Welcome to the final part of our three-episode series designed to help you diagnose what's not working in your UX job search, so you can finally fix it. In this episode, Sarah breaks down the third and final symptom of a stalled search: Stranger Syndrome.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re being ghosted, not getting referrals, or struggling to build meaningful connections with hiring managers or colleagues, this one’s for you.
Sarah explains how to identify the five signs of Stranger Syndrome and why treating your career like a product can help you design, market, and sell yourself with more confidence and clarity.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ What “Stranger Syndrome” is, and why it’s stalling your UX job search
✔️ 5 specific symptoms to watch for in your networking and interview process
✔️ Why relationship-building is more important than cold outreach
✔️ How to “microwave” cold relationships and reconnect with old contacts
✔️ The power of the Product of You framework (Design. Market. Sell.)
✔️ Why skipping clarity work keeps you stuck in a cycle of job search rejection
Related Episodes:
147: [Part 2/3: Diagnose Your UX Job Search] Are you an invisible genius in your UX career?
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Purpose
00:38 Diagnosing UX Job Search Problems
01:56 The Product of You Philosophy
07:36 Understanding Stranger Syndrome
08:49 Symptoms of Stranger Syndrome
16:08 Overcoming Stranger Syndrome
18:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
24:10 Career Strategy Lab Invitation
🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market
👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.
👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
In this episode, Sarah sits down with Phoenix, a Career Strategy Lab (CSL) member who shares what it's like to be in the middle of their UX job search transformation.
Phoenix opens up about the identity crisis that came from trying to be what companies wanted and how shifting toward a product-thinking approach—treating their career like a system—led to clarity, confidence, and traction. This is a must-listen for any UX or product professional feeling stuck, unfocused, or uncertain about how to move forward in today’s job market.
You’ll hear Phoenix share the exact moment things started to click, the biggest mindset shifts since joining CSL, and how things like a simple resume rewrite not only clarified their value—but also unlocked a potential $20K salary bump.
Whether you’re pivoting into UX, climbing toward leadership, or simply tired of second-guessing yourself, Phoenix’s story will help you see what’s possible when you stop trying to be someone you’re not and start owning what you bring to the table.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ How Phoenix went from feeling irrelevant to in control of their UX career
✔️ Why “conforming” to what employers want actually backfires—and what to do instead
✔️ The power of the compass statement and how it transforms resumes, portfolios, and interviews
✔️ How systems thinking applies to both UX and job search strategy
✔️ The emotional journey of building a personal brand that reflects your true strengths
✔️ Why clarity is more powerful than pep talks when it comes to confidence
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy Lab
00:38 Episode Overview and Open House Context
01:22 Q&A with Phoenix: UX Job Search Insights
03:59 Phoenix's Journey: From Uncertainty to Clarity
07:33 The Power of a Strong Resume and Compass Statement
20:04 Emotional Impact and Personal Growth
24:19 Advice for Job Seekers and Final Thoughts
🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market
👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.
👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
Think you’re great at what you do but still not landing interviews? You might be stuck in Invisible Genius Mode—and it’s costing you opportunities.
In this episode, Sarah introduces the second major UX job search roadblock in her diagnostic series: Invisible Genius Mode. It’s the frustrating space where you know you're qualified—and so do your colleagues—but your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn aren’t making it clear to hiring teams.
Sarah walks through 4 key symptoms of Invisible Genius Mode, explains why it’s a marketing problem (not a skills problem), and gives you a simple framework to reposition yourself as an in-demand candidate.
This is Part 2 of a 3-part series on diagnosing your UX job search struggles.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ The 4 signs you’re stuck in Invisible Genius Mode
✔️ Why strong skills don’t matter if your materials don’t communicate them
✔️ How to use Sarah’s “Product of You” philosophy to stand out
✔️ Why your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn must all tell the same story
✔️ What to change if you keep hearing “you’re a perfect fit” but still don’t get hired
Related Episodes:
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to UX Job Search Series
00:48 The Product of You Philosophy
06:01 Understanding Invisible Genius
08:10 Symptoms of Invisible Genius
10:37 Overcoming Invisible Genius
14:59 Conclusion and Next Steps
17:06 Final Thoughts and Resources
17:47 Special Message for Struggling Job Seekers
🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market
👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.
👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
After a UX layoff left him uncertain about his next step, Jonathan, a UX leader with 20+ years of experience, turned to Career Strategy Lab to rebuild his confidence, reposition his experience, and take control of his job search. In this open house conversation, Jonathan shares what made the biggest difference: creating a tailored UX portfolio, clarifying his story, and rethinking how he showed up on LinkedIn.
Jonathan went from unsure and out of practice to landing multiple interviews, gaining recruiter attention, and receiving an offer—all while feeling more empowered about his future than ever before.
If you’re feeling stuck, scattered, or unsure about how to sell yourself in the UX job market, Jonathan’s story will show you what’s possible when you stop guessing and get strategic.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ How Jonathan reframed his UX career story after 20 years in the industry
✔️ Why he downsized his portfolio and tailored it to each job
✔️ The mindset shift that helped him stop underselling himself
✔️ Why confidence is built through action, not perfection
✔️ What helped him go from job seeker to in-demand candidate
✔️ Advice for anyone considering joining Career Strategy Lab's UX job search accelerator
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Sarah Doody and Career Strategy Lab
00:38 Episode Overview and Open House Context
02:10 Jonathan's Career Journey and UX Strategy
05:48 Tailoring Your Portfolio for Success
09:22 The Importance of Confidence and Community Feedback
16:45 Final Advice and Encouragement
20:10 Conclusion and Podcast Information
20:49 Special Message for Job Seekers
🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market
👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.
👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
Are you a UX professional struggling to explain who you are or what you want next? You’re not alone. Here’s how to clear the fog and move forward with clarity.
If you’ve been feeling stuck in your UX career, unsure of your strengths, hesitant to apply for jobs, or wondering if you still belong in the industry, then this episode is for you.
Sarah introduces the concept of Career Identity Fog, a feeling of misalignment that can erode your confidence and sabotage your job search.
But there’s good news: You can use UX research and strategy tools on yourself to lift the fog and reposition your career with clarity and conviction.
This is Part 1 of a special 3 part series on diagnosing your UX job search challenges, so make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the other episodes in this series.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ What Career Identity Fog is—and why so many UX professionals are feeling it
✔️ 5 signs you’re stuck in identity fog (and how it’s slowing down your job search)
✔️ A 3-part framework to rediscover who you are and what you want in your UX career
✔️ Why confidence doesn’t come from trends—it comes from clarity
✔️ How one woman got hired by clearly articulating her ideal role on LinkedIn
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: Overcoming Career Identity Fog
00:31 Understanding Career Identity Fog
01:21 Diagnosing Your UX Job Search
03:40 Symptoms of Identity Fog in Your Career
11:33 Job Search Diagnosis Checklist
17:21 Clearing the Identity Fog: Steps to Take
23:55 Real-Life Success Stories
28:02 Conclusion and Next Steps
29:46 Career Strategy Lab: Your Path to Success
31:25 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market
👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.
👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
After being laid off and earning a Master’s degree in UX, Melp still wasn’t landing UX job interviews. What changed? She stopped applying to everything and started thinking strategically.
In this Q&A from a Career Strategy Lab Open House, Sarah Doody talks with Melp, a UX researcher turned product manager, about the ups and downs of her UX job search journey. Despite years of experience, a Masters degree in UX from the University of Michigan, and hundreds of UX job applications, Melp wasn’t getting traction, until she joined Career Strategy Lab.
