Job Search, Promotion, and Career Clarity: The Mid-Career GPS Podcast

John Neral
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  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Get Clarity. Get Promoted. Get Hired. Are you feeling stuck, undervalued, or underutilized in your current role? Wondering how to position yourself for a promotion, raise, or leadership opportunity? Are you trying to figure out what’s next for your career, but not sure where to start? You're not alone, and you're in the right place. Hosted by executive and career transition coach John Neral, The Mid-Career GPS Podcast is your go-to resource to help you confidently navigate your job search, career advancement, and workplace challenges. Whether you want to find a new job, get promoted, or simply feel more fulfilled at work, this show will help you build the clarity and strategy you need to take your next step. Each episode features actionable advice, insightful interviews, and real-world strategies to help mid-career professionals, typically managers to senior directors, design a career they love or love the career they have. You’ve built a solid career. Now it’s time to build Your Mid-Career GPS to figure out what's next and how to get there. New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe today and let's start figuring out whatever is next for you and your career, together. 

  1. 2D AGO

    336: Subtract to Succeed with Nell 3D (Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey)

    Send a text Are you working harder than ever yet feeling less visible, less fulfilled, and more burned out in your career? In this episode, I sit down with leadership strategist and Forbes senior contributor Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Nell 3D, to challenge one of the biggest myths mid-career professionals face today: that doing more is the only way forward. We explore how strategic subtraction can actually help you become more effective, more influential, and more fulfilled in your work. If you are navigating a tough job market, feeling stuck under ineffective leadership, or wondering how to sustain performance without burning out, this conversation will help you rethink how you show up at work. Nell introduces her practical Stop, Drop, Roll method, a framework that helps high performers pause, remove draining habits, and redesign their workdays so their energy creates bigger results. We discuss real stories of leaders who cut unnecessary meetings, redesigned team rituals, and reclaimed personal time while still improving team outcomes. We also tackle real mid-career challenges, including dealing with a difficult boss, maintaining confidence in a slow job market, and learning how to stop carrying expectations and criticisms that drain momentum. If you are holding onto a role for stability while trying to protect your long-term career prospects, you will also learn why strategically cruising at seven instead of ten can actually extend your runway and help you perform where it matters most. This episode offers permission and practical tools to step back, gather honest data about how you spend your time and energy, and make smarter decisions about what deserves your attention. If you are a mid-career professional looking for career clarity, stronger leadership presence, or a smarter job search strategy, this conversation will help you see how doing less of the wrong things can help you achieve more of what matters. Mid-career success is not about grinding endlessly. It is about choosing where your effort creates the most impact. Often, the smartest career move is not adding more. It is subtracting what no longer serves you. Connect With Nell 3D LinkedIn | Website | Substack Support the show Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to: Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough." Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here. Connect with John on LinkedIn here. Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here. Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.

    35 min

  2. FEB 10

    335: Mid-Career and Unsure What’s Next? Start With This One Move

    Send a text Feeling stuck in your career while the job market feels crowded and unpredictable? You are not alone. Many mid-career professionals are navigating confusing signals right now.  Job boards are flooded, promotion paths feel unclear, and AI-generated applications are making it harder than ever to stand out. In this episode, I bring things back to one powerful idea that can help you move forward with clarity and confidence. Choose one primary strategy and commit to it.  Whether you focus on targeted networking, job board applications, or a thoughtful combination of both, success comes from clarity, consistency, and protecting your energy while you execute. I walk you through how to audit what is working, identify what is not, and decide what to do next. We talk about defining your next role clearly, understanding the skills and visibility required to earn it, and choosing the strategy that best supports your goals. If you are pursuing external roles, I explain how applicant tracking systems really work, how to tailor your resume without sounding robotic, and how to compete when hundreds of candidates apply within hours. If your goal is promotion, we cover how to build the right evidence, strengthen internal relationships, and turn positive feedback into real sponsorship and advancement opportunities. I also address how to use AI as a support tool without losing your voice, why generic cover letters fail, and how reviewing weekly job search data helps you refine your approach.  Finally, I talk about protecting your focus, building a trusted circle of advisors, and maintaining resilience so you can stay steady even in a tough market. And if you are staying put for now, I share how to grow intentionally so you are positioned well when new opportunities emerge. If you are ready to stop waiting for clarity and start creating it, this episode will help you take your next step with purpose. If this conversation resonates with you, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Share this episode with a colleague or friend who needs clarity in their career right now, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help more mid-career professionals find strategies that work. And if you are ready for your next step, I have something free to help you. Go to johnneral.com/briefing to receive my 15-minute audio Support the show Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to: Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough." Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here. Connect with John on LinkedIn here. Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here. Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.

