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

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 | InstagramStill stuck in job search mode even though you’re “doing all the right things”? This episode might explain why.What if the problem isn’t how hard you’re working—but what you’re working on?In this episode, Sarah unpacks one of the most powerful mindset shifts you can make in your career: moving from working in your career (busywork, perfectionism, burnout) to working on it (strategy, clarity, confidence). Drawing from her own business experience and the journeys of UX professionals she’s coached, Sarah shows you how to stop spinning your wheels and start making high-leverage decisions that move your career forward.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️The difference between working in vs. on your career or job search✔️ Why busy doesn’t equal progress—and what to do instead✔️ The costly habits that keep you stuck (like redesigning your resume for the 10th time)✔️ How to zoom out and make more strategic, long-term career decisions✔️ What cupcake bakers, physical therapists, and UX designers have in common✔️ 3 reflection questions to help you shift into CEO mode for your careerTimestamps:00:00 Introduction: Troubleshooting Formulas and Business Insights01:47 Starting My First Business: The Journey Begins02:13 The Importance of Working On Your Business03:22 Examples of Working In vs. On Your Business09:40 Applying Business Strategies to Your Career17:43 Actionable Tips for Career Growth21:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts🔍 Mid-Year UX Career Audit – Free Live WorkshopFeeling scattered or stuck in your UX career? Join Sarah Doody for a free, live UX Career Audit Workshop to help you pause, reflect, and plan your next move with intention.✔️ Why you need to audit your career like a product roadmap✔️ How to identify what’s working (and what’s not)✔️ Why you need Career Performance Indicators (CPIs)🎯 Register here → maven.com/sarahdoody🗺️ Free UX Career RoadmapNot sure what stage you're in—or what to focus on next in your UX career?Download Sarah Doody’s free UX Career Roadmap to get clarity on where you are and what matters most right now, whether you're job searching, pivoting, or planning ahead.✔️ Identify your current stage in the UX career journey✔️ Prioritize what to work on (and what to ignore)✔️ Avoid wasting time on the wrong things🎯 Download the roadmap → Here⭐ 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 our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join 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 from his UX position, Duncan Abel wasn’t sure how to package his 20+ years of UX experience—or if he even wanted to stay in the field. In this candid conversation, Duncan shares how Career Strategy Lab gave him the structure, community, and confidence to move forward and land a global UX leadership role at the British Standards Institute.Whether you're a senior leader navigating change or just unsure how to communicate your value, Duncan’s story will inspire you to stop doubting your experience and start owning your career path.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why being experienced doesn’t always make job searching easier✔️ How Duncan rebuilt his confidence after a layoff✔️ The surprising value of self-reflection in a job search✔️ What made interviews feel radically different this time✔️ Why your “mentor model” and “compass statement” matter more than you think✔️ How Career Strategy Lab helped him clarify, focus, and land a high-level roleTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy Podcast00:40 Meet Duncan Abel: Career Journey and Challenges04:29 The Impact of Career Strategy Lab10:30 Mentorship and Career Roadmap Insights14:09 Global Relevance of Career Strategy Lab16:45 Final Advice and Encouragement19:58 Conclusion and Social Media Call-to-ActionApplied 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.⭐ Support the show! Leave a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts to help more UX professionals find this podcast.🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join 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 “coaches takeover” episode, Career Strategy Lab coaches Erin, Steph, and Becca go behind the scenes to talk candidly about what actually happens inside Career Strategy Lab. From client wins and transformations to what makes CSL different from other career programs, you’ll hear their real talk on what works, who thrives, and why this job search container is unlike anything else.Whether you're skeptical of coaching, burnt out from DIYing your job search, or just curious about how CSL works, this episode gives you an inside look from the people who live and breathe it every day.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ What makes CSL truly different (hint: it’s not just the curriculum)✔️ The #1 thing clients think is their problem—and what it actually is✔️ What happens when people stop doom-scrolling and start taking action✔️ The unexpected power of community, mindset support, and critique feedback✔️ How CSL helps you tell a better story—not just land a job✔️ Why the coaches choose to stay (and why that matters)Timestamps:00:53 Meet the Coaches: Erin, Steph, and Becca01:25 First Impressions of Sarah Duty05:05 What Sarah Gets Right in Career Coaching09:47 Behind the Scenes of Career Strategy Lab15:14 Client Success Stories and Transformations17:32 Why We Choose to Stay with CSL24:33 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsApplied 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 | Instagram🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join 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 | InstagramIn this special solo episode, Sarah Doody shares the real story behind her first UX portfolio—and the costly mistakes she made that kept her stuck in interview limbo. From printing screenshots into a binder to learning how to treat her portfolio like a product, Sarah walks you through what finally changed the game and led to job offers, consulting gigs, and even interviews at Google.This episode isn’t just a walk down memory lane—it’s a powerful reminder that timeless UX principles always outperform trends, and that your portfolio is more than a set of case studies—it’s your career’s most important product.Whether you're reworking your portfolio, struggling to get offers, or feeling burnt out by conflicting advice, this episode will give you clarity, focus, and a fresh way forward.