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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 | Instagram
In 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 today
Timestamps:
00:15 Sarah Doody's Career Journey
00:57 Struggles and Strategies in UX Job Search
01:26 Transforming the Portfolio
01:57 Early Career and Freelance Work
04:11 Portfolio Evolution and Lessons Learned
06:36 Modern Portfolio Strategies
13:35 The Importance of Timeless Principles
20:04 Common Portfolio Mistakes
24:55 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.
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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 | Instagram
In 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 search
Timestamps:00:20 Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast
00:58 Episode Overview and Listener Engagement
01:43 Meet Josh Vaughn: UX Design Leader
02:33 Josh's Career Journey and Challenges
04:53 The Importance of Storytelling in Portfolios
06:45 Building Confidence and Career Strategy
11:55 Reflecting on Career Strategy Lab
13:23 Final Thoughts and Advice
14:51 Conclusion and Farewell
16:05 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.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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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 | Instagram
In 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 search
Timestamps:00:18 Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast
00:56 Episode Overview and Listener Engagement
01:41 Guest Introduction: Marcus' Career Journey
03:15 Marcus' Experience with Career Strategy Lab
05:13 The Importance of Relationships and Networking
06:20 Building Confidence Through Portfolio and Mindset
10:07 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Community
11:48 Advice for New Career Strategy Lab Members
13:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
14:20 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.
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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.
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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 | Instagram
In 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 experience
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:01:41 Meet the Guest: Fritz's Journey
02:52 Challenges in the Job Market
03:15 The Role of Career Strategy Lab
05:11 Importance of Networking and Feedback
06:49 Building Confidence and Storytelling
09:19 Holistic Approach to Career Development
16:03 Long-Term Career Strategy
18:59 Final Thoughts and Advice
22:33 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.
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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 | Instagram
Would 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 interviews
Whether 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 Strategy
00:56 The Power of Human Connection in Interviews
01:29 Real-Life Example: Making a Personal Connection
02:54 LinkedIn Post Breakdown
04:05 Why UX Research Matters in Interviews
05:27 Tactical Tips for Interview Research
08:18 Creating Conversation Starters
09:37 Conclusion and Homework
11:04 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.
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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 | Instagram
You 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 powerful
Resources & 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 Strategy
00:55 Soap Operas and Your UX Job Search
01:24 The Birth of Soap Operas: A Marketing Masterstroke
02:13 Applying Soap Opera Strategies to Your Job Search
03:49 Lesson 1: Go Where Your Audience Is
05:53 Lesson 2: Design for Your Audience
08:26 Lesson 3: Repetition Builds Trust
10:59 Lesson 4: Timing Matters
13:05 Conclusion: Applying the Soap Opera Strategy
15:11 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.
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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 | Instagram
If you’ve applied to 100+ UX jobs and still haven’t landed an interview or offer… this episode is your wake-up call.
Sarah Doody shares the tough love and practical insights you need to finally pause, reflect, and strategically pivot your job search. Because applying to more jobs isn’t the answer—strategy is.
This episode is part pep talk, part intervention, and fully packed with real talk about what it takes to get hired in today’s competitive UX job market.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why applying to 100+ jobs without results is a sign—not a failure
✔️ The difference between a numbers game and a strategy game
✔️ Why being great at UX doesn’t mean you’re great at getting hired
✔️ How to assess what’s really not working in your job search
✔️ The mindset shifts and next steps that will actually move the needle
If you’re feeling discouraged, stuck, or ready to give up—this one’s for you.
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
00:59 The Job Search Intervention
03:13 Identifying the Problem
04:01 Real-Life Analogies
06:30 The Need for Change
08:49 Seeking Expert Help
09:28 Facts vs. Emotions
17:05 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
🎬 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.
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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 | Instagram
This episode was from a session on Maven! Click here to watch the replay.
If you’re applying to UX jobs and not getting interviews, your resume might be the problem—specifically, how it interacts with the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
In this episode, Sarah Doody breaks down exactly how to format your resume so it gets past ATS filters and lands in front of recruiters and hiring managers.
