Adam Broda

Broda Coaching

I help experienced professionals at the Senior, Principal, and Director level ($150k - $350k+ roles) use proven systems to create more job opportunities faster, with less frustration.

We bring the best people, strategies, and technology platforms together to rapidly accelerate the job search process for our clients, landing offers at top companies like Meta, Apple, Tesla, Amazon, Schneider Electric, and more. 

To learn more about our journey OR how we can help you land your next high-caliber role, visit: https://brodacoaching.com/

Chief Executive Officer

I started career coaching in 2016, focused on technology and engineering professionals. When I pivoted into my first FAANG role in 2020, my desire to coach grew so strongly that I launched Broda Coaching.

My coaching program has evolved over the years, but I still only work with a limited number of people at a time. It's always been a 'Quality over Quantity' model - and I don't plan on changing it.

Over 300 clients have already used our program and systems to land better roles, position themselves for long-term success, and upgrade their lives - maybe I can help you? Click the "APPLY TO WORK WITH ME" link in my featured section if you'd like to learn more.

Career Coach

LinkedIn Coaches Accelerator

Co-Founder & Coach

Amazon

-Owns the holistic product portfolio, and execution strategy for all North American health, safety, and wellness products within the WHS - DataTech organization. Currently directs a team of Principal and Senior level Product & Program Managers to deliver tech products focused on improving the wellbeing of +1.4M Amazonians.

Sr. Manager, Product Management - Worldwide Health & Safety, Data & Technology

-Adam directed teams of Product Managers, Researchers, and Software Engineers to develop innovative technology solutions that delivered medical, health, and wellness impact throughout the world. Global Health Technology programs included exciting ventures into virtual reality, biofeedback devices, mobile app technology, software and analytics platforms, computer vision, virtual healthcare, and more.

Sr. Manager, Product Management - Global Health Technology

Sr. Manager, Program Management - Working Well

Boeing

-Responsible for the performance, direction, and growth of Additive Manufacturing (AM) Production Engineering teams. Managed organizational strategy, staffing, compliance, safety, and finances.
-Managed the facilitization of a $16M, +160,000 ft^2 production space and materials test lab.
-Created printer qualifications strategies for parts and tools. Integrated new printing, machining, simulation, and inspection technologies into an operating AM production system in Auburn, WA.
-Captured valuable AM applications and technology from engineering teams and leveraged these across the Boeing Enterprise. Organized AM efforts that saved over $80M in 2019. Received a corporate Stock Award for contributions.
-Served as Interim Executive Director of BAM Auburn in October 2019
-Boeing Engineering Management Focal (EMF) for Virginia Tech University

(Acting Director) Sr. Manager, Production Engineering - Boeing Additive Manufacturing

Engineering Manager - Boeing Additive Manufacturing (BAM)

Manufacturing Manager - Operations, 777 Program

Equipment & Tool Engineering Manager - Production Engineering, 777 Program

Tooling Engineer - Production Engineering, 747 Program

AREVA NP

Mechanical Engineering Intern/Co-Op

WileyWilson

Engineering Intern

I Help Senior, Principal, and Director Level Professionals Land Life-Changing $150k - $350k+ Roles | Founder & Career Coach @ Broda Coaching | Hiring Manager & Product Leader | Amazon, Boeing | Husband & Dad

I work with Senior, Principal, and Director-level professionals looking to land competitive $150k - $350k+ offers at top firms and achieve better income, flexibility, and lifestyle.

My program leverages personalized 1:1 coaching sessions, exclusive networks of people, streamlined job search strategies, and cutting-edge tools & resources.

I've refined my coaching system (called 'Better Work') over my 5 years as a career coach and 13 years as a hiring manager and industry professional. I know what managers and leaders are looking for.

I'll help you position yourself accordingly, while connecting you to decision makers and advocates.
I'll work with you to focus on the tasks that get you interviews, while cutting out the distractions. 

The results speak for themselves.
For a typical client I've...

