How to Find a Job in 2026

Episode 321 - The job market in 2025 has been flat, competitive, and emotionally draining for many professionals. In this episode, recruiter Geoff Slade and I unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes and what job seekers can do to stand out, especially when everyone’s application starts to look the same.&nbsp;If 2025 felt harsher than you expected, you were not imagining it. As a career coach, I’ve watched experienced professionals, including senior leaders, get caught in longer hiring cycles, more competition, and a colder tone in recruitment communication. In this episode of The Job Hunting Podcast, I sat down with Geoff Slade, Chairman of the Slade Group, for our end-of-year reflection and forward-looking conversation.&nbsp;Geoff has a rare vantage point. His group operates across multiple recruitment brands and covers everything from entry-level roles through to senior executive appointments. He’s also been in the recruitment industry for decades, which gives him pattern recognition that most job seekers never get access to.&nbsp;In this blog post, I’m summarising and unpacking key points from our conversation, with a focus on what corporate professionals and executives can do right now. We discussed the flat job market, the rise of interim roles, the reality of negotiating salary and flexibility, and how AI is changing the way applications look and feel. Most importantly, we talked about how to market yourself so you stop blending in.&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the Website31 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 Overview of 2025 Job Market Dynamics05:07 Ruthlessness in Recruitment Communication07:49 Impact of Layoffs on Job Seekers10:17 Demand for Interim and Temporary Roles12:59 Negotiating Flexibility in a Tough Market15:32 The Future of Hybrid Work18:12 Tectonic Shifts in Employment Trends21:04 Negotiating Salary in a Challenging Environment23:54 Navigating Job Offers and Salary Negotiations26:56 The Impact of AI on Job Applications29:43 Building Confidence in Job Applications35:09 Strategies for Job Seekers in a Competitive Market40:02 Proactive Job Searching Techniques42:53 The Importance of Action and AccountabilityLinks mentioned in this episode:Episode with Talent Acquisition Manager Leanne BranniganContact me if you need help leading hybrid work environmentsInterview with Anita Ziemer, Executive Director, Slade Group<a href="https://www.renatabernarde.com/reset/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Episode 320 - Discover the idea of “productive cringe” and how the slightly embarrassing moves you avoid are often the exact moves that unlock new roles, better opportunities, and a more sustainable career.&nbsp;Over the past few months, a phrase has appeared again and again in my coaching sessions with senior professionals.&nbsp;“I know I should post on LinkedIn, but that feels cringe.”&nbsp;“I know I should reach out to that person at my dream company, but that feels cringe.”&nbsp;“I know I should negotiate, but I do not want to be that person.”&nbsp;At first glance, these might sound like small worries. In reality, they tell us a great deal about how mid-career professionals are relating to their work in 2025.&nbsp;Cringe has become a powerful, if unspoken, organising force in many corporate careers. Not the justified embarrassment that comes from genuinely unprofessional behaviour, but the&nbsp;anticipatory discomfort&nbsp;we feel when we imagine colleagues rolling their eyes at our ambition.&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the Website31 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 Cringe Factor in Career Advancement00:53 Understanding Cringe and Its Impact07:21 Overcoming Cringe in Job Search12:06 Networking and Cold Outreach Cringe19:29 Negotiating Salary and Ambitions24:38 Reinventing Yourself and Embracing Change26:09 Learning from Leaders: Embracing CringeLinks mentioned in this episode:Subscribe to My NewsletterJoin my RB Lnkdn ClubThe LinkedIn post about being unemployed during the holiday seasonWork with me to have a clear narrativeArticle about cringe and Gen ZArticle about LinkedIn and cringeAbout the host,&nbsp;Renata...

Episode 319 - When a role disappears or a career stops feeling right, most professionals reach for more control, more effort and more doom scrolling. In this conversation, Professor Stephen G Post explains why generosity, service and “pure unlimited love” are powerful tools for coping with job loss, protecting mental health and realigning your career with a deeper sense of calling. Recording this episode with Professor Stephen G Post felt very different from my usual conversations about job search strategy. We did not talk much about keywords, ATS or networking scripts. We talked about love, service, calling and what happens to you on the inside when your role disappears or your career stops feeling right. As you know, most of my clients are senior professionals who have done everything by the book. Good schools, strong performance, promotions. Then something happens. A restructure, a new CEO, a bad boss, burnout. Suddenly the path that once felt stable looks very fragile. Read the full Blog on the Website31 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 Job Market Challenges09:37 The Journey to Finding One's Calling13:27 Advice for Late Bloomers21:18 The Essence of Pure Unlimited Love28:59 Balancing Altruism and Self-Care31:47 The Impact of Meaningful Volunteering33:27 Healing Through Kindness37:51 The Power of Morning Routines39:41 Connecting with Nature47:32 Understanding Happiness and FlowLinks mentioned in this episode:Stephen G. Post's book, Unlimited LoveStephen's LinkedInEpisode 268 - Career Transitions: A Guide for Corporate Professionals Seeking ChangeEpisode 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.About the host,&nbsp;Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of&nbsp;<a...

