Hannah Morgan

Showing job seekers ways to proactively uncover new opportunities and get discovered! Job Search Strategist, Speaker & Trainer 🏆 LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers.

Do you have a plan you are following to find a new job? Without the right to-do list it can take a long time to secure a new job. 

I help job seekers understand how to look for work more effectively and land a job faster. 

What I do is equip people who are serious about managing their careers with the strategies and tools to market themselves during job search (and forever). It's about creating a reputation of excellence and connecting with people you need to know in person or virtually! 

In today’s world, it’s too easy to get overlooked when you just apply for jobs online. I want you to get the attention you deserve. But it isn’t easy. It requires consistent effort and stepping outside of your comfort zone. 

Develop a plan to find your next job faster!

RESOURCES I OFFER:

Do you get my Sunday Career Essentials newsletter? It's curated content by experts in the job search, recruiting and careers fields you need to know! Subscribe here https://career-essentials.beehiiv.com/join

Do you know about my Motivation Monday Job Search Accountability Group? It's a intimate group of job seekers that meet weekly to push through the process, collaborate, and get support and accountability. Learn more here: https://careersherpa.net/need-help/motivation-monday-job-search-accountability-group/

Interested in learning more about my services? See this page: https://careersherpa.net/products-services/

Career Sherpa.net serves as the umbrella for all the things I love doing: training (virtually and in person), speaking, and writing. Visit my website to get the latest on job search trends and tips to improve your online visibility ⇨ 
https://careersherpa.net

 ► Speaker/Trainer ◄ 
Delivering presentations and workshops is my passion.  I love educating and the personal satisfaction that comes from seeing the "a-ha" moments of participants. 


 ► Author/Blogger ◄ 
I’ve been recognized at one of LinkedIn's Top Voices in Job Search and Career in 2019. I've also been featured in USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, Aol Jobs, LifeHacker, The Muse,  Business Insider and many other media outlets. 

I've written two books: "The Infographic Resume" and co-authored “Social Networking for Business Success: How To Turn Your Ideas Into Income”.

Job Search Strategist

You don’t need a perfect plan to start a job search.

In fact, waiting until everything feels clear is one of the biggest reasons people stay stuck.

Most job seekers I talk to aren’t lacking talent.
📆 They’re lacking structure. (Try using the structure below!)
📌 They’re unsure how to position their experience.
🧠 They’re overthinking every application.
🛑 They’re bouncing between ideas without traction.

That’s exactly why I created Motivation Monday.

This isn’t about having all the answers before you join.
It’s about building clarity through action.

Inside the cohort, we:
 • Translate your experience into language hiring managers value
 • Set weekly priorities so you stop guessing what to do next
 • Workshop real questions in a small, facilitated group
 • Create accountability so momentum doesn’t fade

We intentionally cap the group at 12 people so I can provide hands-on support.

We start February 2. (Enrollment closes this Friday)

If you’ve been waiting for clarity, this is how you create it.
👉 Join Motivation Monday before spots fill.
https://lnkd.in/ekxpDnUD

I am sharing this list of "Jobs on the Rise" by LinkedIn not because I want you to pursue any of these jobs, but to give you ideas about what NEW job titles/roles look like. 

This list does not mean that there is an abundance of jobs posted in these areas. This list shows the fastest-growing roles of the past three years!

Here are some thoughts: 

✨ AI jobs top the list. (But if you don't already have a deep background in AI, these won't be suitable)

✨ Self-employment and gig work was on the rise (not unusual given the large numbers of layoffs last year)

✨ Sales-related jobs also made the list. (This shows that organizations are still investing in growth.)

✨ Notably missing are programming/technology roles 

✨ None of these are entry-level roles. (Field representives had a median of 2.1 years of experience)

✨ Despite the rise of use of AI, some jobs surprisingly made the list: 
Legal Researcher
Travel Advisor
Data Annotator

✨ What isn't on the list, probably because they aren't represented on LinkedIn are jobs in the trades: Electrician, Lineman, HVAC technician, etc. 

If you are exploring career options or thinking of transitioning, this list can provide ideas and insights into the work so you can dig deeper. It is not to be viewed as a list of job titles that are actively hiring! 

❓If you are in the talent management space, does this align with what you've been seeing?

Open article: LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise 2026: The 25 fastest-growing roles in the U.S. by LinkedIn News • 15 min read

LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise 2026: The 25 fastest-growing roles in the U.S.

Shelley Piedmont, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

You've spent years building real expertise. You've solved many problems and delivered great results.
 
But when it comes time to talk about what you do, whether you're considering a career change or sitting in an interview, you can't quite put your finger on what makes you valuable. You know you're good at what you do, but you can't clearly explain why or how that matters to someone else.You're struggling because you've never stepped back to truly understand what your experience adds up to and how to talk about it in a way that makes sense to someone else.