    16 min

  3. FEB 3

    334: Stop Saying “I’m Passionate” in Interviews and Start Showing Your Value

    Send us a text One word keeps showing up in interviews with mid-career professionals, and it may be holding you back more than you realize. That word is passion. In this episode, I break down why employers already assume you care about your work and why passion alone is not what helps you stand out in today’s competitive job market. At mid-career, hiring decisions are less about enthusiasm and more about clarity, credibility, and measurable results. If you feel stuck, undervalued, or frustrated in your job search, this conversation will help you reposition how you talk about your experience so employers clearly see the value you bring. I explore how expectations change as your career progresses. Early in your career, hustle and enthusiasm can open doors. At mid-career, decision-makers want proof. They want to understand how your judgment, leadership, and execution improve outcomes, reduce risk, and help teams and organizations perform better. I also share a real career example that shows how naming measurable results rather than emotions accelerated trust and opened better opportunities. From there, I translate common interview buzzwords into language hiring managers actually use when making decisions, including improving retention, reducing rework, speeding up delivery, and driving measurable performance improvements. You will walk away with practical ways to reframe your answers so you clearly communicate how you lead, influence, and deliver results, even when you do not have formal authority. Instead of saying you are passionate about leading teams, you will learn how to explain how you improve outcomes and help organizations execute strategy effectively without burning people out. We also talk through common interview traps, phrases that signal strategic impact, and ways to connect your strengths to the real problems employers are trying to solve right now. If you want to stand out in a cautious hiring market, this episode will help you replace vague claims with clear, testable value. If you found this episode helpful, follow the podcast, share it with a colleague who is interviewing, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts so more mid-career professionals can find these conversations. For a deeper perspective on why being good at your job is no longer enough and how to navigate today’s market, download my free 15-minute audi Support the show Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to: Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough." Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here. Connect with John on LinkedIn here. Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here. Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.

    23 min

  4. JAN 27

    333: Give Yourself Permission To Have the Career You Want with Mitch Matthews

    Send us a text Feeling successful on paper but disconnected from your work at mid-career? You are not alone.  In this episode, I sit down with Mitch Matthews, success coach and host of the Dream Think Do podcast, to unpack what real career change looks like when you stop waiting for permission and start creating it yourself. We talk candidly about that moment when you are busy, accomplished, and respected, yet no longer energized by the work you are doing. Mitch shares a powerful personal story about accepting a promotion that looked perfect on paper but felt wrong almost immediately. Instead of making a reckless leap, he honored his responsibilities while quietly building a new path through small, intentional experiments. This conversation is especially relevant if you are a mid-career professional seeking greater career clarity, questioning what is next, or feeling stuck in a job that no longer fits. We explore how progress does not require a dramatic exit or a master plan. It requires permission, curiosity, and consistent action. In this episode, you will learn: Why permission at mid-career is an internal decision, not something granted by a boss or organizationHow small, low-risk experiments can help you test new career directions without blowing up your current roleThe 15-minute rule and how five short blocks a week can compound into more than 60 hours of focused progress each yearWhy the safest place to explore new ideas is often outside the high-stakes environment of your day jobWhat it looks like to lead without having all the answers and why saying “I don’t know, let’s figure it out together” builds trustHow to use AI as a practical thinking partner instead of a buzzword or replacement for judgmentWhy automation is increasing the value of authenticity, clarity, and human leadershipHow to spot perfectionism when it is disguising itself as procrastinationWhy starting small and messy creates more durable career change than waiting for the perfect plan Mitch is also sharing his free training, Finding Time for Your Next Chapter, designed to help you carve out focused time for what matters most in this stage of your career. Access it at mitchmathews.com/time and use coupon code GPS for free access. Connect with Mitch Matthews Support the show Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to: Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough." Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here. Connect with John on LinkedIn here. Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here. Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.