You’ll hear how she slowed down to get clear, challenged the narrative that she was “difficult to work with,” and started positioning herself as a strategic asset (not a liability). Her confidence began to rebuild, not because of a new certification, but because she finally saw her work for what it was: valuable.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ Why Melp chose strategy over hustle in her UX job search
✔️ How the Career Compass Sprint helped her identify what she really wanted
✔️ The mindset shift from “I’m difficult” to “I’m a high-impact team member”
✔️ Why she stopped over-preparing and started owning her story
✔️ How CSL’s “minimum viable portfolio” mindset freed her up to move forward faster
✔️ The difference between traditional career support and CSL’s strategic, in-depth process
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy Lab
02:14 Melp's Career Journey and Challenges
03:39 The Importance of Finding the Right Job
05:25 Deep Dive into Career Compass Sprint
07:02 Confidence and Self-Discovery
09:02 The Diva Mindset and Environment Fit
17:02 CSL's Unique Approach and In-Depth Process
22:18 Final Thoughts and Advice for Job Seekers
24:13 Conclusion and Podcast Outro
24:53 Special Message for Job Seekers
🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market
👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.
👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
If you’re in a UX job search and wondering, “Is it just me, or is UX hiring slower than ever?” you’re not imagining it. In this episode, we chat with Heather Cassar, VP of People at Narmie (a fintech startup) who brings 15+ years of experience leading hiring, people strategy, and global team growth at companies like Cash App, Uber, Block, and more.
Heather brings first hand experience about what's actually happening in UX and Product hiring, on both the startup and enterprise side.
In our conversation, we dig into why companies may take longer to hire, what’s changing in how hiring decisions are made, and what UX candidates can do to stand out, even when it feels like you’re sending resumes into a void.
Whether you’re actively applying or quietly watching the market, this episode will give you perspective and relief. Heather breaks down what’s happening behind the scenes of hiring pipelines right now and reminds us: just because it’s taking longer doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. There are still ways to stand out, you just need a UX job search strategy that reflects the reality of today’s job market.
Check out Narmi's careers page here to see if they're hiring for UX roles!
Topics discussed:
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & about Heather’s background
00:45 – Why UX hiring feels “wild” right now
04:00 – What’s slowing down the hiring process from the company side
06:30 – The return of more rigorous headcount approval
07:15 – Why candidates are hesitant to even take recruiter calls
08:30 – The emotional risk of leaving one “meh” job for another
09:15 – Are contract roles bad? Heather’s surprising take
10:30 – Why contract roles aren’t a red flag to hiring managers
11:30 – What companies actually want to see on a resume
12:30 – The importance of storytelling over perfection
13:45 – How Heather screens for “intentionality” in candidates
15:00 – The challenge of employer branding at smaller companies
16:10 – Why “unicorn” job descriptions confuse candidates
17:20 – Heather’s thoughts on AI-generated portfolios and resumes
18:30 – Referrals vs. cold applications: which one matters more?
19:45 – Heather’s take on design exercises and case studies
22:30 – Why clarity + connection beats overly polished language
25:15 – Common mistakes candidates make in storytelling
28:45 – How to stay confident during a slow job search
34:10 – Heather’s advice to mid-career UX pros feeling stuck
40:25 – Closing thoughts & where to connect with Heather
🎬 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.
Think you need a perfect UX portfolio and hundreds of job applications to land a senior UX role? Think again.
In this episode, UX career coach Sarah Doody talks with Laura, a former physician turned UX designer, about how she landed a Principal Product Design role, without even applying.