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why Sarah's first UX portfolio got interviews—but not offers✔️ The mistake that kept her stuck (and how she fixed it with UX strategy)✔️ Why your portfolio isn’t just a website—it’s a storytelling tool✔️ The five most common portfolio mistakes—and how to avoid them✔️ Why timeless principles beat trendy templates or AI-generated case studies✔️ How Sarah’s 2006 portfolio framework still helps people get hired todayTimestamps:00:15 Sarah Doody's Career Journey00:57 Struggles and Strategies in UX Job Search01:26 Transforming the Portfolio01:57 Early Career and Freelance Work04:11 Portfolio Evolution and Lessons Learned06:36 Modern Portfolio Strategies13:35 The Importance of Timeless Principles20:04 Common Portfolio Mistakes24:55 Final Thoughts⭐ 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 our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join 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 | InstagramIn this special open house episode, Sarah Doody chats with Joshua, a UX design leader with over 20 years of experience, about the reality of navigating a job search after a long career in enterprise environments. Josh opens up about the challenges of staying relevant in a shifting industry, rebuilding his confidence after burnout, and reframing what it means to craft a compelling portfolio—even without flashy Figma work.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ How Josh is positioning himself for a new chapter after 20+ years in UX✔️ Why your portfolio doesn’t need to be visual to be powerful✔️ The mindset shift that helped Josh regain clarity and momentum✔️ How asking former colleagues for feedback transformed his self-perception✔️ What it looks like to find leadership roles that align with your values✔️ Tips on managing your time, energy, and expectations in the job searchTimestamps:00:20 Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast00:58 Episode Overview and Listener Engagement01:43 Meet Josh Vaughn: UX Design Leader02:33 Josh's Career Journey and Challenges04:53 The Importance of Storytelling in Portfolios06:45 Building Confidence and Career Strategy11:55 Reflecting on Career Strategy Lab13:23 Final Thoughts and Advice14:51 Conclusion and Farewell16:05 Podcast Outro⭐ 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 our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join 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 | InstagramIn this special open house episode, Sarah sits down with Marcus, a UX designer and recent graduate of Career Strategy Lab (CSL), to share his powerful journey from long-term unemployment to landing a meaningful role in government design.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ How Marcus turned a cold job market into an opportunity for clarity and growth✔️ Why relationships—not cold DMs—led to the referral that got him hired✔️ How CSL’s portfolio process gave him the tools and confidence to own his value✔️ What mindset shifts helped him stay grounded during an uncertain season✔️ The power of community in navigating the emotional rollercoaster of a UX job searchTimestamps:00:18 Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast00:56 Episode Overview and Listener Engagement01:41 Guest Introduction: Marcus' Career Journey03:15 Marcus' Experience with Career Strategy Lab05:13 The Importance of Relationships and Networking06:20 Building Confidence Through Portfolio and Mindset10:07 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Community11:48 Advice for New Career Strategy Lab Members13:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts14:20 Outro and Listener Call to Action⭐ 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 our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join 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, UX Researcher & Product Designer, Sarah Doody, shares a tool she created to calculate the ROI of your UX job search. You can watch the episode here and if you wish, get your own personalized UX job search calculator.You might think your DIY job search is saving you money, but the truth is, it’s likely costing you tens of thousands in lost income, time, and emotional energy. In this eye-opening episode, Sarah Doody breaks down the real cost of an inefficient UX job search using her custom-built UX Job Search ROI Calculator. You’ll follow 3 real-world scenarios, a mid-level designer, a career switcher, and a junior designer, and see how seemingly small inefficiencies (like endless applications and resume rewrites) quickly add up to five-figure losses.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.🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join 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 | InstagramIn this candid and encouraging open house conversation, Sarah Doody interviews Fritz Boyle, a UX researcher and Career Strategy Lab (CSL) graduate who recently landed a program manager role at Amazon—after nearly two years of job searching.Fritz shares what changed when he finally stopped spinning his wheels and committed to a strategic process. From rebuilding his portfolio and resume with intention, to regaining confidence through storytelling, community, and reflection, Fritz walks us through the exact mindset and tactical shifts that helped him move from burnout to breakthrough.Whether you’ve been job searching for months or you’re just starting out, this episode is a reminder that it’s never too late to get clear, realign your strategy, and step into the next chapter of your career with confidence.