Social Media:LinkedInInstagramFacebookX /...