You'll learn why you need TWO versions of your resume, what formatting mistakes to avoid, and how to tailor your resume for each job posting—without spending hours on every application.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why ATS matters and how it scans and ranks resumes
✔️ The difference between an ATS-friendly and a human-friendly resume
✔️ Why two-column resumes can sabotage your chances
✔️ How to use job descriptions to tailor your resume for better results
✔️ Three common resume mistakes that could be costing you interviews
✔️ Why a one-page resume could be hurting your job search
Timestamps
01:04 The Importance of a Strategic Resume
03:08 Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
06:24 How ATS Parses Your Resume
08:19 Formatting Your Resume for ATS
16:23 Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid
24:01 Recap and Final Tips
25:23 Conclusion 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.
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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 | Instagram
Welcome to another Open House episode of the Career Strategy Podcast! In this episode, Sarah Doody sits down with Jon Simmons, a seasoned product designer currently navigating the UX job search.
Jon shares his experience of revamping his portfolio, refining his job search strategy, and preparing for senior-level interviews after a layoff. He discusses how shifting his portfolio approach from a website to a presentation format significantly improved his job prospects and how structured storytelling and community support made a difference in his confidence and clarity.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ The importance of stepping back from just tweaking your portfolio and doing deeper self-reflection
✔️ How portfolio presentations (vs. websites) give you more control over your job search narrative
✔️ The role of mindset and confidence in positioning yourself for high-level UX roles
✔️ Why community and structured frameworks can prevent burnout and job search frustration
✔️ Jon’s insights on interviewing for principal product designer roles and adapting to today’s market
Timestamps
01:43 Episode Overview and Open House Context
03:14 John's Journey in Career Strategy Lab
07:12 Portfolio Presentation Insights
15:58 The Importance of Self-Reflection
18:03 Advice for Prospective Members
20:06 Conclusion and Community Highlights
21:47 Closing Remarks and Call to Action
🎬 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.
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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 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
In this special Open House episode, Sarah Doody sits down with Career Strategy Lab (CSL) alum Sarah Page to discuss her journey navigating the UX job market. From being laid off as a creative director to landing a Senior UX Designer role in health tech, Sarah shares the mindset shifts, job search strategies, and portfolio insights that helped her stand out.
She also reveals the unexpected format of her interviews, how she positioned her diverse experience to appeal to hiring managers, and why letting go of what’s out of your control is a game-changer in your job search.
If you’re struggling with rejection, resume gaps, or feeling “overqualified” and “underqualified” at the same time—this episode is for you!
What You’ll Learn:✅ Why job rejections often have nothing to do with you (and how to move forward)
✅ The power of a well-structured portfolio—and why Figma slides worked better than a website
✅ How to confidently position diverse experience (even across industries!)
✅ The mental shift that helped Sarah stay motivated through uncertainty
✅ How social proof (from hiring managers, peers, and CSL feedback) builds confidence
✅ The real role of interviews (hint: sometimes it’s just a vibe check!)
✅ Why finding the right company fit matters more than tweaking your resume endlessly
✅ How Sarah strategically approached salary negotiation and total compensation
Timestamps
01:50 Open House Overview
03:22 Success Stories and Strategies
05:47 Navigating the Job Market
09:15 Interview Experiences
13:45 Negotiating Job Offers
17:08 Advice for Job Seekers
20:45 Conclusion and Farewell
🎬 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.
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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 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
Promotions don’t just happen—you have to advocate for yourself!
In this episode, Sarah breaks down the inspiring story of Marco, a Senior Product Designer who secured a 37% increase in total compensation by leveraging his annual review process, gathering compelling evidence, and using the tools from Career Strategy Lab to make his case.
If you’ve ever wondered how to position yourself for a promotion, this episode is a must-listen. Sarah walks through Marco’s exact strategy, from recognizing his value to structuring his performance review, so you can apply the same tactics in your own career.
What You’ll Learn:
Why promotions don’t happen by chance—you have to make the case for yourself.How Marco used UX case studies from Career Strategy Lab to showcase his impact.The importance of peer reviews and selecting the right colleagues to vouch for you.How to prepare for performance review season all year round—not just weeks before.Why documenting your achievements is crucial for both promotions and job searches.Links & Resources:
Join Career Strategy Lab to fast-track your job search or promotionIf this episode resonated with you, tag Sarah on social media or leave a quick review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!
🎧 Listen now and start setting yourself up for your next promotion!