↳ Generated 3X more interviews in the first 60 days
↳ Created 3X more LinkedIn profile views in the first 30 days
↳ Grown professional networks 30% over the life of the program
↳ Raised total compensation by 15% (average over the last 3 yrs)

All while maintaining a 5-star rating from customers.
You can view my testimonials page here: https://www.brodacoaching.com/testimonials

In the last 5 years, I've:

- Placed clients at companies like Meta, Google, Spotify, Deloitte, GE, Lockheed, JPMorgan, and more
- Grown my alumni network to over 400 active professionals, managers, and recruiters
- Helped hundreds of professionals find jobs in new industries in under 100 days

If you're interested in learning more about my program, book a free discovery call:   https://tally.so/r/w4GlQ5

OR - Click the "APPLY TO WORK WITH ME" page in my featured section.

NOTE - I only work with a limited number of clients at a time. Applications will always be handled on a 'first-come' basis. 

Other interesting things about me:

- Hiring Manager for 13+ yrs; I've built three organizations from scratch during this time
- I've been career coaching since 2016; launched it as a business in 2019
- Featured in Fast Company, CNBC, and LinkedIn News
- Former Production Engineering Leader at Boeing
- LinkedIn Creator with +475k followers
- Former Product Leader at Amazon
- I've been married for 13 years
- High school wrestling coach
- Former NCAA D1 wrestler
- I have two kids (5 and 3)
- I live in Georgia

💻  For more information on my program, my journey, or my success stories: brodacoaching.com 
🚀  For partnerships, collaboration, or speaker inquiries, reach out via: hello@brodacoaching.com

Founder

-I started Broda Coaching (BC) with the mission to improve the world by elevating the Technology & Engineering professionals that influence it daily. BC helps customers maximize their visibility and value by coaching them from the perspective of the hiring teams they need to attract.
-BC offers an online course called the Career Transition Program; featuring 6 Modules, 194 lessons, and over 20 downloadable files/templates to help you crush your job search in a new industry or role.
-We also offer flexible and personalized 1:1 coaching for those looking for a more tailored experience.
-Since late 2019, BC has served over 200 clients; and grown our LinkedIn following from 1.2K to +165K
-Check out our website to learn more: https://brodacoaching.com/

Most job seekers understand they need a Resume AND a LinkedIn Profile in 2025, but here's what they often miss with the setup ↓

A resume, and a LinkedIn profile are two different tools in your search strategy.

One is a saw. The other is a flashlight.
One is hyper-targeted. The other is semi-targeted. 

Each tool has a different purpose.
Let's talk about how to fully optimize each.

We'll begin by discussing their similarities.

→ Where They Overlap

- Both show your strengths, passions, and impact
- Help you make a strong first impression 
- Should tell a similar, progressive story
- Support your personal brand
- Should be updated regularly
- Reel audiences in

↳ Your resume is seen by a very small audience. Your LinkedIn can be seen by almost anyone. 

→ What’s Unique About a Resume

- Written for a targeted audience
- Easy to read, share, and pass along
- Tailored for a specific job or company
- Your resume is designed for precision
- Highlights key results and achievements
- No need for SEO, other content, endorsements

↳ It’s short, focused, and meant to grab attention quickly. It should be specific to 1 job, at 1 company.

→ What’s Unique About LinkedIn

- Your LinkedIn profile is designed for broad-reaching discoverability - it gets you found. 
- Built for multiple roles, companies, and industries
- Benefits from creativity, SEO, and endorsements
- Seen by peers and friends; not just hiring teams
- Shows personal and professional components
- Allows a more narrative and flexible style

↳ LinkedIn isn’t just a digital version of your resume. It’s a search-optimized storytelling tool that builds your brand, not just your candidacy.

So what does that mean for job seekers?

- The information on your LinkedIn profile should not be a carbon copy of your resume. The two should complement each other.

Take 20 minutes this week to make sure both are optimized and working together.

Happy job seeking!

