What separates those who talk about making a big move – even a pivot from those who actually do it?

Being unreasonable. Tenacious and not quitting when that goal is non-negotiable.

Keith Anderson - was an English teacher – with a love for linguistics (find out why this matters and how he used it) making $27k annually. With sights on working at Google and a coach who told him it was impossible. His fire was lit.

How’d he do it? That’s what this episode is all about.

From Futility to Strategy

Keith started out messaging 125 strangers with "I see you work at Google. Can you refer me?" That landed with 125 rejections.

Trials and errors brought on the breakthrough when he stopped treating his job search like a transaction:

• He spoke like an insider using industry vernacular that signaled belonging
• He humanized his resume by placing quirky personal details (like winning a pie competition) at the top
• He limited rejection exposure by confining job search activities to 2 hours daily
• He measured progress objectively rather than emotionally

The results - hardly overnight – but earned positions at Google, and later worked at Facebook, YouTube, and Uber.

The fantasy of "making it" quickly gave way to the reality of long hours and relentless production demands. Dreams achieved often look different than dreams imagined.

"Don't believe what everyone says," Keith advises. "Don't believe everything you read. It's people's perception, their reality. But that doesn't need to be your reality."

While others debate whether the job market is good or bad, someone is getting hired somewhere today. Why not you?

"What's wrong with people," Keith says, "is they believe they can do well by just getting by when they need to aim for the highest."

The permission to be unreasonable in pursuit of what matters might be the only permission worth seeking.

You can hire Keith to help you with your job search https://careeralchemylab.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithand/LinkedIn

Chapters:

00:00 - 01:45 - Introduction 01:45 - 04:18 - Keith's Background and Burnout 04:18 - 09:01 - The Spark of Interest in Tech 09:01 - 14:00 - The Job Search Strategy Evolution 14:00 - 19:04 - Resume Transformation 19:04 - 23:25 - Making Your Resume Human - Quirks Work 23:25 - 27:16 - Handling Rejection and Almost Quitting 27:16 - 30:25 - Reality Check at Google 30:25 - 32:49 - Finding the Right Path in Tech 32:49 - 37:00 - Key Advice for Career Transitions 37:00 - 39:34 - Closing and Business Information

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For the life of me, given the choice between a strong, more profitable business and letting go of the back-assward stigma around age, the logic is clear. But is it?

Like me, Janine Vanderburg isn’t shy about why the math isn’t mathing the business reasons why it’s about impact not age..

Here’s what you’ll find out:

What if the system itself was rigged against you in ways you've never considered—not because you're not qualified, but because of your date of birth.

When there's a problem like ageism in hiring, it "goes in both directions." As Janine Vanderburg reveals, we're not just talking about discrimination against those 40-plus. "Youngerism" is equally "alive and kicking."

If you've been ghosted after interviews, if you've watched less qualified candidates get positions you were perfect for, it might not be you—it might be your birth year.

Even more shocking: Resume Builder's surveys found hiring managers systematically screen out both applicants over 60 AND those under 27.

And if you work with AI? 90% of hiring managers don't want to hire anybody over 35 for roles involving artificial intelligence—despite experienced professionals often being the best AI power users.

1. Inside your own mind: When you think "I'm too young/old for this position" before even applying
2. In hiring practices: When recruiters make assumptions about your abilities based solely on graduation dates
3. Embedded in systems: When AI screening tools filter you out before a human ever sees your application

By 2030—just five years away—there will be more people over 65 than under 18. Companies unprepared for this reality will be scrambling for talent while others thrive.

Will you be positioned to capitalize on this inevitable shift?

As Janine advises, "You can be willing to fight to end ageism, and you can also try to preserve your financial security." Both can be true at once.

The wisest approach? Learn the unwritten rules, navigate the system strategically, and position yourself where your true value is recognized.

Listen now to discover how to turn what looks like an obstacle into your greatest competitive advantage.

Janine Vanderburg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinevanderburg/) is a Keynote Speaker, and Founder/Director of Changing the Narrative is the leading effort in the U.S. to change the way people think, talk and act about aging and ageism through evidence-based strategies and innovative public campaigns. Her end game? To end ageism."

Chapters:

00:00-01:32 - Introduction & The Firestarter

01:32-05:58 - Understanding the Landscape of Ageism

05:58-09:23 - Janine's Awakening to Ageism

09:23-10:41 - Cliff Notes from the Training

10:41-13:34 - Employer Messaging Shift

13:34-16:05 - The Math Isn't Mathing

16:05-18:14 - Progress & Reality Check

18:14-29:09 - Staying in the Fight Without Burning Out

Like what you hear? Subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show!

Want FREE executive job search tips each week? Click here to join my newsletter.

Get a copy of my ebook Turn Age Into Your Advantage

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorengreiff/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portfoliorocket/

Watch my podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGM7j8croBkkZ4bLqN7DOQ/

In this me to you episode, I am delivering some tough love and strategic clarity for executives facing job search challenges in today's uncertain climate.

Uncertainty isn't new, and someone will get hired despite the chaos - here are the 5 key take-aways to make sure it you.

See uncertainty as feature, not a bug Extended interview processes are designed to find leaders who leverage uncertainty as an advantage. Companies want those who transform chaos, not merely endure it.

Scarcity is a lie, not the truth Opportunities haven't vanished; they've transformed. The problem isn't market scarcity but your perspective. Flip your viewpoint and find possibilities in unexpected places.

Campaign, don't just search Reframe from passive "searching" to active "campaigning." Treat your job hunt as a strategic business initiative. Apply agile methods: iterate, test, learn from failures.

You need to deepen connections In uncertain times, companies seek referrals through trusted networks. Don't ask "who do you know?" but rather "who needs to know what I know?" - an approach focused on providing value.

Flaunt your battle scars Don't hide struggles with crisis management - these experiences make you valuable. Perfection won't land you the job; authentic leadership will.

The future belongs to executives who move first, adapt quickly, and build value regardless of conditions. Someone will get hired - make it you.

Chapters:

Like what you hear? Subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show!

Want FREE executive job search tips each week? Click here to join my newsletter.

Get a copy of my ebook Turn Age Into Your Advantage

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorengreiff/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portfoliorocket/

Watch my podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGM7j8croBkkZ4bLqN7DOQ/