Timestamps
00:38 The Importance of Strategy in Career Growth
01:02 Case Study: Marco's Journey to Promotion
02:02 Marco's Strategy: Leveraging Career Strategy Lab
04:15 Steps Marco Took to Secure His Promotion
07:54 Key Takeaways: How to Advocate for Yourself
10:28 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
11:36 Conclusion: Stay Connected and Share Your Thoughts
🎬 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.
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Want to get hired in UX faster? Click here.
Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher who also founded the UX job search accelerator Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.
Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram
In this episode of the Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah Doody breaks down the key steps to getting hired—whether for a full-time job or a freelance contract. Through the story of Emily, a former fashion and beauty marketer turned UX writer, Sarah illustrates how refining your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn profile can dramatically increase your opportunities and earning potential.
Emily’s journey highlights the power of strategic career marketing—starting with a $35/hour contract, she grew her rate to $125/hour in under six months. Sarah shares actionable insights on how you can position yourself as the ideal candidate, attract job offers and freelance clients, and confidently communicate your value to decision-makers.
Key Takeaways
Why the hiring process for full-time and freelance work follows the same fundamental principles.How Emily used Career Strategy Lab to refine her portfolio, LinkedIn, and resume—unlocking new career opportunities.The importance of treating every professional interaction as a potential interview.How to iterate on your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn profile based on feedback.Why contract work can be a stepping stone to full-time roles (or a lucrative career path on its own).How Career Strategy Lab can help accelerate your job search—and even count as a tax-deductible expense for freelancers.Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy
01:01 Meet Emily: A UX Writing Success Story
02:34 Emily's Journey to Freelance Success
05:23 The Financial Upside of Freelancing
08:21 Key Lessons from Emily's Experience
11:55 Final Tips and Conclusion
14:12 Wrap-Up 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.
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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 | Instagram
In this episode, Sarah dives into the hidden costs of navigating your job search alone and why a DIY approach may be holding you back. Many job seekers spend months stuck in a cycle of applying, tweaking resumes, and feeling frustrated—without realizing they’re wasting valuable time, missing opportunities, and facing an unnecessary emotional toll.
Sarah breaks down why job searching requires strategy, positioning, and persistence—not just endless applications. She also shares what successful job seekers do differently, including treating their job search like a UX project, getting strategic with LinkedIn, and investing in the right tools and guidance to accelerate results.
If you’re tired of going in circles and want to land a job faster and smarter, this episode is for you!
What You’ll Learn:✅ The #1 hidden cost of a DIY job search (hint: it’s not just time wasted)
✅ Why “busy work” like tweaking your resume daily doesn’t move the needle
✅ How to spot FSP activities (False Sense of Progress) and focus on what works
✅ The missed opportunities that cost you job leads and interviews
✅ The mental and emotional toll of job searching alone—and how to fix it
✅ How to structure your job search like a UX project to get hired faster
✅ The biggest mistakes job seekers make on LinkedIn (and what to do instead)
✅ Why successful job seekers seek feedback early and often
Resources & Links Mentioned:📌 How to Post Strategically on LinkedIn (Podcast
📌 Steven’s Success Story – How He Landed a UX Research Role
📌 Join Career Strategy Lab & Get Expert Guidance
Timestamps:00:21 Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast
01:04 The Hidden Costs of Navigating Your Job Search Alone
02:47 The Real Impact of a DIY Job Search
03:18 Time: The Most Expensive Hidden Cost
05:59 Missed Opportunities in Your Job Search
09:58 Mental and Emotional Toll of a DIY Job Search
13:59 What Successful Job Seekers Do Differently
14:12 Treating Your Job Search Like a UX Project
16:08 Understanding the Users of Your Job Search
18:35 Learning from Proven Tools and Guidance
20:41 Creating Structure and Accountability
25:21 Breaking Free from the DIY Approach
27:42 Conclusion: Reflecting on Your Job Search Approach
29:05 Career Strategy Lab: Your Next Step
30:29 Final Thoughts and Farewell
🎬 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.
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In this episode, we’re taking you inside a Career Strategy Lab Open House, where we chat with Jane, a UX researcher who landed a Principal UX Researcher role at Whole Foods—despite having no prior U.S. work experience or connections!
Jane’s story is an incredible example of what’s possible when you shift from a scarcity mindset to a strategic approach in your job search.
🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ Why treating your career like a product roadmap leads to better opportunities
✔️ How Jane overcame imposter syndrome and job search doubts
✔️ The biggest mistakes she made before joining Career Strategy Lab
✔️ The power of clarity in choosing the right roles and companies
✔️ How she landed a job above the level she applied for
✔️ Why negotiation isn’t just about salary—it’s about strategy
Whether you're feeling stuck in your job search or just need some motivation, Jane’s experience will inspire you to take action and own your career strategy.
✨ Considering Career Strategy Lab? Jane shares why she believes it’s a priceless investment in your future.
🎧 Tune in now and get ready to rethink how you approach your job search!
🎬 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.
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Many career coaching programs use cohort-based models to keep participants accountable. But do they really work? In today’s episode, we’re tackling a common question: Is Career Strategy Lab’s UX Job Search Accelerator run in cohorts? Spoiler alert—it's not! And there’s a very good reason why.
Host Sarah Doody breaks down why strict cohort schedules can be limiting, how Career Strategy Lab takes a different approach, and why focusing on outcomes over rigid timelines creates a better job search experience. Whether you’re treating your job search like a full-time job or balancing it alongside a 9-to-5, this episode will help you stay accountable without the stress of falling behind.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ Why traditional cohort-based courses can actually slow you down or leave you behind.
✅ How Career Strategy Lab builds daily and weekly habits to keep you accountable.
✅ The power of sprint check-ins, deadlines, and structured flexibility for job seekers.
✅ Why focusing on outcomes over schedules is key to success.
✅ The "Three E’s" method: Execute, Engage, Encourage—and how it keeps you on track.
Links & Resources:
🔗 Learn more & apply: careerstrategylab.com/apply
📩 Questions? Send a message on LinkedIn to Sarah Doody
🎬 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.
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If you’ve been stuck in an endless cycle of tweaking, redesigning, and overanalyzing your UX resume, this episode is for you. Sarah breaks down why perfectionism keeps you from landing interviews, how to shift your mindset, and what you should focus on instead. She also shares why conflicting resume advice from too many sources slows you down and how Career Strategy Lab can help you streamline your job search with a clear, strategic approach.
Plus, Sarah announces the 1-Week Resume Sprint happening February 10-14, 2025, where you’ll create a recruiter-ready, ATS-optimized resume in just five days. Save 35% with the code RESUMELASTCALL.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ Why endlessly tweaking your resume is delaying your job search
✅ The dangers of Frankensteining feedback from multiple sources
✅ How to create a minimum viable resume and start applying now
✅ The biggest resume myths that might be holding you back
✅ Why clarity in your resume, LinkedIn, and portfolio is crucial for landing interviews
✅ How Career Strategy Lab can help you build a job search strategy that works
Join the 1-Week Resume Sprint (Feb 10-14, 2025):
If you’re ready to stop overthinking your resume and start getting interviews, join Sarah for a 5-day Resume Sprint inside Career Strategy Lab. You’ll get step-by-step lessons, feedback, and expert guidance to create a recruiter-friendly resume that actually works.
👉 Sign up now at careerstrategylab.com/maven
Timestamps:
01:08 The Resume Sprint Announcement
02:45 The Resume Rut: Why Perfection is the Enemy
04:09 Breaking Down the Resume Rut
09:20 The Importance of a Clear Career Strategy
12:07 How Career Strategy Lab Can Help
15:53 Community Support and Feedback
20:32 Conclusion: Get Out of the Resume Rut
Resources & Links:
🔹 Sign up for the 1-Week Resume Sprint
🔹 Related Episode: Why One-Page Resumes Are Overrated
🔹 Learn more about Career Strategy Lab → careerstrategylab.com
🎬 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.
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This episode of the Career Strategy Podcast features Sarah's interview on the Awkward Silences Podcast by User Interviews. In this episode, Sarah Doody is interviewed by Erin May, the CMO of User Interviews, and John-Henry Forster, who at the time of recording was the SVP of Product at User Interviews. Join them as they dive deep into treating your UX research career like a product and the pivotal strategies to become a UX research manager.
🧠 6 Key takeaways
1) Treating Your Career as a Product
Your career should be managed like a product, focusing on continuous improvement, setting goals, and building a road map. Consider the skills, experiences, and networks you want to develop for your future roles.
2) Creating a Career Road Map
Just like products have roadmaps, your career should have one too. Create a timeline of your career, noting your happiness, satisfaction, work-life balance, and other personal values.
