Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody | UX, Product Design, UX Research

Still applying to dozens, or hundreds, of UX roles and not hearing back? It’s not the number of applications that gets you hired. It’s the strategy behind how you position yourself.In this rapid-fire episode, Sarah breaks down the five things she consistently sees among UX candidates who are getting hired right now. Whether you’ve applied to 50, 100, or 200+ jobs without results, these are the shifts that will change your job search immediately.This episode is your wake-up call: Stop applying to more roles and start fixing these five root issues.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why applying to more jobs won’t fix your job search✔️ How to optimize your LinkedIn so recruiters find you✔️ Why most candidates dramatically undervalue their skills✔️ The danger of getting feedback from people who aren't involved in hiring✔️ The truth about UX portfolios—and why yours should not be a website✔️ Why clarity about what you want is the real job search shortcutTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and Purpose00:38 Common Job Search Mistakes02:07 Leveraging LinkedIn for Job Search04:18 Valuing Your Skills and Experience07:22 Overcoming the Unhirable Mindset10:46 Creating Effective Portfolios14:18 Clarity in Career Goals17:57 Recap and Final Thoughts19:28 Career Strategy Lab and Workshops20:56 Podcast Reviews and Closing🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

In this interview, Sarah sits down with Steven, a longtime UX leader who spent 17 years at the same digital agency before an unexpected layoff forced him to re-evaluate everything. With no portfolio, no updated resume, and low confidence, Steven joined Career Strategy Lab, and everything changed.Today, Steven is thriving as a fractional product design director, long-term contractor, and consultant helping companies elevate their UX teams and integrate AI into their workflows. In this conversation, he shares how Career Stratgegy Lab's UX job search accelerator helped him rebuild his confidence, tell a clear story about 20+ years of experience, streamline his job search, and even reinvent himself as a business owner.Whether you're mid-career, coming out of a layoff, or curious about consulting, Steven’s story is a grounding reminder that clarity, strategy, and community can completely change your UX career trajectory.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ How Steven went from 25% confidence to 80% confidence in his job search✔️ The myth he had to unlearn: your portfolio is not the first step✔️ Why clarity + foundational work = faster, less stressful job search✔️ How CSL’s community accelerated his progress and kept him motivated✔️ The mindset shift that helped him stop applying blindly to jobs✔️ How he now uses CSL’s frameworks to land consulting and contract roles✔️ Why your “career operating system” needs ongoing updates✔️ How knowing your values helps you choose the right opportunitiesTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Sarah Doody and Career Strategy Lab00:38 Episode Overview and Open House Context01:26 Sarah Doody's Background and UX Career Coaching02:31 Steven's Journey and Career Strategy Lab Experience04:13 Building Confidence and Telling Your Story06:25 The Power of Community and Networking09:55 Mindset Shifts and Career Value Criteria13:03 Freelance and Consulting Success Tips16:01 Final Thoughts and Advice18:53 Conclusion and Next Steps🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

