Episode 317 - Losing a job or having a terrible job can pull you straight into survival mode. In this conversation with Jon Rosemberg, we unpack how to move from white-knuckle coping to a more intentional, agentic way of designing your next chapter.

Survival mode is a nervous system response, not a personal failure.

In this podcast conversation, I spent time unpacking what survival mode actually is with my guest, Jon Rosemberg, who has studied applied positive psychology and worked as a COO in high-pressure environments. It is easy to forget that our bodies are old hardware running new software.

From a nervous system perspective, losing a role or facing long-term unemployment can register as a threat to survival. Identity, status, and income are deeply tied to our sense of safety. When that safety is shaken, the body reacts.

Read the full Blog on the Website

Job Hunting Made Simple

Reset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend

31 Days of Action for Job Seekers

Find Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career Grow

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Lear More About Renata's career coaching and courses

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Job Searching Through the Holidays Webinar
• Jon's personal website
• Jon's firm

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress.

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Follow Renata on Social Media:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• X / Twitter

Episode 316 - Dr. Sheila Gujrathi discusses how to build real influence, find sponsors, and move into executive roles without losing yourself. We unpack how fear shows up and what to do when you aren’t the “obvious” candidate.

I recorded this episode to answer a question many experienced professionals wrestle with: How do you keep advancing when you do not fit the traditional mold for senior leadership? My guest is Dr. Sheila Gujrathi, a biotech executive, physician, and scientist who has led programs from idea to approval, served as a CEO and board director, and built platforms to support leaders across the health and life sciences sector. She is known for a high-impact TEDx talk on brave, inclusive leadership with more than a million views, and she co-founded a peer community that connects and develops biotech CEOs. Our conversation is a practical discussion about sponsorship, fear, authentic influence, and the specific moves that help underrepresented leaders rise without losing themselves.

Read the full Blog on the Website

Job Hunting Made Simple

Reset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend

31 Days of Action for Job Seekers

Find Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career Grow

Join 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe Now

Lear More About Renata's career coaching and courses

Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Introduction to Sheila Gujrathi
• 04:58 The Journey of Leadership and Advocacy
• 08:13 The Importance of Role Models and Mirrors
• 10:57 Preparing for Success: Mindset and Routine
• 14:16 Grounding Techniques for High-Stress Situations
• 17:11 Building Trust and Authenticity in Leadership
• 20:11 Navigating Executive Presence
• 23:19 Engaging in Conversations and Resetting Dynamics
• 26:19 Trust and Relationship Building
• 29:07 The Future of Leadership and Advocacy

Links mentioned in this episode:

• TEDx talk “Shattering the Glass Ceiling by Finding the Right Mirrors.”
• Sheila's LinkedIn
• The Mirror Effect (book + workbook)

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence

Episode 315 - Crisis expert Edward Segal maps the first moves leaders should make when something goes wrong, who to call, what to say, how to brief the media, and how to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Most professionals I speak to who are experiencing a career crisis did not see it coming, and almost all of them did not prepare for it. Corporate professionals still treat crisis management as something that happens to other people, like the CEOs in the headlines and the companies and brands trending on social media for all the wrong reasons. In reality, crises are not confined to boardrooms or news cycles. They unfold quietly in inboxes, performance reviews, and unexpected phone calls from HR.

When I sat down recently with Edward Segal, an expert on crisis management, I was reminded that “it’s not if, it’s when.” Every professional, no matter how senior or secure, will face defining career moments that test their judgment, values, and resilience. The challenge is not to avoid these moments, but to prepare for them and respond well when they arrive.

Read the full Blog on the Website

Job Hunting Made Simple

Reset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend

31 Days of Action for Job Seekers

Find Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career Grow

Join 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe Now

Lear More About Renata's career coaching and courses

Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 03:01 Crisis Management Insights from Experience
• 05:00 Understanding Crisis Triggers
• 08:00 Crisis Management in Educational Institutions
• 11:04 Communication Strategies During a Crisis
• 13:55 The Importance of Media Training
• 16:45 Crisis Management for Professionals
• 20:05 Lessons from High-Profile Crises
• 23:09 Final Thoughts on Crisis Preparedness

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Edward Segal's LinkedIn profile
• Link to Edward Segal's book
• Episode 304 - In this episode of The Job Hunting Podcast, TV journalist and confidence coach Ashleigh Paholek shares how to project authority and trust in interviews, presentations, and boardrooms. From mastering silence to improving your virtual presence, these strategies will help you influence with confidence — even when you don’t feel it.
• Episode 309 - Beyond the headlines, workplace scandals reveal deeper lessons about governance, disclosure, and accountability. In this episode, I share strategies for overcoming missteps and rebuilding your professional...

Episode 314 - Recruiter-turned-Founder Georgie Hubbard unpacks how to pivot with confidence, optimize your resume and LinkedIn, and ditch “spray & pray” for targeted strategies that actually get results.

After dozens of conversations with senior professionals over the past few months and the discussions in my latest podcast episode, I keep coming back to the same conclusion. The people who are progressing in this year’s job market are not the ones applying faster or to more roles. They are the ones who have adapted to a hiring system that is more algorithmic and more cautious than it was a year ago. The question is whether your job search strategy reflects this as well.

Read the full Blog on the Website

Job Hunting Made Simple

Reset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend

31 Days of Action for Job Seekers

Find Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career Grow

Join 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe Now

Lear More About Renata's career coaching and courses

Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Career Boldness and Reinvention
• 03:48 Overcoming Fear and Paralysis by Analysis
• 08:20 Cultural Shocks and Resilience in New Environments
• 11:28 Navigating Career Pivots and Transferable Skills
• 16:01 Adapting to Modern Recruitment Challenges
• 22:43 Visibility and Networking in a Competitive Market
• 25:03 Overcoming Precision and Embracing Boldness
• 29:39 The Fear of Regret and Career Transitions
• 33:51 Monetizing Skills and Building a Business
• 39:49 Navigating the Early Stages of Entrepreneurship
• 42:30 Empowering Women in the Age of AI

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Georgie's Linkedin
• Georgie's website

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress.

Watch the Episodes on YouTube

Follow Renata on Social Media:

• LinkedIn

Episode 313 - Employment attorney Jessica Childress is back, unpacking what “toxic” really means at work, and how to decide if it’s time to stay or go.

I'm sure you're well aware that experienced professionals have had to cope with hostile cultures, micromanagement, and difficult leaders in their careers. Some issues are illegal. Many are not. Either way, the impact on your confidence and career can be profound. In this episode, employment attorney Jessica Childress helps us separate what is unlawful from what is simply unhealthy, and to outline a practical approach for documenting issues, engaging HR strategically, and, when needed, negotiating a clean exit.

Start with definitions. Many environments feel corrosive yet are not unlawful. Civility is not a legal requirement. As Jessica put it: “It’s not a workplace civility code. So the law does not require civility.” However, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation tied to a protected class or protected activity are unlawful. Knowing the line matters because your strategy depends on it. If conduct is unlawful, escalate precisely and protect the record. If it is unhealthy but legal, your leverage comes from establishing boundaries, framing your business, and exploring options outside the building.

Read the full Blog on the Website

Job Hunting Made Simple

Reset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend

31 Days of Action for Job Seekers

Find Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career Grow

Join 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe Now

Lear More About Renata's career coaching and courses

Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Advocacy and Employee Rights
• 05:35 Experiencing Toxic Workplaces
• 12:08 Leaving on Your Own Terms
• 17:10 Identifying Toxic Workplaces
• 24:10 Strategies for Surviving Toxic Workplaces
• 32:53 Navigating the Exit Process
• 43:45 Finding Peace After Leaving

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 213 - Navigating Workplace Rights, a Conversation with Employment Law Expert Jessica Childress
• The Childress firm
• Jessica's book, Peace: Leaving A Toxic Workplace on Your Own Terms (E-Book)

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I...

Episode 312 - If you second-guess your success, Alison Shamir shares the mindset shifts and tools that help professionals recognise and overcome imposter thoughts.

For years, clients have reached out to me with this dilemma: They are capable, experienced professionals who are unsuccessful in their job search. Usually, this is my diagnosis: They are not short of qualifications; they are short of traction.

Listening back to my conversation with imposter syndrome expert Alison Shamir, I was struck by how precisely her framework matches what my clients have faced in their careers. That is, a human tendency to discount our own track record, especially when they're unemployed and looking for work. It is a cycle in which the external system is harder to read and the internal narrator becomes louder, precisely when professionals need to demonstrate clear business value.

Read the full Blog on the Website

Job Hunting Made Simple

Reset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend

31 Days of Action for Job Seekers

Find Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career Grow

Join 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe Now

Lear More About Renata's career coaching and courses

Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Understanding Imposter Syndrome: A Personal Journey
• 13:18 The Role of Managers in Identifying Imposter Syndrome
• 25:44 Recognizing Imposter Syndrome in Job Candidates
• 26:36 Understanding Imposter Syndrome and Its Signs
• 27:40 Conquering Imposter Syndrome: Control vs. Elimination
• 29:03 The Three Pillar Framework for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• 31:50 Real-Life Examples of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• 35:03 Triggers of Imposter Syndrome and Their Impact
• 38:23 Personal Experiences and Relatable Stories
• 44:38 External Factors and Confidence in Job Searching
• 48:20 Controlling the Controllables: A Key Takeaway

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Alison's LinkedIn
• Alison's book
• Alison's website
• Learn more about Renata's courses and services

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs,...

Episode 311 - Leanne Brannigan spent years hiring. Then she was laid off, and used social media to document her experience job searching while unemployed. Her story exposes how the system treats candidates and what we can do better.

I spend my weeks advising professionals who assumed that their extensive work experience and a tidy LinkedIn profile would carry them through a choppy market. Then they collide with reality: Long hiring cycles, few roles at their level, automated screens that reward keywords over judgment, and interview panels that want evidence, not eloquence. The latest episode of my podcast features internal recruiter turned job seeker, Leanne Brannigan, who walked through that reality from both sides of the table. Her story crystallizes the themes I see daily and points to a more disciplined way forward for corporate professionals who want to compete at the top end of the labor market.

Read the full Blog on the Website

Job Hunting Made Simple

Reset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend

31 Days of Action for Job Seekers

Find Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career Grow

Join 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe Now

Lear More About Renata's career coaching and courses

Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Introduction to the Journey
• 03:25 Navigating Redundancy and Job Search
• 06:24 Building a Supportive Community
• 10:10 Emotional Impact of Job Loss
• 13:03 Strategies for Job Searching
• 16:05 The Role of Networking
• 19:17 Sharing Experiences Publicly
• 22:20 Candidate Experience and Feedback
• 24:55 Reflections on the Job Market
• 29:54 The Impact of Redundancy on Job Seekers
• 31:57 Encouraging Transparency in Candidate Experiences
• 34:50 Navigating Vulnerability on Professional Platforms
• 40:50 Developing an Application Strategy
• 46:59 Positive Experiences in Recruitment Processes
• 52:26 Making Decisions Between Job Offers
• 59:26 Embracing a New Role in Talent Acquisition

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 31 Days of Action
• Reset Your Career
• RB Lnkdn Club

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and...

Episode 310 - Most job seekers focus on what they should do. In today’s episode, we dig into what they aren’t doing and why that’s costing them jobs.

At a time when headlines are dominated by artificial intelligence, layoffs, and economic uncertainty, the themes from my discussion with Nick Waterworth, CEO of Ambition, on The Job Hunting Podcast (ep 309) deserve a closer look. His insights align with what I hear daily from my clients, and he offers explanations and advice that will benefit many job seekers on their path to career advancement and success in the hiring process.

As a career strategist working with experienced professionals, many of whom are navigating the turbulence of mid-to-late career transitions, I found the conversation with Nick enlightening.

Read the full Blog on the Website

Job Hunting Made Simple

Reset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend

31 Days of Action for Job Seekers

Find Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career Grow

Join 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe Now

Lear More About Renata's career coaching and courses

Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Introduction and Setup
• 01:58 The Journey into Recruitment
• 04:53 The Evolution of Recruitment
• 07:54 Adapting to Technology and AI
• 11:09 Navigating Hybrid Work Environments
• 14:01 Current Job Market Dynamics
• 16:58 The Over 50s in the Workforce
• 28:21 The Dual Faces of Interim Assignments
• 31:11 Hiring Trends and the Need for Adaptability
• 35:18 The Challenges of Job Ads
• 38:25 Navigating the Recruitment Process
• 41:19 Concerns in Recruitment for 2025
• 45:25 Common Misconceptions Among Job Seekers
• 52:23 Understanding Niche Markets in Recruitment

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ambition Group Website
• Nick's LinkedIn Profile

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress.

Watch the Episodes on YouTube

Follow Renata on Social Media: