How to Handle Layoffs, Rejections & Career Pivots

Episode 308 - Rejections are part of the job search and they can also guide your next steps. In this episode, Renata answers questions about resumes, layoffs, LinkedIn gaps, and how to pivot into new opportunities.In recent months, the messages I receive from clients and podcast listeners have become increasingly urgent. Experienced professionals, many in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, are being forced to navigate layoffs, endless rejections, and the unsettling prospect of having to pivot careers in an economy that feels unstable at best.&nbsp;&nbsp;The questions raised by hundreds of participants in a recent webinar I joined, organized by the job seeker’s platform&nbsp;Callings.ai, painted a vivid picture of where corporate professionals stand today.&nbsp;&nbsp;This moment is not unique. Labor markets cycle, as history shows us. Yet 2025 has brought together a particular mix of challenges: post-pandemic restructuring, political shifts that have left government professionals in limbo, funding cuts, and AI-driven restructures. For executives and experienced professionals, these shifts create both barriers and opportunities.&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the WebsiteJob Hunting Made SimpleReset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction to the Webinar and Podcast Episode04:36 Handling Rejection and Staying Motivated12:53 Applications, Resumes, and LinkedIn Strategies26:32 Career Pivots and Returning to Old Employers36:05 Interviewing and Closing the Deal42:48 Application Strategies and TimingLinks mentioned in this episode:Join the RB Lnkdn Club to improve your presence on LinkedInWatch the Layoff webinarFollow the other panellists: Albert QianFollow the other panellists: Matthew SorensenFollow the other panellists: Garrett RiceThe Job Hunting Podcast interview with Garrett Rice, CEO of Callings.ai (282)<a href="https://www.renatabernarde.com/episode/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Episode 307 - From the rise of portfolio careers to the growing importance of digital transformation, the 2025 Interim Executive Survey highlights how executives are choosing new ways of working. JOIN THE RB LNKDN CLUB NOWIn this week’s episode of The Job Hunting Podcast, I spoke with Donna Burr, Partner in Interim Executive Management at Watermark Search International, about the findings of their 15th Annual Interim Executive Survey. With 15 years of data and nearly 900 survey respondents in 2025, this report offers invaluable insight into how executives are choosing to work flexibly in interim roles, what organizations want from interim executives, and how career models are evolving. Our discussion revealed trends that are essential for anyone navigating today's and future job markets. Read the full Blog on the WebsiteJob Hunting Made SimpleReset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction to Interim Executive Management04:40 Understanding Portfolio Careers07:42 Insights from the 15th Annual Survey10:39 Adapting to Client Needs13:37 Business Transformation Roles16:39 Challenges in Interim Executive Roles19:40 Self-Agency in Career Management22:34 Networking and Building a Portfolio Career25:39 Discipline and Consistency in Interim Work27:32 Navigating the Executive Landscape28:58 Gender Balance in Executive Roles32:09 The Age Factor in Leadership37:00 Global Perspectives on Interim Executives41:07 Career Pathways Beyond C-Suite43:57 AI as a Leadership Amplifier51:11 Final Thoughts on Executive TransitionLinks mentioned in this episode:Join the RB&nbsp;Lnkdn&nbsp;ClubLink to the ReportEpisode 78 - Portfolio Career: What Is It, and Is It for You? - with Jacinta WhelanEpisode 31 - Me Inc: Opting for short term contract workEpisode 103 - How to make successful...

Episode 306 - This episode explores how LinkedIn activity can protect you from layoffs, attract opportunities, and build long-term credibility.&nbsp;&nbsp;I believe that&nbsp;LinkedIn activity is the new career currency. In fact, I am certain of that, and I have clients’ results to prove it. To determine if professionals were already aware of this fact, I ran a poll on LinkedIn a few weeks ago, asking where people felt most stuck in building their presence on the platform. The answers surprised me, though perhaps they shouldn’t have. It wasn’t the profile. It wasn’t resume-style updates. The real struggle was posting and activity. Knowing what to say, how to say it, and how to balance the risk of being visible with the fear of&nbsp;misstepping&nbsp;in front of employers and peers seems to be the biggest barrier for professionals when it comes to fully embracing LinkedIn.&nbsp;This result mirrors what I hear daily from clients and listeners of my podcast. Corporate professionals, including senior executives with decades of experience, remain uneasy about engaging on LinkedIn. And yet, engagement, rather than a polished profile, is increasingly what recruiters, boards, and decision-makers evaluate when considering candidates.&nbsp;And it makes sense. In today’s hybrid world of work and a job market filled with AI-generated content, the difference between those who can express themselves and communicate their expertise with confidence, knowledge, and empathy gives them an incredible advantage. They stand out in a sea of sameness.&nbsp;&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the WebsiteJob Hunting Made SimpleReset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Understanding LinkedIn Challenges01:19 The Importance of LinkedIn Activity12:29 Navigating Employer Approval and Restrictions19:31 Building a Professional Brand on LinkedIn27:37 Leveraging LinkedIn Algorithms for Success35:55 Introducing a New LinkedIn Support GroupLinks mentioned in this episode:Join the RB&nbsp;Lnkdn&nbsp;GroupAbout the host,&nbsp;Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of&nbsp;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

Episode 305 - Many professionals dream of a board career, but few know how to get there. In this episode, I unpack the three biggest blockers and share a roadmap to help you secure your first board role. A large number of experienced professionals are eyeing board appointments as the next chapter in their careers. In a recent LinkedIn poll I conducted, nearly eight in ten respondents said they wanted a board role within the next five years. The allure is understandable. Board seats promise influence, intellectual challenge, and the prestige of shaping an organization’s future without the grind of day-to-day operations. But there’s a catch. While the appetite for board roles is surging, the path to securing one remains opaque and, for many, deeply frustrating. Read the full Blog on the WebsiteJob Hunting Made SimpleReset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 The Demand for Board Roles09:58 Understanding Board Expectations17:33 The Appointment Process for Board Members25:51 Becoming Board Ready39:34 Strategizing for Board PositionsLinks mentioned in this episode:Are you aiming for a paid board seat in the next 5 years?How to Be a Chairperson vs a Board MemberHow to Be a Chairperson vs a Board MemberNavigating Your Way to a Board SeatSteps to Secure Your First Board PositionAbout the host,&nbsp;Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of&nbsp;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.&nbsp;<a...

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.&nbsp;I coach experienced professionals who are navigating a turbulent job market. When we start working together, some things are easier and faster to update: resumes get polished, LinkedIn profiles refreshed, and applications start converting to interviews. Yet they remain puzzled by a frustrating reality: despite their decades of experience, they are struggling to get traction with their interviews, network, and even with their employers once they start working. It’s tempting to point to market forces. Hiring freezes, cautious budgets, and a glut of qualified applicants are real obstacles. But a quieter, more personal factor often separates the candidates who advance from those who do not: executive presence. And this is when working with a coach for a few months can help. https://www.renatabernarde.com/ In a recent conversation with Ashleigh Paholek, an experienced television journalist and communications expert, I was reminded how little this skill is discussed and how much it matters. Our talk reinforced something I’ve seen in my coaching practice: career opportunities often hinge less on what you say than on how you say it. Read the full Blog on the WebsiteJob Hunting Made SimpleReset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction and Background05:17 The Journey from Journalism to Coaching10:21 Understanding Confidence: Internal vs External15:17 The Importance of Conciseness in Communication20:12 Voice and Tone: The Power of Nonverbal Communication25:27 Body Language and Its Impact on Perception30:17 The Role of Appearance in Job Interviews35:14 Final Thoughts on Building ConfidenceLinks mentioned in this episode:The Social Day Club, where I met Ashleigh PaholekAshleigh's websiteAbout the host,&nbsp;Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of&nbsp;The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate,...

Episode 303 - Kyle Samuels returns to share his personal health journey, the lessons it taught him about leadership, and the hiring trends shaping today’s job market. We explore recruitment trends, networking strategies, and how to handle career gaps with confidence.&nbsp;The&nbsp;last time I spoke with executive recruiter Kyle Samuels, we were deep in conversation about executive compensation. This year, the conversation was very different. Kyle returned to my podcast with not only market insights but a deeply personal story. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, undergone major surgery, and endured six months of chemotherapy. On top of that, he continued to lead his firm, Creative Talent&nbsp;Endeavors, during one of the toughest job markets in recent memory. His experience illuminates three critical themes for corporate professionals today: resilience in the face of disruption, the centrality of relationships, and the rapid changes occurring in recruitment and hiring.&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the WebsiteJob Hunting Made SimpleReset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Weathering the Storms: A Personal Journey03:48 Facing Cancer: A Life-Altering Diagnosis09:16 Navigating Business During Health Challenges12:57 The Importance of Health Over Work16:47 Raising Awareness: The Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer22:06 Returning to Work: Balancing Health and Career24:25 Navigating Personal Challenges and Resilience26:11 Diversity and Inclusion: Progress and Challenges29:00 The Job Market Landscape: Candidate Experiences33:27 Networking and Relationship Building in Job Searches41:51 Emerging Job Trends and the Role of AI52:46 Conclusion: Embracing Change and Future OpportunitiesLinks mentioned in this episode:Episode 226 - This Recruiter Wants You to Rethink Your Salary Expectation, with Kyle SamuelsEpisode 279 - What Job Seekers Can Learn from Sales ProfessionalsAbout the host,&nbsp;Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of&nbsp;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...

Hardly a week goes by without news of another high-profile layoff. From tech giants like Meta and Tesla to government agencies and financial institutions, corporate professionals at every level find themselves confronting an unsettling new normal. As a career coach, outplacement provider, and host of The Job Hunting Podcast, I've observed firsthand the toll layoffs are taking both financially and emotionally. In this episode’s conversation with Steve Jaffe, author of "The Layoff Journey: From Dismissal to Discovery," we unpacked the psychological impacts of job loss and how professionals can emerge stronger.&nbsp;&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the WebsiteJob Hunting Made SimpleReset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Navigating Layoffs: A Personal Journey02:07 Understanding the Stages of Grief in Layoffs04:52 Coping Mechanisms and Emotional Resilience07:57 The Impact of Identity Loss11:02 Managing Anger and Bargaining13:42 The Importance of Rest and Recovery16:49 Finding Meaning and Moving Forward25:25 The Importance of a Well-Rounded Life27:24 Shame and Identity in Unemployment29:07 Owning Your Professional Identity30:58 The Job Search as Full-Time Work33:59 Building and Utilizing Your Network37:14 Resilience in Job Searching39:04 The Role of Career Coaching40:55 The Value of a Strong Network46:05 Living with Intentionality51:38 New ChapterLinks mentioned in this episode:Link to Purchase Steve's bookAbout the host,&nbsp;Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on Social Media:LinkedIn<a href="https://www.instagram.com/renatabernarde.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

If there’s one lesson from the corporate world that deserves a headline, it’s this: the workplace is not a meritocracy. Or at least, not in the way most professionals imagine. Hard work is necessary, but it’s not the defining factor in who gets promoted, who receives stretch opportunities, or who survives the next round of cost-cutting.&nbsp;In this episode, I spoke with Kendall Berg, former senior executive turned career coach and author of Secrets of the Career Game. We explored how professionals, especially those at mid to senior levels, are stalling not because of performance but because of invisibility. They’re delivering outcomes, checking boxes, staying loyal, but failing to cultivate the relationships and influence that truly drive advancement. Berg’s following on social media channels amounts to over 500,000, indicating that her message about what actually gets you promoted resonates with many people.&nbsp;Berg’s career turning point came when a senior leader told her: “Everyone wants you on their team because you're so efficient, and nobody likes working with you.” That moment, which she recounts without bitterness, shattered the myth that excellent work alone was enough to earn the next title. It was, as she puts it, the moment she realized she’d been playing a game she didn’t know existed.&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the WebsiteJob Hunting Made SimpleReset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 The Game of Career Advancement05:27 Navigating Feedback and Growth08:37 The Importance of Relationships in Career11:36 Learning from Mentorship and Coaching14:31 Building a Growth Mindset17:32 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership20:34 Career Choices and Personal Values23:23 Empowerment and Control in Your Career32:44 Empowerment Through Career Choices35:02 Taking Control of Your Career41:00 Building Authentic Connections46:35 The Balance of Likeability and Trust53:45 Actionable Steps for Career AdvancementLinks mentioned in this episode:Purchase Kendall's bookAbout the host,&nbsp;Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of&nbsp;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

