This special episode of the Career Strategy Podcast features an episode of the Insights Unlocked Podcast powered by UserTesting. In this episode, Sarah Doody is interviewed by UserTesting’s CEO, Andy McMillan. They discuss navigating your UX career over the next one to two years and dive into crucial themes that resonate with UX researchers, designers, and product managers from coping with tech layoffs to understanding the impact of AI. Key Topics Covered: The State of UX Careers in 2024 I...
Dec 30, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is a special episode of the Career Strategy Podcast that features an interview with Sarah on the AIGA Design Podcast with host Lee-Sean Huang. In this episode, Sarah and Lee-Sean dive deep into the innovative concept of treating your career as a product. Sarah shares practical strategies for creating a "career roadmap" and "compass statement" to align short-term goals with long-term ambitions while balancing professional growth and personal life priorities. Sarah reveals how applying design...
Dec 23, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this milestone 100th episode of the Career Strategy Podcast, we sit down with Jaden, a Career Strategy Lab alumni, who shares their transformative journey from apparel design to landing a senior product designer role at Zipline as a Senior Product Designer with a 15% pay increase from her previous role. Sarah and Jaden discuss the struggles of job searching, the importance of a strong LinkedIn presence, navigating a career gap, and the power of storytelling in portfolios. Jaden emphasizes the...
Dec 16, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Don’t forget! Don't miss Sarah's upcoming workshop on December 11, where she'll share detailed strategies for standing out in the UX job search funnel. Visit careerstrategylab.com/events to register. In this episode of the Career Strategy Podcast , Sarah dives into the art of standing out in a competitive job market, especially when it comes to UX roles. With practical insights drawn from her experience coaching thousands of candidates and hiring across various industries, Sarah breaks down the ...
Dec 09, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Imagine treating your job like a freelance gig—always ready for what’s next. This episode dives deep into why adopting a freelancer mindset can boost your career, even if you love your full-time job. Join Sarah to explore real strategies that freelancers use to stay in demand: documenting wins and projects, nurturing relationships, keeping up with industry trends, and treating each project like a portfolio piece. You’ll hear practical tips on timeboxing tasks to fit career-building activities in...
Dec 02, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Why do your cold messages to recruiters go unanswered? In today's episode of The Career Strategy Podcast, we dive into the reasons why your emails and DMs might be getting ignored by recruiters and hiring managers. This episode discusses the importance of shifting from being a cold contact to a lukewarm one, making you more recognizable and increasing the chances of getting replies. You’ll learn five simple LinkedIn strategies to help you warm up your connections. Find out how to lea...
Nov 25, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Sarah explains how the critiques in Career Strategy Lab work, including how many critiques you can submit, what you can submit, how you'll receive feedback, and more. Enrollment is OPEN until Wed, Nov 20. Visit www.careerstrategylab.com/sprint to learn more or join. Career Strategy Lab helps mid and senior UX and Product people be ready to apply in 3 months or less and get hired with a 5-figure salary increases without applying to hundreds of jobs. If you have any question...
Nov 19, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Sarah explains the 2 types of weekly calls in Career Strategy Lab and shares examples of questions we've answered. Enrollment is OPEN until Wed, Nov 20. Visit www.careerstrategylab.com/sprint to learn more or join. Career Strategy Lab helps mid and senior UX and Product people be ready to apply in 3 months or less and get hired with a 5-figure salary increases without applying to hundreds of jobs. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at hello@sarahdoody.com 📥 ...
Nov 19, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ever wondered how to finally break through in your career when things seem tough? In this episode, Jamie, a senior product designer from Ottawa, shares his journey of navigating job loss and finding success. Jamie recounts his struggles with imposter syndrome and unemployment, sharing how he applied for hundreds of jobs without landing one. Jamie found his turning point by joining Career Strategy Lab, where the community and structured guidance helped him rebuild confidence. He talks about the i...
Nov 18, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Sarah shares the story of a Lead Design Researcher who got hired with a 35% salary increase. This person, an alumni of Career Strategy Lab, said a that major factor in securing the role was relationships. In the episode, you'll learn the role of relationships in this person's job search and interviews. Career Strategy Lab helps mid and senior UX and Product people be ready to apply in 3 months or less and get hired with a 5-figure salary increases without applying to hundr...
