Episode 33: Get Out Of Your Own Way & Move Up The Ladder With Sarah Johnston

Have you ever struggled to find the right job only to get passed over because you didn’t interview well or know how to position yourself? Or, have you stayed in the wrong job because you were afraid to take a leap of faith and pursue your dream?

Sarah Johnston, founder of Briefcase Coach, shares her own journey of struggle being in roles that were not a good fit. And, how even after she landed jobs that aligned to her interests, her self-doubt and limiting beliefs got in the way of her achieving more. Until, she finally just pushed past her fears and became The Briefcase Coach helping countless clients land roles at top companies like Google, Deloitte, Medtronic, and more.

Sarah Johnston is a former corporate recruiter and industry "insider" who got tired of seeing talented high achievers get passed over for opportunities because they did not know how to position themselves effectively. She has been featured in Inc, BBC, and Business Insider. Sarah was named a LinkedIn Top Voice in 2019 and a "top to follow" by JobScan in 2019 and 2020.

 

Highlights:

[02:07] Sarah’s story

[04:25] Discovering your superpower

[05:55] Overcoming limiting beliefs

[09:12] The Briefcase Coach

[09:59] How the Briefcase Coach helps people pass hurdles

[12:12] Common traits of successful high performers

[14:35] Common traits that hold people back

[21:58] Essentials for success on LinkedIn

[23:30] LinkedIn Top Voice of 2019

[26:35] Trends that will shape the future of work

[29:05] Favorite success habit

[30:30] Advice on juggling priorities

[32:09] Key to accelerating success in the digital age

 

Quotes:

“Just being a hard worker, doesn't mean you'll get the opportunities you want. Sometimes, it means you have to create that opportunity.” - Sarah Johnston

“My special sauce is that I can help people see the best version of themselves, better articulate their value and tell their career stories.” – Sarah Johnston

“Not moving forward was worse than failure.” – Sarah Johnston

“I just started taking small actionable steps towards this goal of running my business. And every time I took a step forward, it was kind of relieving.” – Sarah Johnston

“Sixty to seventy percent of executive jobs are landed through networking.” – Sarah Johnston

“Networking doesn't necessarily mean you're asking for a job.” – Sarah Johnston

“Ask for advice. And then often the job will come.” – Sarah Johnston

“It's about talking to the right person at the right time about the right opportunity.” – Sarah Johnston

“Research indicates that for most job seekers, they need to have an average of 42 decision maker conversations.” – Sarah Johnston

“When you allow the reader to see the value that you bring, it positions you as a thought leader.” – Sarah Johnston

“Having a service mindset has been really key to my success.” – Sarah Johnston

 

About Sarah Johnston:

Sarah Johnston is a former corporate recruiter and industry "insider" who got tired of seeing talented high-achievers get passed over for opportunities because they did not have the right marketing documents or know how to position themselves in interviews. She has had the privilege of helping job seekers land jobs at top startups and employers like Alphabet, Amazon, Medtronic and Deloitte. She's been featured in Inc, BBC, Business Insider and more and was named a LinkedIn Top Voice in the career space in 2019 and a "top to follow" by JobScan in 2019 and 2020.

Links:

Website: www.briefcasecoach.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahDJohnston