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

Sarah Doody from Career Strategy Lab
  • 0.0 (0)
  • KARRIERE
  • WÖCHENTLICH

Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast, with Sarah Doody, a UX Researcher & Product Designer with 20 years of experience who is helping UX and Product people design their careers. You’ll learn how to advance your UX or Product career including how get hired in UX, stay hired, get promoted, and build a personal brand and visibility. You’ll also hear no BS tips to optimize your UX resume and portfolio, navigate your UX job search, and prepare for UX job interviews so you can stop being invisible and be seen as an in-demand UX professional. Get ready to UX your career, ironic, right?!

  1. VOR 5 TAGEN

    147: [Part 2/3: Diagnose Your UX Job Search] Are you an invisible genius in your UX career?

    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: 145: [Part 1/3: Diagnose Your UX Job Search] Escaping UX Career Identity Fog & Why Your Identity Is Your Superpower 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.

    17 Min.

  2. 27. OKT.

    146: How Jonathan Stopped Redesigning His UX Portfolio and Started Getting Interviews

    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.

    22 Min.

  3. 20. OKT.

    145: [Part 1/3: Diagnose Your UX Job Search] Escaping UX Career Identity Fog & Why Your Identity Is Your Superpower

    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.

    33 Min.

  4. 13. OKT.

    144: Finding & Owning Your UX Voice, How Melp Did With Career Strategy Lab

    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.

    26 Min.

  5. 6. OKT.

    143: UX Hiring Insights: Why It Can Take 12 Weeks to Fill UX Roles with Heather Cassar, VP of People)

    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: Why it now takes 12+ weeks (or more) to hire for UX rolesWhat’s causing hesitation on both sides of the hiring tableHow candidate caution is slowing down the top of the funnelWhy Heather says contract roles are NOT a red flag, and can lead to full-timeWhat hiring managers actually look for in resumes and portfoliosTips for standing out even when the job market feels saturatedThe value of clarity, connection, and showing real outcomesHow to tell your story without overselling or downplaying your experience 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.

    59 Min.

  6. 29. SEPT.

    142: How Laura Landed a Principal UX Design Role Without Applying (and With Only 1 Project in her UX Portfolio)

    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.

    21 Min.

  7. 22. SEPT.

    141: Design a UX Portfolio Recruiters Read for More Than 1 Minute

    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 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.

    35 Min.

  8. 15. SEPT.

    140: How a UX Researcher & CX Strategist is navigating an international job search

    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 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.

    23 Min.
Alle anzeigen (155)

Trailer

Info

Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast, with Sarah Doody, a UX Researcher & Product Designer with 20 years of experience who is helping UX and Product people design their careers. You’ll learn how to advance your UX or Product career including how get hired in UX, stay hired, get promoted, and build a personal brand and visibility. You’ll also hear no BS tips to optimize your UX resume and portfolio, navigate your UX job search, and prepare for UX job interviews so you can stop being invisible and be seen as an in-demand UX professional. Get ready to UX your career, ironic, right?!

Informationen

Das gefällt dir vielleicht auch