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

Feel like your UX experience is too complex to explain—or too chaotic to package into a clear story? In this open house interview, Steve Sanshwe shares how he went from a chaotic job search and overwhelming case studies to landing a Principal Product Designer role—faster than he expected and at a higher level than he applied for.Steve explains how he used the Career Strategy Lab to reframe his experience, clarify his story, and attract the right roles (without redesigning his resume 10 times or burning out in the process). Whether you’re drowning in too much experience or unsure how to stand out, Steve’s journey offers practical takeaways and proof that progress—not perfection—is what moves the needle.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why Steve finally stopped rewriting the same case study and joined CSL✔️ The mindset shift that helped him clarify his story and build confidence✔️ How reframing your portfolio can attract better-fit opportunities✔️ Why he landed a higher-level role than he applied for✔️ How he used his Compass Statement to own the interview✔️ Why saying “no” to the wrong roles helped him find the right one—fastTimestamps:01:00 Episode Context and Audience02:09 Steve's Career Journey and UX Experience05:26 The Impact of Career Strategy Lab11:32 Iterative Process and Sprints16:52 Final Tips and Conclusion19:02 Closing Remarks and Podcast Information⭐ 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.

What does your UX job search have in common with Peloton? A lot more than you think. In this episode, Sarah shares the behind-the-scenes story of how a treadmill class in NYC and a Peloton bike helped her design Career Strategy Lab. You’ll learn how the principles of group fitness at scale inspired the structure, energy, and effectiveness of this UX job search accelerator—and how applying those same principles to your career can help you get out of your own head, stop procrastinating, and finally make progress.What You'll Learn in This Episode:✔️ The UX behind Sarah’s early inspiration for Career Strategy Lab✔️ How “perceived effort” can help job seekers at every level thrive in the same space✔️ Why group coaching helps beat procrastination and self-doubt✔️ What Peloton and portfolio reviews have in common (hint: shared energy)✔️ The power of community, cognitive offloading, and normalization in your job search✔️ Why DIYing your career might be the thing keeping you stuckTimestamps:00:56 The Inspiration Behind Career Strategy Lab01:29 The Concept of Group Fitness at Scale04:51 Applying Group Fitness Principles to Career Coaching06:50 Benefits of Group Coaching10:20 Normalization in Group Settings13:40 Cognitive Offloading in Group Coaching16:10 Community, Accountability, and Belonging17:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts23:32 Call to Action and Additional Resources24:47 Encouragement for Job SeekersApplied 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.🔔 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.

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 | InstagramNancy Leslie has over 30 years of UX experience—and yet, before joining Career Strategy Lab, she felt irrelevant, overlooked, and unsure of how to position herself in today’s market. In this honest and uplifting open house conversation, Nancy shares how she moved from self-doubt to spaciousness, and why she finally feels like herself again—professionally and personally.Whether you're later in your career or just feeling disconnected from your value, Nancy’s story will remind you that it’s never too late to rewrite your narrative and re-energize your future.What You'll Learn This Episode:✔️ Why years of experience can make job searching harder, not easier✔️ The emotional toll of being a runner-up again and again✔️ How Nancy reframed “aged out” into “experienced pioneer”✔️ The surprising career impact of mindset and community✔️ Why CSL didn’t box her in—but actually set her free✔️ How showing up, experimenting, and getting feedback changed everythingTimestamps:00:58 Episode Overview and Special Format01:42 Introducing Nancy: A UX Veteran02:10 Nancy's Journey in UX03:16 The Impact of Career Strategy Lab04:47 Mindset Shifts and Career Growth12:04 The Role of Community and Coaching15:56 Final Thoughts and Advice17:20 Conclusion and Podcast Outro18:04 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.

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 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 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 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 “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 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 | 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 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 | 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 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 | 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 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, 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 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.