6 Teaching Instruments for Job Search

Renata Bernarde (00:00)
for those who’re right here in January, IT often means one in every of two issues. You’re prepared for a change otherwise you’re exhausted from attempting. At present’s episode is for each variations of you.

The purpose I wish to make right this moment is straightforward. Nothing modifications until you alter the way in which you suppose. If you happen to really feel overwhelmed proper now, you’re not damaged. You’re overloaded. Your mind is overloaded. Whenever you’ve bought a long time of expertise, the stakes really feel greater, the story feels heavier, and the choices can really feel narrower than they often are.

So this episode is about widening your choices by altering the way you see your self and the way you run the method of job looking. So I’m going to adapt six mindset instruments that encourage me to the truth of your expertise as company skilled. You need a job in 2026 and past, and I’ll provide you with six instruments, no hype, only a reset. All proper, let’s start.

If we haven’t met but, my identify is Renata Bernarde. I’m a profession coach and I work with skilled professionals within the company world, often based mostly within the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Europe, Asia, and often navigating their job search or profession change of their 40s, 50s and 60s. I like working with them.

Such as you, my shoppers are navigating job search, profession change, management transitions, and that tough second the place your expertise is powerful, however your confidence has taken a success. I additionally educate profession planning and design at Monash College and I host this podcast, The Job Searching Podcast, which I began a few years in the past and IT now has 300 episodes prepared so that you can binge seek for particular matters.

My job in your ears, by means of my publication and my teaching is that will help you suppose clearly, talk powerfully, and transfer by means of job search with extra technique and fewer stress. So go to my web site, be sure you’re subscribed to my publication, and comply with this podcast wherever you discovered IT.

So over the vacations, IT’s summer time right here in Australia the place I’m for the time being, I did what I all the time do once I’m attempting to reset. I learn quite a bit, I listened to a lot of different podcasts, I watched and I took notes and I pulled collectively a handful of concepts that stored repeating themselves to me throughout completely different sources, completely different industries, completely different life tales. So right this moment,

I’m going to distill these concepts into six mindset instruments you should use if you’re an skilled skilled on the lookout for work, rebuilding your confidence, redesigning what you need subsequent in your profession. And stick with me till the top as a result of I’m additionally going to clarify to you an vital change I’m making to this podcast this yr and how one can keep linked with me week by week.

Now preserve a be aware open as you pay attention as a result of I’m going to ask you a couple of questions. You don’t must reply them completely. You simply must reply them actually. And for those who’re a publication subscriber, you don’t must take notes. Your publication this week will include all of the questions for you and a playbook so that you can work with. In order that’s the good thing about being a publication subscriber. Now, whereas I’m doing that, I’m additionally going to be sincere about one thing I feel you’ll respect.

This podcast is right here that will help you. IT’s additionally right here that will help you take motion. I’ll stroll you thru this street to a brand new job and profession, and I may also push you. And for a few of you, the very best motion is working with me privately or selecting one in every of my programs. And I’ll provide you with actual worth right this moment. And I’ll additionally make IT clear the place the road is between this can assist and this can change all the things, which is often behind the consumer firewall.

All proper, let’s get into IT. So the primary mindset software is design the character. Right here’s the factor, essentially the most attention-grabbing individuals don’t fall into their lives. They design them. I heard this just lately on a video. I’ll hyperlink that video under. IT actually impressed me to do that podcast. And IT was all the things that I do with the work with my shoppers. And I needed to…

educate you on how we do IT once I work with shoppers. And I needed to carry that into your profession. Numerous skilled professionals, they attempt to get again to who they had been earlier than their profession disruption. They use job in search of to attempt to get again to what that they had as a substitute of transfer ahead with their careers. So similar trade, similar title, similar stage, similar identification. After which when that doesn’t work,

shortly they panic, the panic units in and that’s fairly regular and fairly widespread. I’ve executed that myself in my company profession. However right here’s a greater start line for you. If you happen to had been writing the lead character in a movie, who is that this individual now? Not 10 years in the past, not pre-layoff, not pre-burnout, now. What do they care about? What are they recognized for?

How do they make their selections? What do they refuse to tolerate anymore? What sort of work are they happy with? And these prompts are so vital so that you can work by means of as you undergo that job search, earlier than you undergo that job search, the truth is. Reply them such as you’re describing a personality, not such as you’re writing a LinkedIn bio. These questions, you understand, are…

for you, you’re not essentially going to share them but with anyone. What downside do I clear up higher than anyone else? What varieties of environments brings out my greatest work? What do I wish to be employed for this yr particularly? What do I wish to be protected against this yr particularly? What would make my week really feel like mine once more?

Now, let me make this sensible. When individuals hear design your life, they typically bounce to aesthetics, routines, habits, a brand new pocket book, a brand new app. I’m not towards any of that. That’s cool. I like IT. However for you, the design is your profession structure, your positioning, your boundaries, your pitch, message, your working system. You’re the writer right here.

and I would like you to really feel that management. However being the writer means you cease ready for the market to let you know who you’re, to let you know what Jobs to use for. That is precisely the place teaching turns into so highly effective, as a result of IT’s onerous to put in writing your personal story if you’re nonetheless grieving the final chapter. So for now, your motion step is straightforward. Write a personality temporary on your 2026 skilled self.

One web page, bullet factors, no perfection. And if you would like my construction for this, the one I exploit with my non-public shoppers that sits behind my paid work, that’s the distinction between inspiration and implementation. Go to my web site, attain out to me, let’s work collectively. Okay. The second software that I wish to share with you is to decide on a phrase as a filter.

Lots of people have began doing this, my husband has executed IT for a couple of years now, and I feel IT works very properly. You select one phrase for the yr and you employ IT as your filter to enhance your self on your private growth, on your skilled profession growth. I like this for job search as a result of job search creates determination fatigue. You’ve gotten too many selections, too many choices, opinions and techniques.

Which Jobs to use for, who to contact, what to say, find out how to current your self, when to pivot, when to persist. There’s simply an excessive amount of. A single phrase then turns into your determination filter. Choose one phrase for you for 2026, then run your selections by means of IT. Does this outreach match my phrase? Does this function match my phrase? Does this story match my phrase?

This stops you from drifting. IT provides you a backbone, a basis. Listed here are a couple of phrases that may work fantastically for senior professionals. First one, seen. I cease hiding behind competence and I begin seeing. One other one, selective. I cease chasing and I begin selecting. Courageous. I do the uncomfortable factor early, not late.

Clear, I cease being spectacular and I begin being understood. Regular, I construct momentum by means of consistency, not temper. Unmistakable, I cease mixing in and I begin standing for one thing. Now I would like you to select only one and I would like you to make use of IT in two locations. In your desk, in your wall, the place you’ll truly see IT. IT’s vital so that you can see that phrase. In your notes app.

as the primary line in your job search plan, then each time you make a job search determination, ask, does this match my phrase? Right here’s an instance. In case your phrase is selective, you don’t apply to roles that make you are feeling cheapened, even for those who’re scared. In case your phrase is seen, you cease spending power tweaking your resume for the tenth time and also you begin reaching out to people.

One phrase received’t repair all the things however IT will cease you from drifting.

Now, a 3rd software. I would like you to attempt your greatest to outsmart the inner monster inside you. Let’s speak about that inside monster. I’ve one, everyone has one. Excessive efficiency don’t often wrestle with a monster of laziness, by the way in which. They wrestle with avoidance disguised as productiveness. I see IT on a regular basis. IT’s avoidance dressed

like this. I’ll simply refine my LinkedIn profile yet another time. Earlier than I try this, I’ll simply apply to 10 extra rows earlier than I begin networking. I’ll wait till I really feel extra assured. I’ll wait after the vacations. I’ll do extra analysis. The monster that you’ve got inside, IT loves consolation. In a job search, consolation often appears like solitary work.

You possibly can keep busy with out being uncovered. So networking, messaging, asking, following up, these are seen actions. They set off vulnerability. And that’s why the monster fights them. You argue towards all of them. You discover causes to not do these issues but. So the factor right here is to not attempt to negotiate with this monster. You need to outsmart IT.

One of the simplest ways to do this is to take away all of the variables and add accountability. That’s why teaching works. ⁓ However there are different issues that you are able to do. And listed here are three examples that work for knowledgeable professionals. You construct a calendar and also you implement IT. So that you block, you understand, two blocks per week, similar time, similar place. One block is for outreach. Exit community.

Message individuals one block is for interviews and storytelling follow. So for those who’re not interviewing you’re training for IT The opposite factor that you are able to do is pre written scripts I do numerous that work with my shoppers for those who’re listening and also you’re a consumer, you understand how you understand how I work with pre written scripts IT’s not for each state of affairs however for the moments that you just freeze the moments that you’re with excessive excessive cortisone in your physique

and your mind doesn’t work as a lot, these scripts could be very, essential. There’s the reconnection message, the referral ask, the primary questions in a job interview, the I’m exploring subsequent steps message, the comply with up after no response. These scripts could be prepared, could be written for you and with you, with the assistance of a coach, for instance.

Then there’s exterior accountability. Like I mentioned, a coach, you may work with me one-on-one. You possibly can be part of one in every of my small teams. You understand, I’ve a bunch teaching program that I run a couple of times a yr. You possibly can join the waitlist. There’s my LinkedIn month-to-month membership. If what you’re scuffling with is to indicate up on LinkedIn extra visibly and with the manager presence that you just wish to painting. ⁓ A weekly verify in with somebody, somebody.

somebody who’s an skilled, somebody who has extra expertise on this than you, who received’t allow you to disappear, received’t allow you to give up to the monster. That is the place I’m going to say one thing which may sting, however IT’s true. If willpower labored, you wouldn’t be caught. If willpower labored, everyone that made vital selections on New Yr’s Eve will comply with by means of them.

however your mind is defending you from discomfort, not from failure. So the query turns into, what programs am I prepared to place in place so I don’t must depend on my temper? If you happen to’re listening and considering, I do know what to do, I simply can’t make myself do IT. That’s precisely the sort of individual that I wish to assist as a result of the work isn’t extra Information, extra…

issues to learn, podcasts, episodes even, the work is altering the habits below strain. In order that’s one thing for you to consider.

All proper, the fourth software, the third individual audit. That’s such an vital software. IT’s my favourite. IT’s a readability software. IT creates distance to create readability for you. And right here’s the train I’d such as you to do. Think about you’re advising somebody, somebody you respect, somebody along with your actual resume, your actual strengths.

and your actual fears. If you happen to had been their profession strategist, what would you inform them to do that week? Not this yr, this week. Would you inform them to cease making use of and begin speaking to individuals, tighten their goal, take a short lived contract to get transferring, rebuild their confidence by means of a smaller win, change their narrative as a result of IT’s underselling them, cease chasing roles that they don’t deserve,

that don’t deserve them? Now ask your self, why am I not taking the recommendation I’d give to another person? That is the place senior professionals get trapped. You’re sensible at fixing issues for organizations. You’re much less compassionate with your self. So right here’s a sensible third-person audit template for you.

If I had been teaching Renata’s listeners, I might inform them give attention to these two function varieties, attain out to those 10 individuals, inform this story in interviews, cease doing this one factor instantly.

If you happen to do nothing else after this episode, please simply do that. Okay? Think about that you’re teaching somebody that’s precisely such as you and undergo these questions. You will discover IT so enlightening and you might even see the place the cracks are and I would like you to note the cracks.

Now, this is a vital software, one which I can be talking quite a bit about this week as a result of I’m talking about ageism with a bunch of job seekers later this week. I’ve to arrange that webinar. I would like you to cease ignoring your ceiling. That is what I wish to talk about with you and with this group I’m speaking to later this week. There’s a lie that floats round company careers.

The lie is that the very best years are behind you. That you just’ve missed out your window. That age bias exists. I’ve talked about this many occasions, however right here’s what I do know from working with individuals of their 40s, their 50s and their 60s. The market doesn’t solely reward youth. They reward relevance. And relevance is one thing that you could construct over time. You possibly can solely construct IT.

over time. You do IT by being present in your considering, clear in your positioning, sturdy in your communication, and particular about your worth. When somebody hires a senior skilled, they’re typically hiring for judgment, stability, affect, and the flexibility to execute with out drama. These are benefits.

So if you catch your self considering possibly I’m too late, substitute IT with higher questions like how do I turn out to be unmistakably irrelevant for the issue this group is dealing with proper now? That’s what makes you stand out, not your job title, not your years, your perspective. And that’s one thing we will craft collectively.

I say collectively as a result of generally that self-reflection takes time and takes the help of someone else that will help you determine IT. If you happen to’ve been working in your profession day in time out in a rat race for too lengthy, chances are you’ll not see your self the way in which that the market sees your self. So getting that exterior validation and critique and help is admittedly vital for you. Discover a strategy to do IT, both by means of teaching or mentoring or

the help that yow will discover round you. And IT needs to be skilled help.

The final software that I wish to share with you right this moment is that concepts and planning could be disguised as procrastination. That is very true for good individuals. You possibly can spend months getting ready the right resume, the right profile and the right technique for your self. And in the meantime, nothing will change. Solely actions change outcomes.

So what are you doing this week? Not engaged on, not occupied with, however truly doing. Listed here are some examples of what doing in job search can seem like. Doing appears such as you sending 5 reconnection messages. You publish one LinkedIn put up that states what you do and what you’re concentrating on. You e book one dialog with somebody who’s being the place you wish to go.

You apply for 2 roles that really match your goal with a really tailor-made pitch. You follow your inform me about your self story out loud 3 times. Progress loves publicity. So if you would like momentum, you want that output. You want issues that aren’t excellent but in an effort to repeatedly enhance them, particularly if they don’t seem to be excellent but.

That’s when you actually need to go to market and do one thing about IT. I would like you to recollect this. You don’t want extra motivation. Right here you’re listening to this podcast. You’re motivated sufficient. You want fewer selections and extra construction. That’s what these six instruments are. Construction for the a part of you that will get drained. Look.

Right here’s the factor, the job market hasn’t been straightforward for a couple of years now. If 2025 knocked you round, you’re not alone. Numerous gifted individuals ended final yr feeling actually disoriented,

not as a result of they lack functionality, however as a result of the market has modified and the principles bought fuzzier and extra difficult. And that’s why I’m right here in 2026 with a renewed dedication to creating this present extra private, extra sincere and extra helpful for you. I wish to let you know what’s altering and why. So from right this moment, I’m releasing the podcast each two weeks.

This transformation is vital to me and IT’s not as a result of I’m doing much less, however as a result of I’m doing IT in another way. I would like this episodes to be extra spacious, extra considerate, extra human. And I would like you to really feel such as you’ve had a correct dialog with somebody who will get IT. Me, after all.

As a result of I do know that what a lot of you’re going by means of is that you just’re not simply job searching as a passion, you’re doing IT whilst you’re managing mortgage stress, household obligations, Health, identification, satisfaction, and the bizarre emotional hangover that comes from being extremely succesful and feeling caught. You continue to preserve the podcast bi-weekly, you’ve gotten additionally a lot of episodes to binge for, you may go to the web site so you may search.

particular matters, however the relationship with me will stay weekly, The podcast can be each two weeks and my publication will stay weekly with content material that can be created particularly for subscribers. For instance, the publication I wish to embrace sensible

prompts for you, like all these questions that I requested throughout this episode, extra steering you may apply that week that you just get the publication. And occasionally additionally add possibly an audio or a particular particular podcast only for subscribers that I received’t share anyplace else. So if the podcast is the deeper dialog, the publication is the weekly teaching type be aware that retains you transferring ahead.

subscribe simply go to my web site, be part of the publication or you understand go to the present notes and you will see a hyperlink to subscribe as properly. And if you wish to go additional listed here are your subsequent steps. If you wish to work with me privately you go to my web site and also you e book an introduction with me. I’ll let you know shortly if I feel I’m the precise coach for you and what I feel will make the most important distinction in your job search.

If you happen to favor to work by yourself, I’ve programs on my web site that take you thru the strategies step-by-step with out noise. And yet another factor, for those who’ve been listening for years and you continue to haven’t taken motion, let this be the yr you cease consuming and begin constructing.

Do one small factor this week that pushes you ahead and out of doors of your consolation zone.

Okay, so I can be again in your ears in two weeks and in your inbox weekly. If you’re a publication subscriber, be careful for my publication coming to your inbox this week. IT will embrace a companion to this episode, so you’ve gotten all of the questions I’ve requested on this episode and you may undergo them at your personal time. Till then, care for your self. Bye for now.