In this special coach takeover episode Erin, one of the coaches inside Career Strategy Lab's UX job search accelerator, breaks down the three most important things UX and product professionals should focus on in Q4 to set themselves up to get hired in Q1 of 2026.Whether you're feeling stuck, doubting your materials, overwhelmed by your portfolio, or unsure what support you actually need, this episode gives you a strategic and human approach to moving your job search forward.Erin shares what she and the CSL team are seeing every week while reviewing resumes, portfolios, and LinkedIn profiles—and the biggest patterns that determine whether someone gains traction or stays stuck in place.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why you must rethink who you’re getting job search feedback from✔️ How inaccurate feedback erodes confidence—and what to do instead✔️ The “back to basics” portfolio reset that outperforms flashy trends✔️ Why hiring managers want clarity over cleverness (and no, you don’t need animations)✔️ How to build trust through your case study storytelling✔️ How to determine what level of support you actually need—structure, community, coaching, or therapy✔️ Why Q4 is the perfect time to prepare for Q1 hiring surgesTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy Lab00:38 Three Key Strategies for Getting Hired in Q1 202601:11 Assessing Feedback on Your Career Materials05:50 Back to Basics: Improving Your Portfolio09:19 Getting the Support You Need16:04 Recap and Final Thoughts18:49 Conclusion and Additional Resources19:32 Special Message for Job Seekers🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | InstagramTransitioning from academia to UX can be daunting, but Ellen’s story proves it’s possible. After 17 years as a professor, Ellen pivoted to a Senior Content Designer role at TD Bank, with Career Strategy Lab providing the strategy, clarity, and confidence she needed to make the leap.In this episode, Ellen shares how CSL helped her reframe her experience, confidently communicate her transferable skills, and land her UX role—all while navigating the challenges of switching careers.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ How Ellen navigated the shift from academia to UX✔️ Why confidence was her biggest challenge and how CSL helped her overcome it✔️ The importance of understanding how to communicate transferable skills✔️ How she used the Compass Statement to connect her past experience to her new career✔️ The value of having a portfolio and LinkedIn that clearly reflect your skills✔️ Ellen’s tips on standing out during the job search with an authentic, tailored approachTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Sarah Doody and Career Strategy Lab00:38 Episode Overview and Open House Context01:25 Sarah Doody's UX Career Coaching Journey02:29 Alan's Career Transition Story03:39 Building Confidence and Skills with CSL08:33 Mindset Shifts and Life Lessons10:47 Practical Tips for Job Seekers12:40 Final Thoughts and Encouragement14:04 Podcast Outro and Additional Resources14:44 Special Message for Job Seekers ⭐ Support the show! Leave a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts to help more UX professionals find this podcast.🔔 Follow & Subscribe for weekly strategies and stories to help you grow in your UX career—without the burnout.🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Welcome to the final part of our three-episode series designed to help you diagnose what's not working in your UX job search, so you can finally fix it. In this episode, Sarah breaks down the third and final symptom of a stalled search: Stranger Syndrome.If you’ve ever felt like you’re being ghosted, not getting referrals, or struggling to build meaningful connections with hiring managers or colleagues, this one’s for you.Sarah explains how to identify the five signs of Stranger Syndrome and why treating your career like a product can help you design, market, and sell yourself with more confidence and clarity.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ What “Stranger Syndrome” is, and why it’s stalling your UX job search✔️ 5 specific symptoms to watch for in your networking and interview process✔️ Why relationship-building is more important than cold outreach✔️ How to “microwave” cold relationships and reconnect with old contacts✔️ The power of the Product of You framework (Design. Market. Sell.)✔️ Why skipping clarity work keeps you stuck in a cycle of job search rejectionRelated Episodes:142: How Laura Landed a Principal UX Design Role Without Applying (and With Only 1 Project in her UX Portfolio)145: [Part 1/3: Diagnose Your UX Job Search] Escaping UX Career Identity Fog & Why Your Identity Is Your Superpower147: [Part 2/3: Diagnose Your UX Job Search] Are you an invisible genius in your UX career?Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Purpose00:38 Diagnosing UX Job Search Problems01:56 The Product of You Philosophy07:36 Understanding Stranger Syndrome08:49 Symptoms of Stranger Syndrome16:08 Overcoming Stranger Syndrome18:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts24:10 Career Strategy Lab Invitation🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Phoenix, a Career Strategy Lab (CSL) member who shares what it's like to be in the middle of their UX job search transformation.Phoenix opens up about the identity crisis that came from trying to be what companies wanted and how shifting toward a product-thinking approach—treating their career like a system—led to clarity, confidence, and traction. This is a must-listen for any UX or product professional feeling stuck, unfocused, or uncertain about how to move forward in today’s job market.You’ll hear Phoenix share the exact moment things started to click, the biggest mindset shifts since joining CSL, and how things like a simple resume rewrite not only clarified their value—but also unlocked a potential $20K salary bump.Whether you’re pivoting into UX, climbing toward leadership, or simply tired of second-guessing yourself, Phoenix’s story will help you see what’s possible when you stop trying to be someone you’re not and start owning what you bring to the table.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ How Phoenix went from feeling irrelevant to in control of their UX career✔️ Why “conforming” to what employers want actually backfires—and what to do instead✔️ The power of the compass statement and how it transforms resumes, portfolios, and interviews✔️ How systems thinking applies to both UX and job search strategy✔️ The emotional journey of building a personal brand that reflects your true strengths✔️ Why clarity is more powerful than pep talks when it comes to confidenceTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy Lab00:38 Episode Overview and Open House Context01:22 Q&A with Phoenix: UX Job Search Insights03:59 Phoenix's Journey: From Uncertainty to Clarity07:33 The Power of a Strong Resume and Compass Statement20:04 Emotional Impact and Personal Growth24:19 Advice for Job Seekers and Final Thoughts🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Feeling overlooked in your UX job search? You might be experiencing Invisible Genius Mode. Discover the four signs that signal this frustrating phase, and learn why it’s all about marketing yourself, not just your skills. Sarah introduces her 'Product of You' framework, emphasizing the importance of aligning your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn to tell a consistent story. Get tips on enhancing your case studies to showcase your thinking and learn how to stand out to hiring teams.

