Episode 313 - Employment attorney Jessica Childress is back, unpacking what “toxic” really means at work, and how to decide if it’s time to stay or go.

I'm sure you're well aware that experienced professionals have had to cope with hostile cultures, micromanagement, and difficult leaders in their careers. Some issues are illegal. Many are not. Either way, the impact on your confidence and career can be profound. In this episode, employment attorney Jessica Childress helps us separate what is unlawful from what is simply unhealthy, and to outline a practical approach for documenting issues, engaging HR strategically, and, when needed, negotiating a clean exit.

Start with definitions. Many environments feel corrosive yet are not unlawful. Civility is not a legal requirement. As Jessica put it: “It’s not a workplace civility code. So the law does not require civility.” However, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation tied to a protected class or protected activity are unlawful. Knowing the line matters because your strategy depends on it. If conduct is unlawful, escalate precisely and protect the record. If it is unhealthy but legal, your leverage comes from establishing boundaries, framing your business, and exploring options outside the building.

Read the full Blog on the Website

Job Hunting Made Simple

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Lear More About Renata's career coaching and courses

Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Advocacy and Employee Rights
• 05:35 Experiencing Toxic Workplaces
• 12:08 Leaving on Your Own Terms
• 17:10 Identifying Toxic Workplaces
• 24:10 Strategies for Surviving Toxic Workplaces
• 32:53 Navigating the Exit Process
• 43:45 Finding Peace After Leaving

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 213 - Navigating Workplace Rights, a Conversation with Employment Law Expert Jessica Childress
• The Childress firm
• Jessica's book, Peace: Leaving A Toxic Workplace on Your Own Terms (E-Book)

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I...

Episode 312 - If you second-guess your success, Alison Shamir shares the mindset shifts and tools that help professionals recognise and overcome imposter thoughts.

For years, clients have reached out to me with this dilemma: They are capable, experienced professionals who are unsuccessful in their job search. Usually, this is my diagnosis: They are not short of qualifications; they are short of traction.

Listening back to my conversation with imposter syndrome expert Alison Shamir, I was struck by how precisely her framework matches what my clients have faced in their careers. That is, a human tendency to discount our own track record, especially when they're unemployed and looking for work. It is a cycle in which the external system is harder to read and the internal narrator becomes louder, precisely when professionals need to demonstrate clear business value.

Read the full Blog on the Website

Job Hunting Made Simple

Reset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend

31 Days of Action for Job Seekers

Find Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career Grow

Join 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe Now

Lear More About Renata's career coaching and courses

Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Understanding Imposter Syndrome: A Personal Journey
• 13:18 The Role of Managers in Identifying Imposter Syndrome
• 25:44 Recognizing Imposter Syndrome in Job Candidates
• 26:36 Understanding Imposter Syndrome and Its Signs
• 27:40 Conquering Imposter Syndrome: Control vs. Elimination
• 29:03 The Three Pillar Framework for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• 31:50 Real-Life Examples of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• 35:03 Triggers of Imposter Syndrome and Their Impact
• 38:23 Personal Experiences and Relatable Stories
• 44:38 External Factors and Confidence in Job Searching
• 48:20 Controlling the Controllables: A Key Takeaway

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Alison's LinkedIn
• Alison's book
• Alison's website
• Learn more about Renata's courses and services

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs,...

Episode 311 - Leanne Brannigan spent years hiring. Then she was laid off, and used social media to document her experience job searching while unemployed. Her story exposes how the system treats candidates and what we can do better.

I spend my weeks advising professionals who assumed that their extensive work experience and a tidy LinkedIn profile would carry them through a choppy market. Then they collide with reality: Long hiring cycles, few roles at their level, automated screens that reward keywords over judgment, and interview panels that want evidence, not eloquence. The latest episode of my podcast features internal recruiter turned job seeker, Leanne Brannigan, who walked through that reality from both sides of the table. Her story crystallizes the themes I see daily and points to a more disciplined way forward for corporate professionals who want to compete at the top end of the labor market.

Read the full Blog on the Website

Job Hunting Made Simple

Reset Your Career - Fast-Track Your Job Search in One Weekend

31 Days of Action for Job Seekers

Find Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career Grow

Join 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe Now

Lear More About Renata's career coaching and courses

Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Introduction to the Journey
• 03:25 Navigating Redundancy and Job Search
• 06:24 Building a Supportive Community
• 10:10 Emotional Impact of Job Loss
• 13:03 Strategies for Job Searching
• 16:05 The Role of Networking
• 19:17 Sharing Experiences Publicly
• 22:20 Candidate Experience and Feedback
• 24:55 Reflections on the Job Market
• 29:54 The Impact of Redundancy on Job Seekers
• 31:57 Encouraging Transparency in Candidate Experiences
• 34:50 Navigating Vulnerability on Professional Platforms
• 40:50 Developing an Application Strategy
• 46:59 Positive Experiences in Recruitment Processes
• 52:26 Making Decisions Between Job Offers
• 59:26 Embracing a New Role in Talent Acquisition

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 31 Days of Action
• Reset Your Career
• RB Lnkdn Club

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and...