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

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 principles like research, iteration, and systems thinking can help job seekers and professionals stand out, avoid career plateaus, and make meaningful, intentional choices. Whether you're navigating a career transition or striving for your dream role, Sarah's actionable advice on continuous research, leveraging unique skills, and fostering authentic professional relationships is sure to inspire.Key Takeaways:Why your career is the most important "product" you'll ever work on.How to use a "career roadmap" for strategic goal setting.The role of a "compass statement" in attracting the right opportunities and filtering out the wrong ones.The value of continuous research in recalibrating your career vision.Building genuine professional relationships without the stress of traditional networking.Timestamps 01:00 Treat career as a product for success.03:58 "Treat careers like a strategic product roadmap."08:12 Journey map visualizes experiences and emotions.10:46 Continuous research is crucial for informed decisions.16:25 Domain experience stands out in career switches.19:32 Prioritize life's needs for career planning.20:47 Vision clarifies goals; compass guides decisions.25:44 Optimize LinkedIn headline for relevant searches.28:00 Transitioning to product design from art direction.32:44 Schedule regular engagement and post interested content.37:32 Cover letters help capture recruiter's attention.38:28 Use specific examples in your cover letter.More about Lee-Sean Lee-Sean Huang is a designer, educator, and storyteller who brings engaging conversations to the forefront of the design world on the AIGA Design Podcast.Stay Connected:Follow the AIGA Design Podcast for more thought-provoking episodes exploring the intersections of design, creativity, and professional development.🎬 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 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 value of investing in oneself and the benefits of the Career Strategy Lab curriculum, which helped shift their mindset and secure a job quickly. 01:04 Celebrating Episode 10001:37 Listener Engagement and Support03:01 Case Study: Landing a UX Job03:18 Introduction to Career Strategy Lab03:39 Jaden's Career Journey07:37 The Importance of Owning Your Story09:18 Key Sprints in Career Strategy Lab14:31 Advice for New and Prospective Members17:10 Final Thoughts and Encouragement17:38 Closing Remarks🎬 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.

Discover how to stand out in the competitive UX job market with strategic insights and actionable tips. Learn the importance of crafting tailored resumes and approaching interviews with a user-focused mindset. Explore how to treat the job search like a UX challenge, making a lasting impression on recruiters. Practical advice on refining your personal branding and navigating the job search funnel will empower you to elevate your applications and increase your chances of landing that coveted offer.

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 into your busy schedule. Whether you're eyeing a promotion, preparing for possible layoffs, or just curious about staying market-ready, this episode is packed with actionable advice you won't want to miss. Ready to rethink your career game plan? Tune in to learn how to stay ahead in today’s ever-changing job market.LinksSarah mentions another Career Strategy Podcast Episode about including numbers in your resume - check that out here! Timestamps00:00 Introduction: Understanding Job Market Demands00:18 Meet Your Host: Sarah Duty00:56 The Freelancer Mindset for Career Success02:56 Avoiding Complacency in Full-Time Roles04:50 Adopting Effective Freelance Habits08:56 Documenting Wins and Building Relationships12:55 Staying Updated with Market Trends15:51 Always Be Open to New Opportunities19:43 Conclusion: Implementing the Freelancer Mindset20:59 Stay Connected and Share Your 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.

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 leave thoughtful comments, avoid robotic replies, and move valuable conversations to direct messages. Plus, hear a real-life success story about how these strategies worked for a senior UX researcher. If you’re ready to transform your networking approach and boost your job search outcomes, hit play and take the first step today.Timestamps00:00 Introduction01:00 Why Cold Messages Get Ignored01:41 The Solution: Leveraging LinkedIn02:35 Five Strategies to Warm Up Your Connections05:16 Strategy 1: Follow Key People05:56 Strategy 2: React to Their Content06:23 Strategy 3: Leave Thoughtful Comments07:10 Strategy 4: Be Authentic, Not Robotic08:15 Strategy 5: Move Conversations to DMs10:05 Real-Life Success Story: Danielle11:38 Final Tips and Action Items13:06 Conclusion🎬 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 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 questions, feel free to email us at hello@sarahdoody.com🎬 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 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🎬 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.

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 importance of reflecting on past experiences, both good and bad, and how this self-assessment improved his job interviews.The conversation touches on the importance of analyzing past experiences, building confidence, and leveraging community support. This episode includes insights and actionable advice for anyone looking to take charge of their career strategy.Tune in to hear Jamie's honest account and actionable tips for career growth.Timestamps01:00 Special Episode Announcement01:50 Meet Jamie: A Career Journey03:50 The Power of Community in Career Strategy Lab05:41 Mindset Shifts and Career Roadmaps11:25 The Impact of Detailed Case Studies13:33 Global Relevance of Career Strategy Lab14:33 Final Advice and Encouragement16:45 Closing Remarks🎬 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 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 hundreds of jobs.Enrollment is OPEN for Career Strategy Lab until Wed, Nov 20. Visit www.careerstrategylab.com/sprint to learn more or join.If you have any questions feel free to email us at hello@sarahdoody.com🎬 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 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 instead focus on "good enough" ... because if you don't stop perfecting, you won't start applying. And it is possible to get hired with a "good enough" portfolio.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.Enrollment is OPEN for Career Strategy Lab until Wed, Nov 20. Visit www.careerstrategylab.com/sprint to learn more or join.If you have any questions feel free to email us at hello@sarahdoody.com🎬 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.