Episode 318 - I answer real questions from professionals who are worried about a prolonged job search. We talk about whether to use the LinkedIn Open To Work banner, how to cope when your job search has stretched past a year, and what to do when employers say you are “too senior”. In my inbox and on my Zoom screen, the same faces keep appearing. They are senior managers, directors, heads of function, sometimes C suite executives. They are in their forties, fifties, and sixties. They have built careers inside large companies, delivered turnarounds, navigated crises, and led hundreds of people. Now they are sitting at home with a LinkedIn tab open, hovering over a tiny feature that has come to carry enormous emotional weight: the “Open to Work” banner. Read the full Blog on the Website31 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:03:49 Introduction to Job Search Questions12:46 Social Network and Job Advice18:01 Dealing with Seniority and Ageism27:05 Presenting Employment Gaps29:08 Unique Job Roles and Search Strategies32:12 International Coaching and Support35:24 Concluding Thoughts and Final QuestionLinks mentioned in this episode:Holiday Job Search SprintRB Lnkdn ClubEpisode 72 - Systemic Gender Biases, Double Standards, Mental and Physical Dangers Affecting Women in the Workplace - with Hannah Piterman Ph.D.Episode 162 - What Happens After We Quit Our Jobs: An Interview with Sara McElroy, Wall-Street Journal’s Poster Girl for the Great ResignationCallings.aiAbout 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:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/renatabernarde/"...

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.&nbsp;Survival mode is a nervous system response, not a personal failure.&nbsp;&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the Website31 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 coursesLinks mentioned in this episode:Job Searching Through the Holidays WebinarJon's personal websiteJon's firmAbout 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:LinkedInInstagramFacebookX / Twitter

Episode 316 - Dr. Sheila&nbsp;Gujrathi&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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&nbsp;mold&nbsp;for senior leadership? My&nbsp;guest&nbsp;is Dr. Sheila&nbsp;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.&nbsp;&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the Website31 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 Sheila Gujrathi04:58 The Journey of Leadership and Advocacy08:13 The Importance of Role Models and Mirrors10:57 Preparing for Success: Mindset and Routine14:16 Grounding Techniques for High-Stress Situations17:11 Building Trust and Authenticity in Leadership20:11 Navigating Executive Presence23:19 Engaging in Conversations and Resetting Dynamics26:19 Trust and Relationship Building29:07 The Future of Leadership and AdvocacyLinks mentioned in this episode:TEDx talk “Shattering the Glass Ceiling by Finding the Right Mirrors.”Sheila's LinkedInThe Mirror Effect (book + workbook)About 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:<a...

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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the Website31 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 Introduction03:01 Crisis Management Insights from Experience05:00 Understanding Crisis Triggers08:00 Crisis Management in Educational Institutions11:04 Communication Strategies During a Crisis13:55 The Importance of Media Training16:45 Crisis Management for Professionals20:05 Lessons from High-Profile Crises23:09 Final Thoughts on Crisis PreparednessLinks mentioned in this episode:Edward Segal's LinkedIn profileLink to Edward Segal's bookEpisode 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 brand.About the host,&nbsp;Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thejobhuntingpodcast.com/"...

Episode 314 - Recruiter-turned-Founder Georgie Hubbard unpacks how to pivot with confidence, optimize your resume and LinkedIn, and ditch “spray &amp; 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 Website31 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 Career Boldness and Reinvention03:48 Overcoming Fear and Paralysis by Analysis08:20 Cultural Shocks and Resilience in New Environments11:28 Navigating Career Pivots and Transferable Skills16:01 Adapting to Modern Recruitment Challenges22:43 Visibility and Networking in a Competitive Market25:03 Overcoming Precision and Embracing Boldness29:39 The Fear of Regret and Career Transitions33:51 Monetizing Skills and Building a Business39:49 Navigating the Early Stages of Entrepreneurship42:30 Empowering Women in the Age of AILinks mentioned in this episode:Georgie's LinkedinGeorgie'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, 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:LinkedInInstagramFacebookX /...

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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;&nbsp;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.”&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the Website31 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 Advocacy and Employee Rights05:35 Experiencing Toxic Workplaces12:08 Leaving on Your Own Terms17:10 Identifying Toxic Workplaces24:10 Strategies for Surviving Toxic Workplaces32:53 Navigating the Exit Process43:45 Finding Peace After LeavingLinks mentioned in this episode:Episode 213 - Navigating Workplace Rights, a Conversation with Employment Law Expert Jessica ChildressThe Childress firmJessica's book, Peace: Leaving A Toxic Workplace on Your Own Terms (E-Book)About 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 href="https://www.youtube.com/@renatabernarde?sub_confirmation=1" rel="noopener...

Episode 312 - If you second-guess your success, Alison Shamir shares the mindset shifts and tools that help professionals recognise and overcome imposter thoughts.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Read the full Blog on the Website31 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 Imposter Syndrome: A Personal Journey13:18 The Role of Managers in Identifying Imposter Syndrome25:44 Recognizing Imposter Syndrome in Job Candidates26:36 Understanding Imposter Syndrome and Its Signs27:40 Conquering Imposter Syndrome: Control vs. Elimination29:03 The Three Pillar Framework for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome31:50 Real-Life Examples of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome35:03 Triggers of Imposter Syndrome and Their Impact38:23 Personal Experiences and Relatable Stories44:38 External Factors and Confidence in Job Searching48:20 Controlling the Controllables: A Key TakeawayLinks mentioned in this episode:Alison's LinkedInAlison's bookAlison's websiteLearn more about Renata's courses and servicesAbout 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...