Laura shares how she turned a contract job into a 2.5-year role at Cisco, why she joined Sarah Doody's UX career coaching program, Career Strategy Lab, twice. Laura also shares how staying ready (not scrambling) made all the difference when her UX contract ended. Spoiler: she was hired again within two weeks, and her new VP of Product found her on LinkedIn.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ How Laura pivoted from medicine to UX and built her confidence along the way
✔️ Why having just one solid case study was enough to land multiple interviews
✔️ The key mindset shift that helped her stand out—even in a competitive market
✔️ How staying visible on LinkedIn led to a job offer without applying
✔️ Why portfolio perfectionism keeps talented UXers stuck
✔️ The benefit of specializing in a niche like cybersecurity or networking
✔️ How CSL’s frameworks helped her lead, mentor, and present more confidently
Timestamps:
02:06 Laura's Career Journey and Success with Career Strategy Lab
05:23 Importance of Testing and Networking
09:06 Specialization and Job Search Strategy
12:53 Applying Career Strategy Lab Skills in the Workplace
17:39 Final Thoughts and Advice for Job Seekers
19:29 Conclusion and Podcast Information
20:09 Special Message for Job Seekers
🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market
👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.
👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
If you've ever wondered why your UX or product design portfolio isn't getting attention, this episode is your answer.
In this mini workshop, Sarah walks you through the most critical and overlooked fix you can make to your portfolio right now. It’s simple, strategic, and backed by nearly a decade of hiring results.
Spoiler: This isn’t about adding more screens or showing more visuals. It’s about how you tell the story of your work—and it all starts with how you use headlines.
Whether you’re mid-job search or quietly preparing for your next move, this portfolio tip will make your work easier to read, more memorable, and more effective for all 3 types of portfolio users: recruiters, hiring managers, and future colleagues.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ The 3 users of your portfolio—and what they actually need
✔️ Why most portfolios fail the “headline” test (and how to fix yours today)
✔️ How to use the inverted pyramid framework from journalism to structure your slides
✔️ Why a single, sentence-style headline can change how long someone spends with your work
✔️ The easiest way to assess and upgrade your portfolio in under 30 minutes
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Sarah Doty and Career Strategy Lab
00:43 Starting the UX Portfolio Mini Workshop
03:23 Understanding the Users of Your Portfolio
06:57 The Inverted Pyramid Framework
10:59 Practical Portfolio Tips and Examples
17:33 The Importance of Headlines in Your Portfolio
30:03 Q&A and Additional Advice
33:22 Conclusion and Final 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.
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
After 18 months of job searching with no results, Mariah was out of steam and questioning everything—until she joined Career Strategy Lab.
In this Open House conversation, Sarah talks with Mariah, a UX researcher and experience strategist with a background in customer support and consulting. Mariah came to CSL after burning out from a year and a half of job searching while trying to relocate to Copenhagen. In this honest episode, she shares what finally helped her stop spinning, reconnect with herself, and gain the clarity, confidence, and support she’d been missing.
Whether you’re new to UX or deep in burnout, Mariah’s story will remind you that it’s not too late—and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ What job searching for 18+ months taught Mariah about burnout and boundaries
✔️ Why trying to “game the system” kept her stuck and exhausted
✔️ How the Compass Sprint reconnected her to her voice, identity, and strengths
✔️ Why the mindset calls inside CSL helped her finally feel like herself again
✔️ How to balance personal and professional identity in your job search
✔️ Her advice for perfectionists and overthinkers: take action, even when it’s messy
Timestamps:
02:27 Mariah's Background and Career Journey
04:21 Joining Career Strategy Lab: Initial Experiences
08:09 Impact of Mindset Calls
11:50 Tangible Actions and Career Roadmap
18:43 Final Advice and Closing Remarks
21:22 Podcast Outro and Additional Resources
22:03 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 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.
Apple's iconic marketing helps it stand out because it emphasizes it's benefits, not just features. Instead of just listing every feature of it's products, Apple leans into the benefits. And this tactic, is also how you can stand out as a candidate in your job search.
In this episode, we'll use resume examples to show how you can highlight your benefits, and not just your responsibilities and features. .
