Happen To Your Career | Career Transition, Career Changes, Figure Out What You Want, Jobs, Strengths, Starting Businesses

When Brian was laid off after years in leadership, he felt rejected, desperate, and unsure of his next move. But instead of rushing into the wrong role, he stepped back, rebuilt his confidence, and used HTYC’s Ideal Career Profile to finally align his work with his values. In this episode, Brian shares how a painful setback turned into a powerful career pivot that brought clarity, balance, and fulfillment.   What you’ll learn

Most job seekers approach interviews like a test — trying to guess the “right answers.” That’s the biggest mistake you can make. After sitting in on more than 6,000 interviews, Scott Anthony Barlow and talent acquisition expert Megan Crawford reveal what hiring managers really want: authentic conversations, not scripted performances.   What you’ll learn: Stop overthinking what hiring managers want to hear Build confidence by knowing (and practicing) your own career story Avoid the most common interview mistakes job seekers make Ask better questions to decide if the role is the right fit for you Show up as yourself so you not only get the offer — but also love the job once you’re in it   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here! Want to chat with our team about your unique situatio

When Nick’s customer success role shifted into a high-pressure sales position, he quickly realized he was forcing himself into a job that didn’t fit. Instead of powering through, he discovered his strengths, redefined what he truly wanted, and made a pivot into finance — without starting over. In this episode, Scott Anthony Barlow and Nick break down the exact steps he took to move from misaligned work to a career that finally feels right. What you’ll learn

Is boredom at work enough to justify a career change? Lisa Vu reveals how career apathy quietly derails fulfillment, why it’s just as dangerous as burnout, and how to break free from comfort zones to build a career that actually fits.   What you’ll learn Why you should treat boredom at work as seriously as burnout How to recognize the subtle signs your role no longer fits How you can break free from the comfort zone and explore new opportunities Why asking for help could be the smartest move in your career change How to reframe networking as “experiments” so it feels less intimidating The mindset shifts you need to stop settling and finally create meaningful work   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here! Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conver

Negotiating a job offer can feel intimidating. You want to ask for more without sounding greedy or risking the offer. In this episode, negotiation expert and author David Sally shares why the best negotiators are both tough and fair, and how you can use this approach to land the compensation and role you deserve. You’ll learn how to prepare effectively, avoid common mistakes, and apply practical negotiation strategies that preserve relationships while helping you secure the best possible offer.   What you’ll learn Why preparation is the single most overlooked (and most valuable) part of any negotiation How to adapt your negotiation style to fit the culture of the company or industry Two powerful strategies to use to overcome gender bias in negotiations Practical tips for negotiating job offers without burning bridges Why being tough and fair makes you a stronger negotiator How to ask for more without sounding greedy—or jeopardizing the offer   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To

What if the #1 networking strategy you’ve been told to use is actually holding you back? In this episode, Scott Anthony Barlow reveals the smarter, faster way to find your dream career: Test Drive Conversations. Learn how this simple shift can open doors, build genuine connections, and help you land a role you truly love—without ever asking for a job.   What you’ll learn The #1 reason informational interviews fail and the smarter alternative for career changers. The core differences between informational interviews and Test Drive Conversations (and why the latter gets better results). How Test Drive Conversations fit into the 4 proven milestones for creating a fulfilling, high-paying career. The simple career shift that boosts your success rate from 10–40% to as high as 70%. The 15-minute conversation framework that turns chats into ongoing opportunities without asking for a job. How to test your career direction so you avoid wasting months on the wrong path.   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventi

Quitting your job doesn’t always fix burnout — sometimes, it follows you. In this episode, Amanda Love shares how a bridge role gave her the space, stability, and clarity to recover, reset, and make an intentional career change. What you’ll learn Why quitting your job may not cure burnout — and what actually works How a bridge role creates space for recovery and intentional career change Using therapy and self-reflection to set boundaries and break patterns Leveraging transferable skills to make a successful career pivot How Amanda’s bridge role brought stability, clarity, and breathing room Tips for being transparent in interviews about short-term roles   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here! Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation   Fr

A career change isn’t permanent—no matter how much time and effort you’ve invested. After transitioning from academia to a research role, Michal Balass realized within nine months that it wasn’t the perfect fit. In this “Where Are They Now?” episode, she shares how the lessons and self-discovery from her first career change made the second one into the federal government smoother, faster, and far more aligned.   What you’ll learn Why your first career change is often the hardest—and how it prepares you for future pivots How to rebrand your skills so employers see your value—even in a new industry The role of relationship-building and casual conversations in uncovering opportunities Strategies for tailoring your resume to pass strict application reviews (including for federal jobs) How to recognize early signs you’ve outgrown a role before you get stuck How clarity, self-awareness, and intentional networking opened doors she didn’t know existed    Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach

She had the PhD, the career, the stability—then parenthood changed everything. This episode dives into Michal’s bold career change after parenthood and how she stopped living on autopilot.   What you’ll learn What to do when your career no longer fits the person you’re becoming Why your job title isn’t your identity—and how to separate the two How becoming a parent reveals what really matters The most common internal roadblocks that hold people back from change What makes leaving a stable career so hard (hint: it’s not just the paycheck) How Michal’s “success” story didn’t feel like her own   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here! Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation   Free Resources What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Cou

You’re not stuck because you lack ambition—you’re stuck because something big has shifted. How Burnout, Breakups, and Babies Trigger Career Change. In this episode, Scott walks through 3 of the 16 powerful life events—what we call Career Change Catalysts—that often trigger career transformation. You’ll hear real stories from people who faced burnout, identity shifts, and quiet career misalignment… and how they used those moments to find more meaningful, purpose-driven work. If you’ve felt “off” in your career lately or stayed in a role longer than you should have, this episode will help you recognize the signs—and move forward with intention.   What you’ll learn How to use Career Change Catalysts to propel you into a career that truly fits (and how to recognize the opportunities) The early signs of career misalignment before burnout or health issues hit Why “comfort” can keep you stuck longer than fear The 3 most common life events that lead to career change Why chasing a “better job” doesn’t always lead to

What if quitting isn’t the answer? Jill’s journey proves that experimenting with your career while still employed can create powerful ripple effects and open new possibilities. What you’ll learn Why job searching might be the least important part of a career change How to use career experiments to unlock clarity and confidence without quitting right away The powerful ripple effect of taking just one bold step How Jill turned conversations with strangers into a brand-new life   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here! Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation   Free Resources What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out! Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers discover their ideal career and find meaningful,

What happens when burnout, a toxic work environment, and an unaligned life all hit at once? For Jackie, the answer was a bold, full-life transformation. She left a toxic job, ended a long-term relationship, and made a career change that finally felt aligned with her values, her energy, and her purpose.   What you’ll learn How to identify when a “better” job still isn’t the right one How to recognize when burnout is a sign of deeper misalignment What it takes to make a courageous career change and build a life that fits   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!   Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation   Free Resources What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out! Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers dis

The way you communicate could be the reason you're stuck, OR the reason you get ahead. Charles Duhigg shares the Supercommunicator framework that helps you nail interviews, lead better meetings, and have the career-defining conversations that actually get results.   What you’ll learn How to shift from “saying the right thing” to actually connecting How top performers approach important conversations differently How your communication style could be holding you back (and how to fix it) How to connect deeper and be heard in any conversation How small changes in how you speak can lead to big results   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here! Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation   Free Resources What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini

What happens when career growth pulls you away from the work that you actually love? Dan Ruley’s career transition story is a powerful reminder that true success starts when you reconnect with what matters most, even if that means going back to what your 10-year-old self always knew (just not in the way you’d imagine)   What You’ll Learn Will stepping down from a high-ranking role can lead to greater career satisfaction for you? How Dan turned an unexpected job loss into the best career opportunity of his lifetime How success in a role doesn't always equal fulfillment—and what to do about it What if your biggest career shake-up is actually your greatest opportunity? How to transform an unexpected job loss into a launchpad What to do when outward success no longer feels satisfying   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more

Your strengths aren't just what you're good at—they're your career compass. When you ignore your signature strengths, even great opportunities become draining. Discover how one IO psychologist used her strengths to break free from the "great opportunity trap" and find work that truly energizes her.   What you’ll learn Why your signature strengths should guide your career experiments and decisions How to get valuable feedback from friends and family about your natural talents The difference between skills you can do versus strengths that energize you   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here! Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation   Free Resources What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out! Career Change Guide -

Tired of sending dozens of applications into the void with no response? The real problem isn't your resume or the job market, it's that most people use job boards like slot machines, hoping to get lucky. Discover how one person went from months of rejected applications to landing their dream job in just one week by changing their entire approach to job searching (and how you can too!) Don’t forget to check out our previous episode on how you can build your own “Ideal Career Profile”.   What you’ll learn How spending months on unclear applications wastes time you could use identifying your ideal role Why doing internal work before job board surfing transforms your entire job search strategy The specific steps to examine past experiences and identify what truly energizes you at work   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more

Thinking about returning to work after a career break, but feeling paralyzed by the gap on your resume? After years in a demanding executive role, Caroline found herself burned out, unfulfilled, and wondering if this was really “success.” Find out how she gave herself permission to walk away, take a two-year career break, and rebuild a work life that finally fits her life and her values.   What you’ll learn How to translate 17 years of experience into compelling value propositions when returning from a career break The counterintuitive strategy of stating exactly what you want instead of apologizing for your career hiatus How to leverage assessment tools like StrengthsFinder to rebuild confidence and articulate your unique strengths   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here!   Wa

Maybe you have a “great job” where you’ve been extremely successful. But does any of that matter if you dread going to work? Nope, you’re not ungrateful if you feel this way. When your career no longer aligns with your life, it's often because your identity has become too tightly wound around your job title, creating what feels like an inescapable trap. Learn how Karen stepped away from her all-encompassing job as a Dean and redesigned her career and life to find true fulfillment (and how you can do the same!)   What you’ll learn How successful people often struggle most with career change because their entire identity becomes tied to their role How to use life design principles to make work serve your life instead of consuming it How to use the Ideal Career Profile to separate who you are from what you do for work Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happ

As human beings, when we get stuck, we tend to focus on one thing that we latch onto as the “reason” why. Or one thing that if we could only do, it would solve all of our problems.  It’s never just one thing. It’s always more nuanced than that.  There is one thing that is very clear though. The reasons why you think you’re stuck and the reasons why you’re actually stuck, are two completely different things.   To binge-listen to more career happiness success stories (and career hacks), find all the podcasts at https://happentoyourcareer.com/podcast  Or tell us more about your personal career situation and schedule a conversation with our team go to https://happentoyourcareer.com/schedule-htyc to learn how we can best help!