I was a recruiter for 20 years, which means I've interviewed thousands of leaders. I've also coached 400+ mid-career professionals through career transitions and interview prep.What I've learned is this: most people know what they're good at. They don't know how to talk about it.

I work with people in two situations:

1) You're thinking about a career change.You know you need something different, but you're stuck. You're worried your experience won't translate. You're scared of starting over or taking a pay cut. You don't know how to explore options without blowing up your current stability.

I help you figure out what actually makes sense for you, then show you how to talk about your background so it sounds like an asset, not a liability.

2) You have interviews coming up, and you're not ready. When you try to explain what you do, it either comes out as a rambling career history or three vague sentences. You leave interviews kicking yourself because you forgot to mention half your accomplishments.I teach you how to tell your story in a way that's clear, confident, and actually lands. The organization has a strategy; you should, too.

Here's what's different about working with me: I've been on the other side of the table. I know what hiring managers are actually listening for. I know why some answers work and others fall flat.

For example, everyone says they're a "strategic thinker," but almost no one shows how they think strategically or what results that thinking produces. That's the difference between an answer that sounds good and one that gets you hired.

"I was feeling very lost when we started. Shelley helped me organize my plan, understand my strengths, and put an actionable plan together. I now feel ready to move forward with purpose."

"Shelley gave me different ways of looking at how I answer interview questions, which will help tremendously."

Book a free consultation, and I'll show you what's getting lost in translation. Check out the link in my contact information.

Interview the Right Way Coach

Shelley Piedmont

Is 2026 the year when you can finally breathe?

That was all a client of mine wanted when I asked her to imagine what achieving her career goals would do for her life. 

In 2025, many professionals were holding their breath. They stopped dreaming about what was possible because they were paralyzed by what they thought was probable:

—News stories about 6-month+ job searches and ghosting made staying in toxic cultures feel like the "safe" choice.
—Losing the emotional energy required to actually go for it, because it seems so out of reach.
—Starting to doubt your marketability, because you don't get positive affirmation that your work is valued.

To start breathing in 2026, you have to follow my client’s lead and move from "surviving" to "strategizing":

—Write down what "breath" means to you. Is it more autonomy? Better leadership?
—Separate the horror stories from your specific market reality. Many job seekers who struggled did not apply a strategic, relationship-based search.
—You don't have to do this alone. High-performers use coaches to maintain the accountability and perspective they lose when they’re burnt out (ask my clients).

We are in a new year. At this time next year, do you want to bemoan another year where you still can't breathe, or do you want to say you have found your fresh air?

If it is the former, I am here to help you out.

---
I'm Shelley. I used to hire for companies, but now I advocate for YOU. My goal? Helping you find work that energizes you rather than exhausts you.
♻️ Resonated with you? Your repost could help someone else, too
🔔 Follow + ring the bell for weekly career reality checks
🟪 Questions about your next move? I'm here to help. Ask below or DM me

Shelley Piedmont🧭

Clarity↣Strategy↣Hired For Managers to VPs • Job Search Strategist & Interview Coach • Career Coach, Job Change Advisor & Resume + LinkedIn Advisor

Campus recruiting is changing (again).
And not in a good way for most students.

A note: I usually focus on mid-career job seekers in my posts. This will likely apply to your children, nieces, and nephews who are in college or about to graduate. It is something you should know.

My Monday's number: 26%

That's how many companies were exclusively recruiting from a shortlist of elite schools in 2025, up from 17% in 2022, according to a Veris Insights survey of over 150 companies.

The "talent is everywhere" message from the hot job market? Gone. Now, hiring from elite schools and near corporate HQ is a priority.

Let's look at what is happening.

GE Appliances cut their campus visits from 45-50 schools down to just 15.
McKinsey removed  "We hire people, not degrees" from their career page. Evidently, that is not true anymore (but what is ever?).

If you're not at a target school, you're starting from a massive disadvantage.

And the timing couldn't be worse for new grads.

The unemployment rate for "new entrants" (recent college grads trying to break into the full-time workforce) hit a nine-year peak in 2025, according to federal data analyzed by the Burning Glass Institute.

For the first time in modern history, bachelor's degree holders ages 20-24 are experiencing unemployment rates closer to those of those with only a high school diploma. The gap between the two groups is the smallest it's been since at least the early 2000s.

One think tank called the U.S. "no country for young grads." It is pretty bleak right now.

I get some of this.

I did campus recruiting as a recruiter. When companies want in-person work, recruiting close to the corporate office makes sense. Fewer companies are willing to pay to relocate.

Plus, when you focus on fewer schools, you can build deeper relationships. You're not spread so thin.

What this means for students:
If you don't attend an elite university or a school near a major corporate hub, one expert put it bluntly: "God help you."