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ Why listing responsibilities makes your resume blend in (not stand out)
✔️ How to turn “feature” statements into compelling benefit-driven bullets
✔️ The marketing lesson Sarah borrowed from Steve Jobs
✔️ Real before-and-after examples from UX candidates
✔️ Why identifying and believing your own value is step #1
✔️ How to infuse your unique benefits across every career “touchpoint”
Timestamps:
00:40 The Importance of Focusing Beyond Responsibilities
02:35 Understanding the Product of You
04:32 Communicating Benefits Over Features
05:43 Real-World Examples of Benefit-Focused Statements
09:10 Becoming a Benefit-Focused Candidate
18:52 Recap and Final Thoughts
21:16 Conclusion and Additional Resources
22:04 Special Message for Job Seekers
🎬 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 | Instagram
Wondering how to stand out in UX without burning out? Former technical recruiter Ellie shares her story of switching into product design—and how Career Strategy Lab helped her get her confidence back.
In this episode, Sarah interviews Ellie, a former technical recruiter turned UX designer, who joined Career Strategy Lab while navigating new motherhood, burnout, and the unpredictable job market. Despite landing interviews, Ellie felt stuck—and knew she needed a structured, supportive way to rebuild confidence and stand out.
You’ll hear how she overcame perfectionism, reframed her job search, and built career habits that now extend beyond her portfolio and into her life.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ Why Ellie left tech recruiting to pursue UX—and doesn’t regret it
✔️ What made her say “yes” to CSL (and why she wishes she joined sooner)
✔️ How the Compass Statement gave her clarity and saved her time
✔️ The unexpected life shifts that came from doing the work with intention
✔️ Tips for breaking perfectionism and building habits that stick
✔️ What it’s like to join CSL while navigating new parenthood and burnout
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy Lab
00:38 Episode Overview and Open House Context
02:23 Meet Ellie: From Technical Recruiter to Product Designer
05:19 Ellie's Career Journey and CSL Experience
09:16 The Impact of Career Strategy Lab
18:47 Advice and Final Thoughts
21:32 Conclusion and Next Steps
⭐ 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.
Still waiting for recruiters to notice you? One small change to your LinkedIn profile could change everything.
In this episode, Sarah shares a real story from a workshop attendee who updated just one line of their LinkedIn profile and got five solid recruiter leads within 24 hours. You’ll learn what part of your profile to focus on (hint: it’s the headline), how to write it in a way that stands out, and why clarity and positioning matter more than lofty statements like “designing for impact.”
Plus, Sarah breaks down the three-part UX job search strategy you need to attract the right opportunities, without burning out, second-guessing, or rewriting your portfolio 100 times.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ The one LinkedIn section that has the biggest impact on recruiter outreach
✔️ Why most UX job seekers get their headlines totally wrong
✔️ How to apply product strategy thinking to your career
✔️ The 3 essential UX job search strategies: Design, Marketing, and Sales
✔️ What happens when you’re missing even one of those strategies
✔️ How to stand out in a sea of qualified candidates (without starting from scratch)
Additional Resources:
Episode 18: Avoid This Mistake When Writing Your LinkedIn Profile headline
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Purpose
00:38 The Power of LinkedIn Optimization
01:27 Understanding the UX Hiring Process
02:45 Crafting a Standout LinkedIn Headline
05:33 Three Key Strategies for UX Job Search
07:27 Invitation to the Workshop
08:10 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
09:29 Conclusion and Additional Resources
10:09 Special Message for Struggling Job Seekers
🎬 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 | Instagram
Laid off and wondering if you’ve “missed your shot”? This story will change how you think about career momentum.
In this Open House conversation, Sarah sits down with Manny, a senior UX designer who transitioned into UX after a decade in graphic design and just landed a role at Fidelity. After getting laid off and spending weeks spinning his wheels, Manny joined Career Strategy Lab to bring clarity, structure, and confidence back to his job search.