3) Do some UX Research on Yourself
Conduct a self-assessment to map out where you’ve been in your career. Seek feedback from past colleagues to identify your strengths and areas of improvement.
4) Minimum Viable Resume and Portfolio
Focus on creating a "minimum viable" resume and portfolio to quickly test their effectiveness. This involves starting with a good enough version to see if it generates interviews, and then iterating based on feedback.
5) Relevance in Applications
Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight experiences and skills relevant to the job you’re applying for. Avoid creating generic applications that don’t adequately showcase your suitability for the role.
6) Job Market Insights
Despite recent layoffs in tech companies, the long-term demand for UX roles is expected to grow as businesses continue to prioritize digital transformation.
⏰ Timestamps
Discussing treating your career like a product: 00:00:59Identifying the importance of creating a career road map: 00:04:35How to do user research on yourself: 00:07:23Creating a minimum viable resume and portfolio: 00:16:21Insights on the current job market: 00:10:45Treating your application strategy as a marketing effort: 00:04:23The importance of having questions for your potential employer: 00:38:35Statements on learning vs. earning: 00:44:00Parting advice for listeners: 00:48:43🎬 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.
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This is a reminder that enrollment opens TODAY (Jan 29) at 4pm ET Career Strategy Lab's 3-month UX Job Search Accelerator. Here is the page to learn more or join: www.careerstrategylab.com/sprint ... enrollment will close on Fri, Jan 31 at 8pm PT.
Career Strategy Lab helps you optimize and finish your resume, portfolio, LinkedIn, etc and position yourself for a 5-figure salary increase, just like these people did:
A Senior UX Researcher from Denver got hired at an insurance company with a salary increase of $15,000A UX Designer from Washington DC got hired at a digital strategy company with a salary increase of $25,000A Senior UX Researcher from San Francisco got hired at a real estate company with a salary increase of $75,000A Senior Product Designer from Seattle got hired at an e-commerce company with a salary increase of $19,000Career Strategy Lab is the ONLY program that addresses everything in the UX job search and helps you look at it holistically ... so you can stop having one-off calls, getting conflicting advice on Reddit and LinkedIn, and finally stop the second-guessing that's caused you to re-do your resume, portfolio, etc 15 times (or more?!)
Here is the page to learn more or join: www.careerstrategylab.com/sprint ... enrollment will close on Fri, Jan 31 at 8pm PT.
Questions? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected]
🎬 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.
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In this inspiring episode of the Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah sits down with Steven, a Career Strategy Lab (CSL) alum who transitioned from uncertainty to launching his own UX research agency. Steven reflects on his journey, from overcoming self-doubt as a career switcher to building confidence, leveraging mentorship, and creating a sustainable business model. Sarah and Steven explore the role of community, structured career tools, and storytelling in navigating the job search and scaling an agency.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How to balance career switching and climbing in your professional narrative.The power of mentorship and community in building confidence and finding opportunities.How CSL’s structured resources and critiques accelerate career progress.Tips for marketing and storytelling as a freelancer or agency owner.Why action, not perfection, is key to career success.Key Takeaways:
Mentorship Creates Opportunities: Proactively seeking mentorship can open doors to projects and collaborations you may not have anticipated.Community Matters: A supportive environment accelerates learning, boosts confidence, and helps you see new possibilities for growth.Storytelling Sells: Strong communication and storytelling skills, honed through CSL, are vital for job seekers and agency owners alike.Action Over Perfection: A bias toward action—leveraging critiques and taking small steps—yields measurable results in the job market and beyond.Structure is Transformational: Tools like the career roadmap and portfolio critiques help organize thoughts and focus efforts for maximum impact.Timestamps
00:30 Meet Your Hosts
01:08 Episode Overview and Audience Context
02:03 Steven's Career Journey
02:55 Navigating Career Challenges
07:57 Building Confidence and Community
12:30 Applying Career Strategy to Business
16:19 Final Thoughts and Advice
18:50 Conclusion and Farewell
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Career Strategy Lab – Transform your job search with step-by-step support and actionable insights.Connect with Sarah: LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter.Share Your Feedback:
Did you enjoy this episode? Let Sarah know! Email her at [email protected] or tag her on social media. Don’t forget to rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts if you found this episode helpful.
🎬 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.
- Visa fler