    33 min

  5. JAN 20

    332: Settling for “Fine” at Mid-Career: Why Silence Is Costing You Influence, Pay, and Opportunity

    Send us a text “Fine” sounds harmless, but at mid-career it is often a warning light. In this episode, I unpack why quiet professionalism can be misread as low ambition and how being seen as reliable can quietly turn into being perceived as replaceable.  If you are job-hugging for stability, I help you distinguish between a smart season of skill-building and a slow slide into stagnation, and then show you how to course-correct with intention. We’ll explore the psychological cost of settling for fine, including overfunctioning to stay relevant, growing resentment, and the internal narrative that you should just be grateful.  I walk you through how to name your genius, the specific value others rely on but rarely articulate, and how to put that value to work in rooms where decisions are actually made. You will learn a practical approach to brand stewardship at mid-career. That means protecting your brand so leaders, peers, and stakeholders clearly understand your value, and promoting your brand so your impact is remembered when stretch assignments, promotions, and high-visibility projects are on the table. I cover the early warning signs of a career plateau, including generic performance reviews, smaller bonuses, and fewer strategic invitations, along with specific actions you can take to regain momentum. Mid-career is your wealth-building window. Doubling down on what you do exceptionally well is not bragging. It is stewardship of your impact, influence, and earning power. If “fine” has become your default answer, treat it as a signal to act. Listen in, take the scripts and steps I share, and choose one bold action this week to make your genius visible. If you found this conversation helpful, follow the podcast, share it with a colleague who needs the nudge, and leave a review so more mid-career professionals can find the show. Support the show Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to: Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough." Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here. Connect with John on LinkedIn here. Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here. Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.

    22 min

  6. JAN 13

    331: Job Titles Are Outcomes, Not Destinations. How to Build Career Clarity That Gets You Hired

    Send us a text If you feel stuck in your job search even though you are doing all the right things with your resume and LinkedIn, you are not alone. I see this pattern every day with mid-career professionals who are smart, capable, and experienced but still not getting traction in today’s market. In this episode, I flip the script on how most people think about career growth and job search at mid-career. Job titles are not destinations. They are outcomes.  When you build real career clarity, your value travels with you from one organization to the next, regardless of the title on the door. I walk you through a practical framework I use with my private clients to move them from scattered job searching to selective, strategic career positioning. We talk about how to define the problems you are best positioned to solve, the conditions where you do your best work, how to SHOW UP from service rather than proving, and how to clearly articulate who you help and what you help them do. You will also hear how this kind of clarity changes everything about interviews and recruiter conversations. When you stop trying to prove yourself and start SHOWing UP to contribute, your confidence increases, your message becomes sharper, and decision makers can see exactly where you fit. We also talk about the role of AI in today’s job search. AI can help you optimize keywords, but it cannot replace clarity. Clarity is what carries the interview, builds trust, and helps you stand out in a crowded and noisy market. In this conversation, you will learn how to make recruiters’ jobs easier by responding quickly, giving clear yes or no answers, and asking what they need next. These small shifts dramatically increase your credibility and momentum. At mid-career, the most powerful question is no longer “Am I enough?” It is “Where am I most useful?” When you answer that, your job search becomes focused, your energy increases, and your value compounds. If you are ready to reduce noise, save time, and target roles where your impact actually matters, this episode will give you the tools and language to do it. If you want help pinpointing where your value belongs next, visit johnneral.com/resources and get the Mid-Career Clarity Code for $43. You will receive a personalized 8 to 10-minute video from me b Support the show Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to: Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough." Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here. Connect with John on LinkedIn here. Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here. Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.