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why applying to every UX job doesn’t work—and what to do instead✔️ How creating a portfolio isn’t just about design—it’s about clarity and confidence✔️ The role of community and coaching in rebuilding after rejection✔️ How Fritz moved from doubt to a leadership role in AI research at Amazon✔️ Why following a structured process made all the difference✔️ What it looks like to think long-term about your UX career (not just your next role)Where Fritz Works Now:🎯 Program Manager at Amazon, leading AI-powered UX research initiatives for the shopping experienceResources & Next Steps:💬 Love this episode? Share it and tag @sarahdoody with your favorite insight.⭐ Support the show! Leave a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover Career Strategy Podcast.🔔 Follow & Subscribe for weekly stories, strategies, and mindset shifts to help you thrive in your UX career.Timestamps:01:41 Meet the Guest: Fritz's Journey02:52 Challenges in the Job Market03:15 The Role of Career Strategy Lab05:11 Importance of Networking and Feedback06:49 Building Confidence and Storytelling09:19 Holistic Approach to Career Development16:03 Long-Term Career Strategy18:59 Final Thoughts and Advice22:33 Conclusion 🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join 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 | InstagramWould you ever design a product without doing user research first? Of course not. So why do so many UX professionals walk into job interviews without researching their users—the interviewers?In this episode, Sarah Doody shares a simple but powerful strategy that can completely change the tone and outcome of your UX job interviews. You’ll learn how to connect on a human level with interviewers by doing just a bit of thoughtful research—and how those small moments of connection can tip the scales in your favor.This isn’t about manipulation. It’s about building trust, showing empathy, and making your job search more human.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why researching your interviewers is a game-changer✔️ How one candidate at Meta used a single question to create a 5-minute connection✔️ What to look for in someone’s LinkedIn, blog, or social posts✔️ Examples of conversation starters that feel natural—not forced✔️ How to show up as thoughtful, intentional, and memorable in your interviewsWhether you're early in your UX career or a seasoned pro, this episode will help you build stronger relationships—and better results—from every interview.Resources & Next Steps:💬 Love this episode? Share it and tag @sarahdoody with your favorite insight.⭐ Support the show! Leave a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover Career Strategy Podcast.🔔 Follow & Subscribe for weekly stories, strategies, and mindset shifts to help you thrive in your UX career.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy00:56 The Power of Human Connection in Interviews01:29 Real-Life Example: Making a Personal Connection02:54 LinkedIn Post Breakdown04:05 Why UX Research Matters in Interviews05:27 Tactical Tips for Interview Research08:18 Creating Conversation Starters09:37 Conclusion and Homework11:04 Final Thoughts and Contact Information🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join 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 | InstagramYou might think soap operas have nothing to do with your UX job search, but in this episode, Sarah Doody shows you why that thinking might be keeping you stuck and invisible.Back in the 1930s, Procter & Gamble created soap operas to sell, well… soap. But what they really created was one of the most effective audience engagement strategies in marketing history. And today, you can apply the same four principles to dramatically improve your visibility and momentum as a UX job seeker.Whether you’re on the job hunt now or preparing for the future, this episode will reframe how you think about visibility, consistency, and strategy—and show you exactly where you might be going wrong.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why visibility, not just talent, gets you hired✔️ The 4 key takeaways from Procter & Gamble’s soap opera strategy✔️ How to show up where your audience (aka recruiters & hiring managers) are already hanging out✔️ Why timing and repetition are critical to your job search success✔️ What most UX portfolios and resumes get totally wrong✔️ The mindset shift that turns your job search from passive to powerfulResources & Links Mentioned:📌Avoid this mistake when writing your LinkedIn profile headline (Podcast)📌How commenting and posting on LinkedIn can land you more interviews and opportunities (Podcast)📌 What to post on LinkedIn to increase your visibility in your job search (Podcast)📌 LinkedIn mistakes to avoid & how to optimize your LinkedIn profile (Podcast)📌Stop Sending Recruiters Cold Emails & Get Them To Reply By Doing This Instead (Podcast)💬 Love this episode? Share it and tag @sarahdoody with your favorite insight.⭐ Support the show! Leave a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover Career Strategy Podcast.🔔 Follow & Subscribe for weekly stories, strategies, and mindset shifts to help you thrive in your UX career.Timestamps:00:33 Unlocking Career Success with Strategy00:55 Soap Operas and Your UX Job Search01:24 The Birth of Soap Operas: A Marketing Masterstroke02:13 Applying Soap Opera Strategies to Your Job Search03:49 Lesson 1: Go Where Your Audience Is05:53 Lesson 2: Design for Your Audience08:26 Lesson 3: Repetition Builds Trust10:59 Lesson 4: Timing Matters13:05 Conclusion: Applying the Soap Opera Strategy15:11 Final Thoughts and Contact Information🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join 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.