If the job search feels confusing when rejections come with zero feedback, this episode unlocks to what’s actually happening beneath the surface. Today’s conversation breaks down the two paths professionals most commonly find themselves on and explains how to tell which one you’re on. Often, the solution isn’t about doing more, but about recognizing whether a simple tune-up is needed or if the foundation itself needs attention.

Clarity around direction, value, and communication changes everything - from how employers respond, to how confident you feel showing up. When the mystery lifts, momentum follows, and decisions start to feel easier, cleaner, and more aligned.

You’ll learn:

✔ The common symptoms that signal a lack of clarity in your search

✔ Why slowing down briefly can lead to faster, stronger results

✔ The early signs that confirm you’re finally on the right track

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 👋 WELCOME TO THE UNCOMMON CAREER! Here's a few ways we can get to know each other:

📥 Podcast Roadmap - our best guidance for every stage of your search: https://theuncommoncareer.com/roadmap

📥 90 Days to the Right Offer: https://theuncommoncareer.com/90

🔍 Learn about our start-to-finish brand development and job search program: https://theuncommoncareer.com/approach

💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn to get targeted resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmortega/

💬 Ask me anything and get featured on the podcast: https://theuncommoncareer.com/ask

📆 Ready to talk through your specific job search? Book a call here: https://theuncommoncareer.com/call

Our conversation today walks you through the turning point—the hinge—that shifts a search from exhaustion and second-guessing into clarity, momentum, and real traction again. Through a story that mirrors what so many professionals experience, this episode explores how awareness, presence, and one focused action can completely change the pace and direction of your search.

This space is all about helping you understand where things stall, why motivation dips, and how small but intentional shifts reignite genuine confidence. If the goal is to move from “going through the motions” to feeling fully back in the game, this episode gives you the roadmap.

You’ll learn:

• The three checkpoints that reveal exactly where your motivation and energy slipped

• How to identify the real stage where your search is getting stuck

• What “the hinge” looks like—and how to find yours

• A simple way to step into interviews with presence, clarity, and authentic enthusiasm

• Why one targeted action creates the momentum needed to finally reach the finish line

👋 Welcome to The Uncommon Career!

Here's a few ways we can get to know each other:

🎙️ Podcast Roadmap: support for every stage of your job search https://theuncommoncareer.com/roadmap

🎉 How we help clients get hired in 90 days https://theuncommoncareer.com/90

💡 Connect with me on LinkedIn and find the right next resource https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmortega/

👩🏻‍💻 Learn about our start-to-finish 1:1 brand development and career coaching program: https://theuncommoncareer.com/approach

📆 Ready to talk through your specific job search? Book a call here: https://theuncommoncareer.com/call

If the job market feels overwhelming right now, you’re not imagining it.

Layoffs, hundreds of applicants, AI tools everywhere...it’s enough to make you wonder if you’re doing something wrong or if you need to start over.

In this episode, I’m walking you through three opportunities hiding inside today’s competitive job market. We’ll talk about why competition isn’t actually the biggest problem, how to use AI without losing your voice or value, and why applying to fewer roles (more intentionally) leads to better results.

If you’ve been applying, getting little traction, and feeling stuck or discouraged, this episode will help you see what’s really going on, and what to do differently next.

I'll share:

✔︎ Why the job market isn’t the reason you’re stuck ✔︎ How to use AI without sounding generic or replaceable ✔︎ The small shift that makes employers actually notice you

If you want to move your job search forward with more clarity and less second-guessing, this conversation will help you recalibrate.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 👋 WELCOME TO THE UNCOMMON CAREER! Here's a few ways we can get to know each other:

📥 Podcast Roadmap - our best guidance for every stage of your search: https://theuncommoncareer.com/roadmap

📥 90 Days to the Right Offer: https://theuncommoncareer.com/90

🔍 Learn about our start-to-finish brand development and job search program: https://theuncommoncareer.com/approach

💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn to get targeted resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmortega/

💬 Ask me your question or get featured on the podcast: https://theuncommoncareer.com/ask

📆 Ready to talk through your specific job search? Book a call here: https://theuncommoncareer.com/call

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In this episode, explore the concept of unlearning silence with Elaine Lin Herring, a faculty member at Harvard Law and a bestselling author. Elaine discusses her book 'Unlearning Silence' and shares the toll of societal and personal expectations on our lives, particularly for women and immigrants. She delves into the importance of finding one's voice, understanding personal needs, and making intentional choices for a more aligned and fulfilling life.

Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, she offers practical advice for overcoming self-doubt, utilizing our unique talents, and creating a life that's truly yours.