Sue Bunnell

Frequently refreshing your LinkedIn profile can help you show up in more recruiter searches. Here's how it works 👇  

Not surprisingly, LinkedIn's algorithm scrolls key terms and phrases on your profile.

It uses that info to decide WHO to show your profile to when folks run searches on LinkedIn. 

- could be a recruiter looking for a candidate.
- a retiring leader looking for a backfill.
- a user looking for someone to follow.

There are lots of reasons to search on LinkedIn, 

but what's important to understand is the algorithm biases towards folks who've recently made changes/updates. 

I've designed this cheat sheet to walk you through 3 of the most impactful 'resets' you can do,

to help your profile rank near the top, and take advantage of this bias.

PS - One of my clients toggled their Open To Work setting ON and OFF last week and received an inbound email from a recruiter within an hour.

♻️ Reshare this for others looking for jobs.
Follow Adam Broda for more job search tips!

LinkedIn search is incredibly powerful,
But most folks aren’t using the full potential.
Have your heard of the ‘NOT’ operator?

Boolean operators like:

- AND
- OR 
- NOT

Will allow you to quickly filter your LinkedIn searches for specific keywords and phrases.

For example,

- searching “Product” AND “hiring”
- then filtering your search for ‘posts’

Would likely give you a list of people who have posted about Product roles they’re hiring for.

If you’ve followed me for a bit, you know I post about LinkedIn search often.

A smart search with the right operators,
Is a great way to find your target audience.

What I’d like to talk about today, is using the ‘NOT’ operator, which gets used the least.

NOT excludes terms from your search results,

making it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for, and removing a lot of the noise from your search result.

Here are a few example:

1 - marketing director NOT agency
Use case: You’re looking for in-house marketing leadership roles and want to avoid marketing agencies.

2 - project manager NOT ("Accenture" OR "Deloitte")
Use case: You want project manager roles but want to filter out listings from consulting firms.

3 - ("product operations" OR "product strategy") NOT internship NOT junior
Use case: You want to find mid-to-senior-level product operations or strategy roles and exclude internships and junior titles.

🔥Quick tip:
Use uppercase NOT and put multiple exclusions in parentheses if combining, like:
NOT ("entry level" OR "intern").

Hope this helps!

PS - Don’t forget to send connection messages to the people you find in search.

Here’s a quick example for that.

 "Hi _____, I hope you're well. I wanted to learn more about the mid-level PM role you posted about. I'm currently a _____ with _____ years of PM experience in the tech industry; including roles at _______ and ________. I’m looking to continue my career in the PM space. I’m passionate about ______ and I’d love the opportunity to show you how I can create value for your health technology team, just like I delivered this project (insert hyperlink) for my last employer. I hope to hear from you soon and am happy to provide a resume! Thank you."

- - - 

♻️ Repost if you found this helpful.

graphical user interface, text, application, Teams

Stop sending stale, generic cover letters.
Here's a template for the most effective, highest converting cover letter I've ever used ↓

I've been a career coach for 6 yrs
I've been a Hiring Manager for 12+ yrs

I've never recommended cover letters.

BUT, there's still a time and place for them.

In fact; some companies still require them for applications (no idea why)

In those unique circumstances,
The T-Shape Cover Letter is the ONLY format I use.

T-shaped cover letters work because they instantly compare what the company needs, using information from the job description, to how you deliver it.

This makes your qualifications impossible to ignore.

To create a T-shaped cover letter, split the page:

On the left
↳ List key skills or needs from the job description.

On the right
↳Match each with a proof from your experience.

Check out the example in the image below.

Lastly, here's a FREE template from the University of Illinois-Chicago to help you get started.

*https://lnkd.in/eMp2hRyE

(copy and paste the link without the *)

Hope this helps with your job search!
♻️ Reshare to help more job seekers see this.

Abhishek Sawalakhiya

Most networking strategies take a few months to fully develop. Here’s an example of a short-term strategy that can ‘hit’ in a few days.

Reach out and connect with Hiring Managers who are ‘actually hiring’ with this simple 4-step process:


1. Search Linkedin using Exact Match

- add your target job title in the search bar
- then type the word ‘AND’
- add the word ‘hiring’ at the end

Here’s an example of how it should look:

‘product management AND hiring’

- run your search 

2. Filter for ‘Posts’ in the top bar menu

- click the “posts” button; it will turn green
- this should generate a list of people who’ve posted about hiring your target title
- select 10 people and start networking
(you could DM them, or engage their content)

3. Refine your search, filter for target companies

- click “all filters” in the top bar menu
- find “author company” in the filters menu
- type your target companies, and add them

This should help refine the list of posts to people hiring for your target position, at your target firms.

Bonus: You can also filter for the number of hours since the role was posted (you should)

4. Send a connection message like this:

 "Hi _____, I hope you're well. I wanted to learn more about the _____ role you posted about. I'm currently a _____ with _____ years of ____ experience in the ____ industry; including roles at _______ and ________. I’m looking to continue my career in the ___ space. I’m passionate about ______ and I’d love the opportunity to show you how I can create value for your ____ team, just like I delivered this project (insert hyperlink) for my last employer. I hope to hear from you soon and am happy to provide a resume! Thank you."

And you’re done. Now rinse and repeat.
PS - Don’t forget to follow up!

———

I’ve been using this approach for almost 3 yrs. 
It’s effective even for Sr/Princ level roles.

♻️ Repost if you found this helpful.

Most job seekers stop after clicking 'Apply'
Successful job seekers go a step further, finding the humans behind the post. Here’s how ↓ 

I call it the Reverse Job Search method, and it literally takes less than a minutue:

1 - Identify the role
Search across your target companies for openings that truly fit your background.

2 - Grab the job number
Find the requisition ID from the posting or URL.

3 - Run a Google search
Combine the company name, job title, and JR number with “LinkedIn.”

4 - Find LinkedIn posts
Look for mentions of that job from recruiters or employees.

5 - Explore connections
See who in your network works there or is connected to the hiring team.

6 - Reach out
Send a message or connection request to start a conversation.

🔥 Bonus: If it’s a target company, click “I’m interested” on the job page (scroll down) so recruiters can see your intent on LinkedIn Recruiter.

This simple extra step turns a cold application into a warm introduction — and can be the difference between getting seen or getting lost.
_ _ _

Have you tried this method?
Did you find it helpful - share below ↓

Reverse Job Search - Adam Broda

Friendly reminder that better opportunities are coming, but they’re a lot easier to see when you’re looking up. 

This week, I helped 4 senior level professionals land jobs.

(This was a record week for me)

Before they accepted their offers,
Every single one of them was:

- Ghosted at some point
- Frustrated by the process
- Rejected after an interview

One was even put into a 6 month ‘cool down’ by one of their dream companies. 

Every single success story was at one time, an un-success story.

But here’s the good news.
Rejections aren’t permanent.

The best job seekers are the ones who systematize the process, focusing on actions,  instead of letting emotions overrun things. 

Yes, you will be rejected
Yes, you will be told ‘no’

But you will always have the opportunity to REFILL the glass…

every. single. time. 

- - - 

Have you had any job search wins recently?
Share them in the comments 👇

Let’s build the positive momentum!

Image credit: ThrivingStudio

If you're over 50 and still looking for a job, I have one piece of advice:
 
Stop.
Seriously.
Stop applying sporadically.
With no target, and no strategy.
 
Every week, I’m watching folks re-enter the job market for the first time in 5, 10, and sometimes 15+ years, expecting things to work like they did in 2007.
 
And they waste a lot of time and energy. 
 
Because it's not 2007...
or 2015, or 2023.
 
The jobs market is simply too competitive for the spray-and-pray application approach.
 
↳ Real-time models estimate unemployment rates around 4.34% for September 2025.
↳Between July 2023 and July 2025, the U.S. added 3.5M jobs (≈ 2.3% growth), one of the weakest 2-year growth rates (excluding the COVID period) in recent memory.
 
What does that mean for job seekers?
It means:

- Companies can be more selective
- There are fewer jobs, and more candidates 
- Recruiters will actively source more candidates, instead of pulling all of them from the ATS. 

It also means companies don't need to take a risk on talent that hasn't already proven themselves in the role.  And by default, there's less pivoting from job skill A to job skill B. 

So what do you do?

You create a job search strategy. 

- Narrow your target audience (companies, roles)
- Market your top accomplishments (measured ROI)
- Position your professional brand (online, on paper)

And you start talking to people.
Because the truth is...

RELATIONSHIPS > APPLICATIONS

It doesn't mean you do zero applications.
It doesn't mean that you burn your resume.

You leverage both inside of a greater, mission-driven strategy. Stop trying to be attractive to 100 companies and 15 potential job roles. 

It's time to focus.
It's time to PIVOT!

Become the biggest fish in a much smaller pond. 
_ _ _

If you're ready for a new approach, I'd like to invite you to a free, 1-hr 'Job Search Strategy Session' I'm hosting this Wednesday, October 15, at 8:30 p.m. EST.  Drop a comment below if you're interested, and I'll take it from there.

I'll discuss strategies that actually work. 
And answer questions from the audience.

Hope to see you there!

7 things I don’t regret over the course of my 15-year career:


1. Having a non-linear career path

I’ve gone from aerospace to tech
From design engineering to products
From corporate job to self-employed

I can’t say I’m really great at one thing,
But that hasn’t stopped me from making progress, or loving my work. 

2. NOT promoting too quickly

I remember how I felt after I was passed over for a promotion to senior manager yrs ago.
Looking back, I wasn’t ready, and the next few years were massive for personal growth. 

3. Leaving Boeing, even though I was in the pipeline for an executive role

Once I started realizing that the life of the executives above me wasn’t as appealing as I once thought, this decision got easier

4. Taking 6 months' worth of LOA while I worked at Amazon

Multiple months for paternity leave
Multiple months for medical leave
Did it set my career back?  Not sure
But it doesn’t matter in the long run

5. Building my side business slowly, instead of rushing into FT business ownership

Lots of people told me I was crazy to wait as long as I did to jump into full-time coaching. 

But in that time I proved my coaching process
I created something I was truly proud of
I built repeatable systems for offers

6. Prioritizing my personal brand, even while working for large companies

I started building on LinkedIn in 2019
I was scared to start posting
I got push back from leaders
But I didn’t stop

It’s crazy to think about what my life would’ve looked like if I had never taken that risk.

7. Saying ‘No’ to things that kept threatening my priorities.

My life has always been busy
Every week there’s easily 80+ hours worth of work to do, and I’m forced to turn things (people, opportunities, etc) down daily
The older I’ve got the more I’ve grown this skill
The world will eat your time if you let it

Saying ‘No’ is a sign of maturity

- - - 

I’ve made a lot of decisions in my life.
Not all of them were great.

But pushing myself outside my comfort zone has never let me down - it’s almost as if life gets better every time I step outside of it. 

Have a great weekend y’all!

To the job seekers who apply first to "hold their spot" and then work for a referral: this post may be the key to landing 2X more interviews ↓

At large, hyper-competitive companies like OpenAI, Google, Amazon, Meta, etc...

Internal referrals are treated differently from cold applications, and in some cases you need the referral first, in order to be given higher priority. 

Here's what most job seekers miss:

↳ Referrals often bypass the resume black hole
↳ Referrals are often fast-tracked to interviews
↳ Referrals get priority with real recruiters
↳ Some companies even require a referral before a role gets serious attention, or the pipeline gets filled

If you're applying first and hoping to get noticed later, you might have it backward.

(See the table below. Keep in mind - not all ATS function the same way - and approaches can change).

Confirm with an internal recruiter if you can. 

If you’re going for more referrals, here are 5 tactical ways to increase your odds:

1. Search LinkedIn by company
- Use filters to find 2nd-degree connections who work at target companies. You don't always need a strong relationship to get referred.

2. Start small, Ask Indirectly
- Work your way to the ask. A short 10-minute chat to learn about their role before asking for anything is a better move. Avoid asking for favors from strangers right out of the gate.

- The more time you can spend building the relationship, the better. 

3. Be specific
- Reference the job ID and why you’re a strong fit when making the ask. Consider a pitch deck, or other materials that boost your impression-ability. 

4. Make it easy
- Offer to send a short blurb they can paste into the internal tool. Provide materials. Remove the friction when/where possible.

5. Follow up, Don’t spam
- A polite nudge after a few days is fine. Repeated messages with no response aren’t.

Remember, the order of operations is important.
Start with the referral if you can.
Apply smart.

♻️ Repost this for others who need to know.

Friendly reminder: Life is a lot more fun when you don’t take yourself too seriously.

I try to apply this rule to most areas of my life.

- Career coaching
- Parenting
- Marriage
- LinkedIn

Silliness and sarcasm are encouraged. 
Breaks are planned to prevent burnout.
Having the humility to learn from everyone.

If that model has taught me anything in the last 10 years, it’s that the biggest Joy often lies in the little things.

Business deals and bank accounts not required.

Have a great weekend y’all!

In 3 months, he completed 60 interviews at 11 tech firms, earning 6 offers. Here are the 8 lessons we’re sharing from this use case ↓

This story is about Puneet, now a Principal Software Engineer at Atlassian.

His interview experiences reveals a lot about how top tech interviews work, and some key nuances that job seeker should be aware of.

Let’s dive into our 8 lessons.

1. Algorithms still rule
↳ Even at the Staff and Principal level, technical interviews still test data structures, algorithms, and dynamic programming.

Experience alone doesn’t replace preparation.

2. Systems design decides seniority
↳ For senior and staff+ roles, design interviews separate mid-level engineers from senior leaders.

Companies like Atlassian and Salesforce make this a decisive factor in levelling.

3. Behavioural rounds are make-or-break
↳ At the Principal level, leadership and communication often matter as much as coding.

Puneet said these rounds were “decisive” for offers.

4. Interviews are long, and relentless
↳ Even with competing offers, companies didn’t shorten their process. Each wanted a full evaluation before deciding.

5. Preparation beats luck
↳ Despite one tough experience at Uber, Puneet’s results show that consistency across dozens of interviews outweighs a few bad rounds.

6. Companies perceive Seniority differently 
↳ Across 11 tech companies, Puneet received interest at 3 different levels. Focus on scope and compensation, not simply future title.

7. Showcasing “how you think” is critical
↳ Multiple firms made a point to mention this inside of their interview prep. Tech interviewees need to be prepared to walk through their thinking process and approach. 

8. Don’t lose sight of driving change
↳ Top level coding skills are great, but the higher you go in title, level, and compensation, the more emphasis there will be on creating valuable things, as opposed to executing tasks.


Summing it all up:

Top roles still demand both skill and storytelling.

Your experience opens doors, but how you communicate that experience earns the offer.

Happy job seeking y’all!

- - - 

Credit for this story/interview goes to the Pragmatic Engineer newsletter - who shared it on October 30th, 2025.

If you’re an executive and your resume isn’t getting traction, it’s usually not the formatting. It’s the framing.

At the Director level, hiring managers don’t need a list of tasks executed.

They need proof you can create value.

Here’s how to do it right:

1. Start With Critical Context

Executives forget this step all the time.
Help the reader understand the scope of what you lead.

How big is your team?
What size budget?
What complexity?
Without context, your results lose weight.

2. Focus On Accomplishments With Measurable Impact

Impact separates good leaders from great ones.
You’re not just running programs, you’re driving outcomes.

Show how you moved the business forward.
Revenue, efficiency, adoption, cost reduction, whatever fits your world.

3. Demonstrate Culture Development

The best executives don’t just deliver results.
They elevate everyone around them.

Highlight how you built leaders, strengthened teams, and created sustainable systems.

- - - 

Formatting can help you look polished.

But clarity, context, and measurable impact are what make executive resumes compelling.

Check out the example in the image below. 

If your resume isn’t telling the right story,
it’s time to get to work.

Don’t be the leader who assigns simple excel tasks to direct reports who are already busy.

Excel formulas and shortcuts can save you a ton of time - and they’re simple to learn.

So let’s learn a few:

1 - SUM: The Basics of Adding Up

The SUM formula is one of the most used in Excel, and for good reason.

It allows you to add up all the numbers in a specified range, making quick calculations a breeze. For example, using =SUM(A1:A9) will sum all the values from cell A1 to A9.

2 - AVERAGE: Finding the Mean Effortlessly

Need to calculate the average of a set of numbers? The AVERAGE formula has you covered.

This formula takes all the numbers in a range and finds their mean.
For instance, =AVERAGE(B1:B9) will give you the average of the numbers in cells B1 through B9.

3 - ROUND: Simplify Your Numbers

The ROUND formula is perfect for when you need to round numbers to a specific number of decimal places.

If you want to round the value in cell C1 to two decimal places, you would use =ROUND(C1, 2).

4 - MIN: Finding the Lowest Value

When you’re looking for the smallest number in a range, the MIN formula is your go-to.
By using =MIN(D1:D9), Excel will tell you the minimum value found within cells D1 to D9.

5 - MAX: Identifying the Highest Number

Conversely, the MAX formula helps you find the largest number in a range.

Typing =MAX(D1:D9) will reveal the maximum value in the specified range.

And that’s a decent start. 

If you’re new to these formulas I’d recommend printing out this sheet and pinning it up in your workspace.

Try them out.
Share them with others.
Learn which are the most useful.

🔥Shout out to Nicholas Boucher for this  rock solid Excel Formulas cheat sheet.

Have you ever worked for a leader who delegated this kind of work?

A lot of professionals (including Career Coaches, get the ‘weaknesses’ interview question wrong. 

- It’s not about making a strength sound like a weakness - (the Michael Scott method)

- It’s also not about picking a weakness that you’ve turned into a strength.

Neither of these transparently answer the question.

This question is all about putting your self awareness on display.

Everyone has weaknesses.

Managing them effectively shouldn’t always mean removing them. 

Do you agree?

Job seekers, let’s be honest.
We’re probably not talking about mental health as often as we should.

-Losing a job
-Being rejected
-Getting told ‘we don’t want you’ repeatedly

It takes a toll.

Whether you’re 3 months into a job search, or casually looking for a bettr role,

You need a system to protect your mental health.

For many, 

Jobs and careers become a part of our identity, 

and when those things are in flux, we’ve got to work overtime to protect how we feel about ourselves while keeping an eye on what's important. 

Everyone's protection system is different.

- Yoga
- Meditation
- Planned breaks
- Prayer & journaling
- Daily walks & exercise 

Just don't forget to build one for yourself. 
_ _ _

Do you have a mental health routine you love?
Would you be open to sharing what’s working?

Let’s keep the conversation going!

Imagine making $100K (over 5 yrs) more than your coworker for the same job, at the same company. This happens every day.

You make $160k/yr
They make $140k/yr

It’s not because you do the job better.
It’s not because you have more experience.

It’s simply because you asked for more money before you signed on with the firm. 

A recent Glassdoor survey found that 54% of U.S. professionals did not negotiate their most recent salary offer.

What's crazier is that 87% of those who did negotiate, received additional compensation.

For most job seekers failure to negotiate comes from a lack of motivation; i.e. fear, negative perception, or not knowing what to say. 

Remember - negotiation is what professionals do. 
It's a part of your job. 

Negotiation is responsible. Not risky. 

So why not start with your offer?

Here are 5 tips for mentally preparing yourself to negotiate:

1. Negotiation is expected, not offensive

↳ Most employers build room into their offers for this conversation. When you don’t negotiate, you’re the exception, not the norm.

Professionals who negotiate are seen as confident and self-aware, not difficult.

2. Think beyond the number

↳ Negotiation isn’t just about salary; it’s about your total career value. You’re setting the tone for how your contributions are valued from day one. 

That conversation shapes how you’ll be treated later.

3. You’ll never have more leverage than right now

↳ Once you accept, your ability to change terms drops dramatically. Right now, you’re the chosen candidate; the company wants you. That’s power.

Use it respectfully, but don’t waste it.

4. You’re not being greedy. You’re being fair

↳ You’ve earned your value through years of skill, effort, and impact. Negotiation isn’t about asking for more than you deserve; it’s about aligning your compensation with your contribution.

5. Small increases compound over time

↳ A 10% raise now can translate into tens of thousands of dollars over your career, since every future raise and bonus builds on that base.

Skipping negotiation today costs far more in the future.
_ _ _

Have you ever used these to negotiate?
Were you successful?

If so, let's encourage others in the comments.

If you’ve been impacted by a layoff - go apply for unemployment benefits immediately.

In most states, you don’t have to wait for severance, PTO payouts, or official paperwork to complete. 

- payouts are typically weekly
- payouts are based on previous earnings

Plus, you can start earning as early as a week after your claim is submitted/approved. 

Documentation you’ll likely need:

- Your Social Security Number
- Your last employer’s name and address
- Your last day of work
- Reason for separation (select “laid off”)
- Your earnings from the last 18 months

How to apply:

- You apply through your state’s unemployment office, not the federal government.
- Example: I live in Georgia, I’d apply through the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL).
- You’ll usually apply online through the state’s unemployment website.

Don’t wait to get your benefit.

Getting laid off isn’t your fault, but it’s still hard. Don’t miss out on money in the wake of big changes. 

♻️ send this to others who’ve been impacted

We’re hitting our stride, 3 offers last week🔥
Here’s the critical take away other job seekers can learn from these successes:

Keep connections with Recruiters warm

…even after you’ve been rejected.

When you get the ‘we regret to inform you’ email, it’s tempting to shut down the conversation and try to forget it. 

But smart job seekers build systems to keep the door open. Here’s what that can look like.

(this example is from a real success story)

1. Send an authentic and appreciative thank you note after you’ve been rejected.

- be sincere
- expressed your continued interest

2. Save critical contact information.

- keep email addresses, LinkedIn profile info, or phone numbers, record this info in a log

3. Create a calendar reminder that recurs every 4 to 6 weeks, to reach out with updates.

- simple and concise, 1-2 paragraph updates
- share upskilling efforts
- express continued interest

4. When the time is right, reach out with expressed interest in a specific job req.

- include a tailored resume
- consider including a pitch deck


That’s the basic system.

The more recruiters you connect with, the bigger your network becomes, and the more updates you’ll do. 

It’s incredible how big the snowball can become in a few weeks!

♻️Repost to encourage other job seekers.

In a 2025 Deloitte survey, only 6% of Gen Z and Millennials said their primary career goal is reaching a leadership position. Instead…

they want opportunities to thrive both at work and outside of it.

While 90% of both groups say meaningful work is important to their wellbeing, the concept of what meaningful work is…

Is changing.

What does this means for employers?

•Redefine growth: It’s not just about climbing the corporate ladder, but learning, evolving, contributing and adapting.

•Personalise benefits: Health insurance, sure, but also mental-health days, tuition reimbursement, remote/hybrid options, financial planning tools.

•Design flexibility into work: Hybrid models, flexible hours, autonomy. These aren’t perks anymore, they’re expected.

•Connect work to meaning: If your organisation has a mission or purpose, make that link clear. Employees want to feel their work matters.

Question for job seekers:

Do you feel like corporations are adapting to these trends, or stuck in their old ways?

Let me know when the comments.

taplio

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