In this honest and insightful conversation, Manny shares what helped him rebuild momentum, how the Compass Sprint shaped everything from his resume to interviews, and why he wishes he’d joined sooner.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ How Manny landed a UX role at Fidelity after being laid off
✔️ The single most valuable CSL exercise (that he didn’t expect)
✔️ Why clarity leads to faster progress across your materials
✔️ How the Compass Statement helped him shape his story and stand out
✔️ Why applying early in your job search saves you time, money, and confidence
✔️ How to make the most of CSL—whether you’re employed or not
Timestamps:
02:28 Meet Manny: A UX Designer's Journey
03:51 Navigating Job Search Challenges
06:16 The Impact of Career Strategy Lab
12:27 Advice for UX Job Seekers
14:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
15:07 Podcast Outro and Additional Resources
15:47 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 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.
Feeling overwhelmed by how much UX experience you have, or unsure how to translate it in today’s UX job market? This episode is for you.
In this episode, Sarah talks with Chris Griffith, a UX professional with over 30 years of experience, about what it really takes to re-enter the job market after a long stretch at one company. Chris shares how he used Career Strategy Lab to reframe his story, create momentum, and build a complete suite of job search materials—from resume to portfolio—without burning out.
From tending his “career garden” to turning hikes into problem-solving sessions, Chris offers powerful reminders that progress isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention, space, and support.
✔️ How Chris navigated a layoff after 9 years at the same company
✔️ What helped him stay focused and finish his portfolio without burnout
✔️ Why the LinkedIn sprint was a game-changer for getting found
✔️ The mental shift that helped him stop over-explaining and start storytelling
✔️ How nature and structure kept his confidence high and mindset grounded
✔️ His top tip for anyone thinking about joining Career Strategy Lab
00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome
00:16 Meet Sarah Doty: Your Career Guide
00:54 Episode Overview and Open House Context
01:38 Chris's UX Journey: From CD-ROMs to Career Strategy Lab
04:05 Navigating Job Search Challenges
06:49 The Importance of Diligence and Balance
07:21 The Healing Power of Nature
08:39 Career Strategy Lab Sprints: A Deep Dive
11:54 Final Tips and Encouragement
13:03 Conclusion and Farewell
13:19 Podcast Outro and Additional Resources
13:59 Special Message for Job Seekers
🎯Want to learn more about the critiques, community, coaching calls, and everything inside Career Strategy Lab? Apply or learn more.
⭐ 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.
Worried your career break in UX has made you unemployable? Let’s talk about what’s actually holding you back.
In this episode, Sarah tackles a concern she hears constantly: “Did my career break ruin my chances of getting hired in UX?” Whether you took time off for caregiving, burnout, travel, or health, this episode will help you stop spiraling and start focusing on what really matters, your story.
You’ll learn the 3 strategies every UX job seeker needs (Design, Marketing, Sales), how to tell if you’re missing one, and why the story you're telling about your break matters more than the break itself.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ Why your break isn’t the problem—but your story might be
✔️ What “terminal uniqueness” is and how it keeps you stuck
✔️ The 3-part strategy you need to get hired (and how to know what’s missing)
✔️ How to shift from self-doubt to clarity in your job search
✔️ Why visibility and connection matter more than perfection
✔️ How to rebuild your momentum with intention—not burnout
00:38 The Impact of Career Breaks on UX Careers
00:56 The Importance of Your Personal Story in Job Searches
01:22 Addressing Career Break Concerns
03:37 LinkedIn's Career Break Feature
05:28 Three Essential Strategies for UX Candidates
09:53 Identifying Gaps in Your Job Search Strategies
12:23 Building and Leveraging Professional Relationships
16:51 Final Thoughts and Workshop Invitation
18:35 Conclusion and Additional Resources
⭐ 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.
Think your UX background is too different to get hired? That mindset might be the real problem. In this episode, Sarah discusses the concept of terminal uniqueness, the belief that your career path is so unusual or messy that none of the strategies that work for others could possibly work for you. Whether you’ve been freelancing, pivoting careers, or have decades of experience, this mindset could be holding you back far more than your resume.
