Episode 410 - 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

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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.

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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.

Every so often, a string of corporate headlines forces us to confront the evolving nature of leadership. In recent months, the departures of high-profile CEOs from Astronomer, Nestlé, and Super Retail have done exactly that. Each case was triggered not by financial mismanagement or strategic failure of disclosure. More specifically, in relation to personal relationships that crossed professional boundaries. These stories are not about romance or morality. They are about power, trust, and the unforgiving spotlight under which modern leaders operate.

For my clients and listeners, experienced corporate professionals navigating career transitions, these scandals are not distant boardroom dramas. They are cautionary tales that shape hiring practices, redefine professional expectations, and serve as stark reminders that reputation can shift overnight.

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 Crisis Management in Corporate Relationships
• 02:38 Lessons from Recent Corporate Scandals
• 05:03 Understanding Power Dynamics and Policies
• 10:12 Coaching Through Crisis
• 16:06 Accountability and Communication Strategies
• 20:46 Crisis Response Protocols
• 25:59 Rebuilding Reputation After a Crisis
• 32:24 Long-term Strategies for Personal Brand Recovery

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Work with me
• 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.
• Link to my TV interview about Astronomer
• Book mentioned: Firing Back
• Nestle press release
• Rich roll podcast

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.

The questions raised by hundreds of participants in a recent webinar I joined, organized by the job seeker’s platform Callings.ai, painted a vivid picture of where corporate professionals stand today.

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.

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 Webinar and Podcast Episode
• 04:36 Handling Rejection and Staying Motivated
• 12:53 Applications, Resumes, and LinkedIn Strategies
• 26:32 Career Pivots and Returning to Old Employers
• 36:05 Interviewing and Closing the Deal
• 42:48 Application Strategies and Timing

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Join the RB Lnkdn Club to improve your presence on LinkedIn
• Watch the Layoff webinar
• Follow the other panellists: Albert Qian
• Follow the other panellists: Matthew Sorensen
• Follow the other panellists: Garrett Rice
• The Job Hunting Podcast interview with Garrett Rice, CEO of Callings.ai (282)