After a UX layoff left him uncertain about his next step, Jonathan, a UX leader with 20+ years of experience, turned to Career Strategy Lab to rebuild his confidence, reposition his experience, and take control of his job search. In this open house conversation, Jonathan shares what made the biggest difference: creating a tailored UX portfolio, clarifying his story, and rethinking how he showed up on LinkedIn.Jonathan went from unsure and out of practice to landing multiple interviews, gaining recruiter attention, and receiving an offer—all while feeling more empowered about his future than ever before.If you’re feeling stuck, scattered, or unsure about how to sell yourself in the UX job market, Jonathan’s story will show you what’s possible when you stop guessing and get strategic.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ How Jonathan reframed his UX career story after 20 years in the industry✔️ Why he downsized his portfolio and tailored it to each job✔️ The mindset shift that helped him stop underselling himself✔️ Why confidence is built through action, not perfection✔️ What helped him go from job seeker to in-demand candidate✔️ Advice for anyone considering joining Career Strategy Lab's UX job search acceleratorTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Sarah Doody and Career Strategy Lab00:38 Episode Overview and Open House Context02:10 Jonathan's Career Journey and UX Strategy05:48 Tailoring Your Portfolio for Success09:22 The Importance of Confidence and Community Feedback16:45 Final Advice and Encouragement20:10 Conclusion and Podcast Information20:49 Special Message for Job Seekers🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Are you a UX professional struggling to explain who you are or what you want next? You’re not alone. Here’s how to clear the fog and move forward with clarity.If you’ve been feeling stuck in your UX career, unsure of your strengths, hesitant to apply for jobs, or wondering if you still belong in the industry, then this episode is for you.Sarah introduces the concept of Career Identity Fog, a feeling of misalignment that can erode your confidence and sabotage your job search.But there’s good news: You can use UX research and strategy tools on yourself to lift the fog and reposition your career with clarity and conviction.This is Part 1 of a special 3 part series on diagnosing your UX job search challenges, so make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the other episodes in this series.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ What Career Identity Fog is—and why so many UX professionals are feeling it✔️ 5 signs you’re stuck in identity fog (and how it’s slowing down your job search)✔️ A 3-part framework to rediscover who you are and what you want in your UX career✔️ Why confidence doesn’t come from trends—it comes from clarity✔️ How one woman got hired by clearly articulating her ideal role on LinkedInTimestamps:00:00 Introduction: Overcoming Career Identity Fog00:31 Understanding Career Identity Fog01:21 Diagnosing Your UX Job Search03:40 Symptoms of Identity Fog in Your Career11:33 Job Search Diagnosis Checklist17:21 Clearing the Identity Fog: Steps to Take23:55 Real-Life Success Stories28:02 Conclusion and Next Steps29:46 Career Strategy Lab: Your Path to Success31:25 Final Thoughts and Encouragement🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

After being laid off and earning a Master’s degree in UX, Melp still wasn’t landing UX job interviews. What changed? She stopped applying to everything and started thinking strategically.In this Q&A from a Career Strategy Lab Open House, Sarah Doody talks with Melp, a UX researcher turned product manager, about the ups and downs of her UX job search journey. Despite years of experience, a Masters degree in UX from the University of Michigan, and hundreds of UX job applications, Melp wasn’t getting traction, until she joined Career Strategy Lab.You’ll hear how she slowed down to get clear, challenged the narrative that she was “difficult to work with,” and started positioning herself as a strategic asset (not a liability). Her confidence began to rebuild, not because of a new certification, but because she finally saw her work for what it was: valuable.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why Melp chose strategy over hustle in her UX job search✔️ How the Career Compass Sprint helped her identify what she really wanted✔️ The mindset shift from “I’m difficult” to “I’m a high-impact team member”✔️ Why she stopped over-preparing and started owning her story✔️ How CSL’s “minimum viable portfolio” mindset freed her up to move forward faster✔️ The difference between traditional career support and CSL’s strategic, in-depth processTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy Lab02:14 Melp's Career Journey and Challenges03:39 The Importance of Finding the Right Job05:25 Deep Dive into Career Compass Sprint07:02 Confidence and Self-Discovery09:02 The Diva Mindset and Environment Fit17:02 CSL's Unique Approach and In-Depth Process22:18 Final Thoughts and Advice for Job Seekers24:13 Conclusion and Podcast Outro24:53 Special Message for Job Seekers🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.