You’ll hear real-world examples of how terminal uniqueness shows up, why it's so common (especially in UX), and what to focus on instead so you can finally move forward with clarity and confidence.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ What terminal uniqueness is—and how it sabotages your job search
✔️ Why your unconventional path is not the problem (your mindset might be)
✔️ How to reframe your “messy” UX story into your biggest asset
✔️ Why recruiters and hiring managers aren’t looking for a perfect path
✔️ The role of strategy, structure, and storytelling in getting hired
✔️ How Career Strategy Lab helps you own your story and communicate it clearly
00:00 Introduction and Background
00:38 Understanding Terminal Uniqueness
03:12 Examples of Terminal Uniqueness
04:50 Overcoming Terminal Uniqueness
06:54 Communicating Your Unique Story
08:11 Career Strategy Lab Overview
14:49 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
16:58 Podcast Outro and Additional Resources
17:37 Special Message for Job Seekers
🎬 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 | Instagram
Tired of vague AI tools that spit out generic resume rewrites and surface-level portfolio tips? Meet the smarter alternative.
In this episode, Sarah shares the behind-the-scenes strategy behind Sage—the AI agent exclusively available inside Career Strategy Lab—and why it’s already helping job seekers finish their resumes, portfolios, and LinkedIn profiles faster without sacrificing clarity or confidence.
You’ll learn why this tool is more than just a shortcut—it’s a UX-informed, coach-trained experience designed to get you unstuck and back into momentum, 24/7.
✔️ The two problems most UX job seekers face: info overload + execution overwhelm
✔️ Why most AI job search tools fail (and how Sage is different)
✔️ How Sage is trained on CSL’s proven curriculum and thousands of real conversations
✔️ Why context-specific feedback beats ChatGPT every time
✔️ How CSL members are using Sage to move faster and stop second-guessing
✔️ The one mindset shift that will help you use AI effectively in your career
00:00 Introduction and Common Job Search Struggles
00:46 Introducing Career Strategy Lab's AI Tools
02:01 Why UX Professionals Struggle in Job Searches
02:39 The Problems Our AI Tools Aim to Solve
06:53 How Our AI Tools Work
13:58 Demo of Sage, Our AI Agent
27:51 Benefits of Using Sage
29:36 Conclusion and Call to Action
🎯Want to learn more about the critiques, community, coaching calls, and everything inside Career Strategy Lab? Apply or learn more.
⭐ 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 | Instagram
Feel like you’re doing everything “right” and still not getting anywhere? You might be saying yes to too much—and it’s slowing you down.
In this episode, Sarah shares how one of Steve Jobs’ greatest strengths—his ability to say no—has shaped the design of Career Strategy Lab and her own career choices. You’ll hear how saying no to shiny objects, distractions, and opportunities that seem exciting on the surface actually leads to deeper results, more momentum, and a better UX for job seekers inside CSL.
Whether you’re applying to every job that pops up, overcommitting to upskilling, or trying to be everything to everyone, this episode is a reminder that focus is a strategy—and saying no is a skill.
✔️ What Steve Jobs’ product philosophy can teach you about your UX career
✔️ How Sarah decides what to say no to in her business—and why it matters
✔️ Why not doing “all the things” actually creates better outcomes for clients
✔️ The trade-offs you’re making every time you say yes
✔️ How saying no led to CSL’s newest AI tool + all-in-one experience
✔️ 3 reflection questions to help you narrow your focus and move forward
01:50 Steve Jobs' Focus Strategy
03:55 Applying Focus in My Career
08:01 The Importance of Specialization
11:47 Real-Life Examples of Saying No
13:28 The Ripple Effect of Focus
17:50 Final Thoughts and Career Advice
20:07 Conclusion and How to Connect
⭐ 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.
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.
✔️ 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—fast
01:00 Episode Context and Audience
02:09 Steve's Career Journey and UX Experience
05:26 The Impact of Career Strategy Lab
11:32 Iterative Process and Sprints
16:52 Final Tips and Conclusion
19:02 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 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.