• 01:14 The Burden of Expectations & Breaking Free from the Past

• 07:41 Rediscovering Your Voice, the Power of Self-Expression

• 14:56 The Journey to Unlearn Silence

• 27:37 Navigating Life's Uncertainties & Embracing Possibilities Amidst Challenges

• 30:06 Reevaluating Career Paths & The Importance of Market Awareness

• 31:55 Balancing Gratitude and Ambition, Exploring New Opportunities

• 40:10 Strategic Silence and Intentional Choices

Elaine Lin Hering is a speaker, facilitator, and former Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School. She works with organizations and individuals to build skills in communication, collaboration, and conflict management. She has worked on six continents and facilitated executive education at Harvard, Dartmouth, Tufts, UC Berkeley, and UCLA. She has served as the Advanced Training Director for the Harvard Mediation Program and a Managing Partner for a global leadership development firm.

She has worked with coal miners at BHP Billiton, micro-finance organizers in East Africa, mental health professionals in China, and senior leadership at the US Department of Commerce. Her clients include American Express, Chevron, Google, Nike, Novartis, PayPal, Pixar, and the Red Cross. She was named a Thinkers50 global management thinker to watch and is the author of the USA Today Bestselling book Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully (Penguin).

• Connect with Elaine on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to Elaine's Newsletter

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• Connect with me on LinkedIn

• From Zero Responses to Multiple Offers: Download The 5 Essential Steps Checklist

• Click here to learn about coaching

In this episode, Patricia highlights the critical importance of small details in job interviews and how mastering those can significantly affect the outcome. She shares a personal anecdote demonstrating how a simple 30-second oversight can have lasting consequences and applies this lesson to interview preparation. Patricia provides actionable advice on how to identify and leverage personal strengths by reflecting on past industries, experiences, skills, and unique qualifications. Furthermore, she emphasizes the need for thorough preparation for responses, particularly the 'tell me about yourself' answer, and offers guidance for ensuring these answers highlight relevant strengths confidently and clearly.

• 00:00 The 30-Second Interview Game Changer

• 01:51 Identifying Your Strengths

• 04:03 Crafting Your 'Tell Me About Yourself' Response

• 05:06 Practice Until You Can't Get It Wrong

• 06:04 Taking Action: Preparing for Your Interview

• 06:51 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

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• Connect with me on LinkedIn

• From Zero Responses to Multiple Offers: Download The 5 Essential Steps Checklist

• Click here to learn about coaching

• Episode #110: How to Structure and Draft Your Tell Me About Yourself Response

In this episode, Julianna and Patricia delve into the sensations and realities of feeling stuck, especially in one's career. They discuss common signs and symptoms of this stuckness, including the physical and mental manifestations during coaching sessions. The conversation covers the impact of procrastination, the power of coaching, and the importance of finding the right coach for your needs. Practical advice is offered on identifying and overcoming stuck points, ultimately aiming to guide listeners towards achieving their optimal performance.

• 00:33 Understanding the Feeling of Being Stuck

• 02:10 The Loop of Learning and Procrastination

• 04:08 Signs of Being Stuck

• 08:24 The Coaching Process and Overcoming Stuckness

• 29:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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• Connect with me on LinkedIn

• From Zero Responses to Multiple Offers: Download The 5 Essential Steps Checklist

• Click here to learn about coaching\

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In this episode, Patricia shares valuable advice on job searching, focusing on the importance of clarity, creating effective resumes, and writing authentic cover letters. The episode emphasizes learning from recent job seekers' experiences, the necessity of slowing down the application process to refine materials, and the significance of aligning resumes and cover letters with employer needs. Key highlights include avoiding 'chaos applying,' understanding the true meaning of authenticity, and the importance of tailoring resumes to solve hiring managers' problems.

• 00:27 The Importance of Clarity in Job Search

• 02:58 Crafting an Authentic Cover Letter

• 05:33 Tailoring Your Resume for the Reader

• 08:48 Avoiding Common Resume Pitfalls

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• Connect with me on LinkedIn

• From Zero Responses to Multiple Offers: Download The 5 Essential Steps Checklist

• Click here to learn about coaching

In this episode, join career coaches Janine and Patricia have an insightful coffee chat about their personal journeys of leaving law and tenure to embrace new careers. They share the importance of redefining success, the challenges faced during transitions, and the strategies they've learned.

The conversation touches on entrepreneurship, mindset, and the unexpected growth that comes with making a significant career change.

• 01:08 Janine's Journey from Law to Coaching

• 05:49 Patricia's Academic Background and Career Shift

• 09:54 Navigating Identity and Career Changes

• 23:43 Entrepreneurial Mindset and Skills

• 25:19 Being the CEO of Your Career

• 26:58 Navigating Challenges and Mindset Shifts

Janine Esbrand is a career strategist & executive coach helping high-achieving professionals step into impactful leadership roles with clarity, intention, and strategy. A former corporate lawyer, she draws on a decade of legal experience and her Career Change Maker™ framework to guide emerging leaders toward roles that align with their strengths, values, and long-term goals—unlocking both personal fulfillment and organizational impact.

• Check out The Career Change Maker
• Connect with Janine on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to the Career Navigator

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• Connect with me on LinkedIn

• From Zero Responses to Multiple Offers: Download The 5 Essential Steps Checklist

• Click here to learn about coaching