His advice? Referrals, LinkedIn, and networking (always best practice). Because traditional campus recruiting won't reach you.

The doors that opened during the hot job market are closing again.

And I haven't seen any data showing that this narrower approach is actually producing better hires. 

Mid-career professionals: If you have a college student or recent grad in your life, what's one concrete thing you're doing to help them navigate this? Referrals? LinkedIn coaching? Honest talk about what schools/locations actually matter now?

Sources: Wall Street Journal (January 2026), CNBC analysis of Burning Glass Institute data (October 2025).

Purple background featuring 'MONDAY NUMBER' text in tan/beige lettering with '26%' written in white handwritten style below. Shelley Piedmont, wearing a burgundy sweater, has her hand cupped to her ear in a listening gesture. Website URL www.mycareergps.com appears at the bottom. This is Shelley Piedmont's Monday Number post about the percentage of companies exclusively recruiting from a shortlist of elite schools, showing how campus hiring has narrowed and is affecting college graduates' job prospects.

Is a traditional full-time job search actually holding you back from the work you love?

When mid-career professionals think about career success, they've been trained to look for a seat at one table. But for many, that model no longer works for them.

If you’re frustrated by long hiring cycles or looking for more variety in your day-to-day work, you might not have considered a path many of your peers are already taking: The Fractional Shift.

This isn't just about a filler job until you can find a permanent home. It’s about building a 'Portfolio Career' where you: 

✓ Solve diverse, high-stakes problems across different industries. 
✓ Regain autonomy over your schedule and who you work with. 
✓ Get paid well for your expertise and are respected.

Instead of waiting for one company to say "yes," imagine multiple companies saying "yes" to your problem-solving abilities.

I’ve broken down why this might be the right path for you and what you need to know.

Many of you are stymied in a full-time search because you are selling time when we should be selling results. For my fractional pros: what was the most challenging part of that mindset shift? 

---
I'm Shelley. I used to hire for companies, but now I advocate for YOU. My goal? Helping you find work that energizes instead of exhausts you.
♻️ Resonated with you? Your repost could help someone else, too
🔔 Follow + ring the bell for weekly career reality checks
🟪 Questions about your next move? I'm here to help. Ask below or DM me

Fractional Work For Mid-Career Professionals

Are you in the mid-career gray area?

You know, where you feel the following:

You’re good at your job, but not "lit up" by it.
You’re respected, but they won't move on your best ideas.
You’re wondering if a new title, industry, or career is the answer. 

It is not that you are miserable, dreading every workday. It is more that you are feeling underutilized.

This was my conversation with "Michael" yesterday. He has a lot of ideas about what else he could do, but he can't pinpoint one and say that it is it.

"Michael" is not alone. Many of you have that "January itch." You want 2026 to be the year that you find something more fulfilling, but don't know what that is.

Well, what are you going to do about it? Keep thinking and thinking, but not making any progress?

Or are you going to take constructive steps like "Michael" and get support?

You can end 2026 the same way you ended 2025, or you can do something different—your choice.

If you want help to get career clarity, DM me (it is always free). I'd love to make your 2026 one of your best years.

"Why should we hire you?" 

Many of you are getting this interview question wrong.

You think, "I'll tell them I am a great problem solver or build strong relationships. That's what they want to hear, right?

Well, sort of.

Saying that makes you sound like everyone else. Getting an offer is not about being like everyone else; it is about showing you're uniquely qualified for the role.

You have to provide this proof.

Instead of: "I'm great at problem solving." Try: "I reduced customer complaints by 40% in six months by creating a new tracking system that caught issues before they sidetracked us."

Instead of: "I'm a team player." Try: "I started weekly cross-department check-ins at my last job. Within three months, we saw project delays drop by 25%, and it increased morale."

Also, when answering this question, don't forget to talk about your cultural fit.

You are hired not only because you can do the job, but also because you fit in with the culture.

For example, I worked at an organization that used a repeatable scaling process. When interviewing candidates, I enjoyed hearing about their comfort level and preference for our business approach. I knew they could work within our way of doing business.

So, here is a cheat sheet on how to answer this question.

Before your next interview, write down three specific examples:
—A problem you solved (with numbers)
—A time you improved something (with results)
—How you embody their company values (with a story)

Skip the buzzwords. 
Give them the evidence. 

That's how you stand out when everyone else is giving the same generic answers.

Need help with your interview prep? DM me (always free).

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💜 Helping mid-career professionals find clarity, build confidence, and land jobs they love.
📖 Follow me for career tips, job search strategies, and interview advice.
💌 Need support in your career journey? Reach out—I’m here to help!

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The Battle

Hannah Morgan

Shelley Piedmont

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Posts

Engagements

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Hannah Morgan's LinkedIn Performance

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