The&nbsp;labor&nbsp;market feels eerily calm on the surface. Unemployment still hovers near 4 percent in both the US and Australia, and it has not yet reached 5% in the UK. Yet, experienced professionals looking for work in corporate, startups, government and nonprofits tell a very different story. Over the past quarter my coaching inbox has filled with job seekers, from vice presidents to team managers forced to write résumés for the first time in over a decade, and directors competing with their former interns for hybrid roles that pay 20 percent less.&nbsp;After interviewing Priya Bhola Rathod, Indeed’s career-trends expert, for my podcast last week, I’m convinced the squeeze is structural, not cyclical. Below are the three forces reshaping white-collar work, and the countermeasures every corporate professional should deploy now.Read the full Blog on the WebsiteJob Hunting Made SimpleReset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction to Career Conversations06:38 Navigating Industry Changes09:41 The Importance of Networking12:43 Understanding Age and Experience in Job Markets15:35 Overcoming Overqualification Concerns18:21 Re-entering the Workforce After a Break30:44 Tailoring Resumes for Success31:34 The Impact of AI on Job Applications33:35 Understanding AI's Role in Job Markets35:35 Navigating Job Descriptions and LinkedIn Profiles37:40 Cultural Differences in Job Narratives40:36 Evaluating Company Culture During Job Applications42:33 Leveraging AI Tools for Job Seekers45:36 Final Thoughts on Job Searching and ResourcesLinks mentioned in this episode:Episode 299 - First 90-Day Leadership Moves Matter: Proven Strategies to Listen, Act Symbolically, and Avoid Hasty Personnel Decisions in New RolesIndeedGlassdoorAbout the host,&nbsp;Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of&nbsp;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.&nbsp;<a...

I sat down with Neill Marshall and Kurt Mosley of&nbsp;HealthSearch&nbsp;Partners to talk about the first 90 days of an executive appointment. While their expertise is focused on senior roles in healthcare, the lessons are universal: in 2025, how a leader shows up on day one can either extend a career or stall it.&nbsp;What struck me is how much has changed in the hiring market and how much has stayed the same. For experienced professionals navigating career transitions, the insights from this conversation should serve as both a warning and an inspiration. They confirmed what many of my clients are feeling: that the margin for error is thin, expectations are high, and hiring trends are evolving fast. Job seekers need to keep up.&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the WebsiteJob Hunting Made SimpleReset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 Introduction05:54 The Importance of the First 90 Days10:00 Leadership in Healthcare: Navigating Change16:10 The Evolving Role of CEOs Post-Pandemic19:59 Navigating Career Transitions and Tenure23:55 The Impact of Age on Leadership Roles30:04 Preparing for Leadership Interviews33:58 Leveraging LinkedIn for Career Opportunities39:49 Effective Communication in Job SearchesLinks mentioned in this episode:How Great Leaders Win Teams Over In Their First 90 Days – Forbes (June 2025)What Effective CEOs Do After Their First 90 Days – Harvard Business Review (January 2025)It Really Isn’t About 100 Days – McKinsey &amp; CompanyThe First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded – Harvard Business RevieHow To Make Your First 90 Days Count As A Leader – Forbes (May 2024)About the host,&nbsp;Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host...