Nov 17, 2024•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Sarah shares the story of Dan, a Lead UX Designer who got hired in 56 days. In Dec 2023, he was laid off and joined Career Strategy Lab. A few weeks later, he saw a role and applied despite his UX portfolio not being finished and being "far from perfect." To his surprise, he moved along in the interview process and was offered a job in February 2024 as a Lead UX Designer at a large healthcare company. THIS is what can happen when you stop trying to make a "perfect" portfolio and...
Nov 16, 2024•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Sarah details the extra traits of who Career Strategy Lab was designed for. Enrollment is OPEN until Wed, Nov 20. Visit www.careerstrategylab.com/sprint to learn more or join. Career Strategy Lab helps mid and senior UX and Product people be ready to apply in 3 months or less and get hired with a 5-figure salary increases without applying to hundreds of jobs. If you have any questions feel free to email us at hello@sarahdoody.com 📥 Join 26,000 people who read our UX caree...
Nov 16, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tired of endless applications to big tech companies without any luck? This episode of The Career Strategy Podcast dives into industries outside of tech that are actively hiring for UX, product design, and tech roles. From health care to finance, education to retail, discover real data showing where job seekers are finding success. Sarah talks through why these industries are ramping up their hiring and how your existing skills can transfer seamlessly. Plus, you’ll get tips on how to refine...
Nov 11, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ever wondered why a coach without UX experience might be the secret to your job search success? This episode dives into just that, answering a common question: why are the Career Strategy Lab (CSL) coaches not UX experts? Discover how the CSL program helps people in user experience, product design, and tech fields navigate their job searches. The episode explains the importance of thinking of yourself as "the product of you” and why great job search coaching involves more than just industr...
Nov 04, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Navigating a career change or climbing the job ladder can be daunting, but guidance and support make all the difference. In this episode of The Career Strategy Podcast we take you behind the scenes into an Open House for CSL where you’ll meet 2 professionals, a Senior User Researcher and a Lead UX Designer, who worked with Sarah and her team directly to improve their career materials and stand out in the crowded job market. In this episode we’ll dive into the unique structure of the Career Strat...
Oct 28, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are you falling into the trap of getting career advice from too many sources? In this episode of The Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah explores why a piecemeal approach to job searches and career advancement can lead to confusion and wasted time. Join Sarah to discuss the common mistake of piecing together advice from various sources, such as resume reviews, LinkedIn critiques, and one-off coaching sessions, and how this often results in disconnected and conflicting feedback. After list...
Oct 21, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Do you really need 3 to 5 projects in your portfolio before applying for jobs? Could focusing on quantity be a mistake? In today’s episode of the Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah explores why the quality of how you discuss your projects outweighs the sheer number of them. In this episode, we'll discuss: - Why “3 to 5 projects” is a myth - Importance of storytelling in your portfolio - How to highlight your thought process and impact - Applying with just one strong project - Actionable steps ...
Oct 14, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are you stuck in a never-ending job search and unsure if investing in a career program is worth it? In this episode of the Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah breaks down the real cost of DIY-ing your job hunt and how a 3-month job search accelerator can actually pay for itself. In this episode, you’ll discover three crucial ways to rethink investing in your career. First, learn how the time spent job hunting affects your potential earning and find out why landing a job faster can mean extra ca...
Oct 07, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thinking about pausing your job search until after the election? You might want to think again. This episode of The Career Strategy Podcast tackles the common question: Should you wait until political uncertainty settles to move forward in your job search? Get ready to learn why holding off could actually set you back and why companies aren't hitting pause on hiring. The key is to stay proactive and not fall into the "election waiting game” because job markets don't stop for elections and ...