    22 min

  7. JAN 6

    330: How I Turned Feeling Stuck Into A Career I Love

    Send us a text Career Momentum and Getting "Unstuck" Starts With How You SHOW UP Career momentum does not come from doing more. It comes from showing up with clarity, intention, and confidence, especially at mid-career. In this opening episode of the year, I share my personal journey from classroom teacher to leadership and career coach, and the moment when being fine was no longer enough. I walk you through the experiences that shaped how I think about careers today, from turning classic game shows into engaging math lessons to leading instructional coaches across 13 middle schools. Along the way, stalled interviews, internal politics, and budget delays forced me to rethink how career decisions are really made and how influence is built at mid-career. These lessons became the foundation of my work helping mid-career professionals who feel undervalued, underutilized, or stuck despite doing everything they were told would lead to advancement. Why Mid-Career Feels Harder Than It Should Mid-career is not a plateau. It is a dynamic and decisive phase where visibility, influence, and clarity matter more than effort alone. I share how nonprofit reorganizations left me highly valued by some leaders and invisible to others and how those moments sharpened my understanding of what truly drives career momentum. In this episode, I introduce the six strategies for showing up with intention. These strategies focus on aligning your thoughts, emotions, and actions so you can protect your professional brand, have more meaningful conversations, and make smarter career decisions in a complex job market. What You Will Learn in This Episode If you are a manager or senior director balancing career growth with family and caregiving responsibilities, this episode will help you cut through the noise and regain momentum. You will learn: Why mid-career is one of the most important and misunderstood stages of your careerThe turning point that shifted me from educator to leader and coachHow to read interview signals and ask for feedback that actually mattersHow to reframe career setbacks into growth opportunitiesThe six strategies for showing up with clarity and intentionCommon challenges facing managers and senior directors today.Support the show Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to: Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough." Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here. Connect with John on LinkedIn here. Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here. Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.

    31 min

  8. 12/30/2025

    329: Mid-Career in 2026: How to Rebuild Stability, Visibility, and Confidence

    Send us a text The ground shifted for mid-career professionals in 2025, and many are still feeling the impact. Rolling layoffs became routine, job titles lost their signaling power, and working harder no longer translated into advancement. For professionals in the middle of their careers, the old rules stopped working, often without warning. In this episode, John Neral unpacks what actually changed in the job market and leadership landscape and outlines a clear, practical plan to help you reclaim control, confidence, and direction in 2026. If you have felt exhausted by a job search, sidelined by shifting responsibilities, or unsettled by the rise of AI, this conversation will help you move forward with clarity and intention. John begins by examining why organizational stability is no longer a reliable promise and why mid-career professionals must build stability as a personal system. You will learn how results-led resumes, a focused LinkedIn presence, intentional networking, and a personal board of directors create leverage in an uncertain market. From there, you will hear how to translate responsibilities into outcomes, make your thinking visible, and use leadership communication to earn meaningful opportunities instead of additional tasks. A simple value narrative framework is introduced to help you clearly articulate who you help, the problems you solve, and the outcomes you deliver so decision makers can quickly see your fit. John also addresses AI and its growing influence on careers. While AI can support research, drafts, and exploration, your real advantage remains human judgment, decision making, strategy, ethics, and relationships.  Key Topics Covered Why layoffs became ongoing business activity instead of one-time resetsWhy job titles carry less meaning and scope has become blurredThe role of visibility and communication in career advancementHow clarity replaces hustle in a draining job search marketResults-first storytelling and practical value narrativesWhere AI adds leverage and where human judgment still winsIdentity work to redefine leadership, impact, and confidenceShowing up as a proactive strategy instead of grinding harder Support the show Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to: Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough." Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here. Connect with John on LinkedIn here. Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here. Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.

    32 min
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5
out of 5
61 Ratings

About

Get Clarity. Get Promoted. Get Hired. Are you feeling stuck, undervalued, or underutilized in your current role? Wondering how to position yourself for a promotion, raise, or leadership opportunity? Are you trying to figure out what’s next for your career, but not sure where to start? You're not alone, and you're in the right place. Hosted by executive and career transition coach John Neral, The Mid-Career GPS Podcast is your go-to resource to help you confidently navigate your job search, career advancement, and workplace challenges. Whether you want to find a new job, get promoted, or simply feel more fulfilled at work, this show will help you build the clarity and strategy you need to take your next step. Each episode features actionable advice, insightful interviews, and real-world strategies to help mid-career professionals, typically managers to senior directors, design a career they love or love the career they have. You’ve built a solid career. Now it’s time to build Your Mid-Career GPS to figure out what's next and how to get there. New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe today and let's start figuring out whatever is next for you and your career, together. 

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