Sep 30, 2024•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Miss our UX careers workshop from Thu, Sep 26, about how to advance your career with UX and product principles? Or, prefer to listen on the go versus watch the video? Listen to the workshop until Wednesday, October 2! If you want to watch the video or have questions about Career Strategy Lab, just email us at hello@sarahdoody.com 📥 Join 26,000 people who read our UX career tips newsletter 🎁 Get your free UX Career Roadmap 👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn , Instagram , Yo...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ready to make your resume stand out? In this episode, Sarah walks through a 11-question checklist to transform your resume and boost your chances of landing that dream job. From making sure your bullet points start with engaging action verbs to tailoring your resume for each job application, these tips are straightforward and actionable. You’ll learn: Why columns might hurt your resume's chances in applicant tracking systems, and learn the importance of quantifying your achievements,...
Sep 23, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast In today's episode Sarah shares an incredibly practical and efficient tip that's going to revolutionize your job search strategy: batching. Sarah discusses actionable advice on how to group similar tasks to stay focused and save time, from updating your resume to networking on LinkedIn. She walks you through different approaches and schedules for organizing these tasks & staying accountable through completion, whether on a weekly or monthly basis. If you're feeling overwhelmed by...
Sep 16, 2024•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ever wondered if LinkedIn's "open to work" feature makes you look desperate? In this episode Sarah tackles that question head-on. You’ll learn why professionals using the green "open to work" banner receive more recruiter messages and have higher chances of engaging with hiring managers. Sarah also debunks some myths, explaining why being visible and proactive on LinkedIn can outweigh any potential downsides. Whether you’re considering turning on the green banner or looking for more effici...
Sep 09, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Struggling with updating your UX portfolio? This episode of the Career Strategy Podcast dives deep into UX portfolios and offers practical tips for both seasoned professionals and those switching careers. In this episode, you’ll discover the benefits of customizing your portfolio for each job application and why creating a presentation format might be your secret weapon. Sarah shares advice on aligning your projects with job descriptions, maintaining visibility, and dealing with company po...
Sep 02, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Struggling to get responses to your cold emails and messages? This episode of the Career Strategy Podcast dives into practical tips for improving your follow-up game. In this episode Sarah explores why people might not reply and how you can increase your chances of a response without being annoying. Sarah also breaks down a 5-day follow-up cadence and suggests experimenting with specific days and shares a simple and effective template for your follow-ups, ensuring you stay clear and ...
Aug 26, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast In today's special episode, we dive into the raw, unfiltered experiences of alumni from the Career Strategy Lab who have recently secured new roles and transformed their careers. Our guests share their personal journeys and the pivotal moments that propelled their career success. From overcoming the fear of posting on LinkedIn to mastering the art of storytelling in portfolios and resumes, this episode highlights the importance of community, mentorship, and structured support. Listen...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are you doing enough to stay ahead in your career? In this episode Sarah discusses why you should always be applying, even if you're happy with your job. You’ll learn the two main scenarios where this practice can make a difference and why it's important to apply for jobs right up until you start a new role. Even if you’re comfortably employed, Sarah also shares the benefits of keeping your resume, LinkedIn profile, and interview skills sharp. Tune in for actionable advice on how to ...
Aug 12, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast In today's episode, Sarah addresses a crucial mindset shift for your job search: how your ability to communicate can be more important than your qualifications. Often times professionals hyperfocus on their credentials but struggle to convey their value effectively. Sarah explores common pitfalls in resumes and interviews, and actionable tips on improving your communication to boost your job search success. Quotables "Your qualifications don't matter unless you can communicate them, right?...
Aug 05, 2024•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, Sarah shares how to include numbers on your resume, even if you think you don't have any. Many people believe that only monumental achievements, like saving or making a million dollars, are worthy of metrics on a resume. But that's far from the truth! This episode will walk you through a simple mindset shift from focusing on outcomes to showcasing your processes. Sarah explores practical examples for various roles like user researchers and designers, illustr...
Jul 29, 2024•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you're someone with 10, 15, or even 20-plus years of experience in user experience or product roles, this episode is tailor-made for you. Sarah breaks down how experienced professionals like you are still landing great opportunities in diverse industries, the crucial difference between settling and compromising in your job search, how overconfidence can mask underlying fears and why it's essential to embrace modern job search strategies to stand out and succeed. Whether you're looking t...
Jul 22, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast