120: How a Sr UX Researcher got hired at Amazon after a layoff & 2 year job search
Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | InstagramIn this candid and encouraging open house conversation, Sarah Doody interviews Fritz Boyle, a UX researcher and Career Strategy Lab (CSL) graduate who recently landed a program manager role at Amazon—after nearly two years of job searching.Fritz shares what changed when he finally stopped spinning his wheels and committed to a strategic process. From rebuilding his portfolio and resume with intention, to regaining confidence through storytelling, community, and reflection, Fritz walks us through the exact mindset and tactical shifts that helped him move from burnout to breakthrough.Whether you’ve been job searching for months or you’re just starting out, this episode is a reminder that it’s never too late to get clear, realign your strategy, and step into the next chapter of your career with confidence.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why applying to every UX job doesn’t work—and what to do instead✔️ How creating a portfolio isn’t just about design—it’s about clarity and confidence✔️ The role of community and coaching in rebuilding after rejection✔️ How Fritz moved from doubt to a leadership role in AI research at Amazon✔️ Why following a structured process made all the difference✔️ What it looks like to think long-term about your UX career (not just your next role)Where Fritz Works Now:🎯 Program Manager at Amazon, leading AI-powered UX research initiatives for the shopping experienceResources & Next Steps:💬 Love this episode? Share it and tag @sarahdoody with your favorite insight.⭐ Support the show! Leave a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover Career Strategy Podcast.🔔 Follow & Subscribe for weekly stories, strategies, and mindset shifts to help you thrive in your UX career.Timestamps:01:41 Meet the Guest: Fritz's Journey02:52 Challenges in the Job Market03:15 The Role of Career Strategy Lab05:11 Importance of Networking and Feedback06:49 Building Confidence and Storytelling09:19 Holistic Approach to Career Development16:03 Long-Term Career Strategy18:59 Final Thoughts and Advice22:33 Conclusion 🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
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119: Why you should research the interviewers before a job interview
Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | InstagramWould you ever design a product without doing user research first? Of course not. So why do so many UX professionals walk into job interviews without researching their users—the interviewers?In this episode, Sarah Doody shares a simple but powerful strategy that can completely change the tone and outcome of your UX job interviews. You’ll learn how to connect on a human level with interviewers by doing just a bit of thoughtful research—and how those small moments of connection can tip the scales in your favor.This isn’t about manipulation. It’s about building trust, showing empathy, and making your job search more human.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why researching your interviewers is a game-changer✔️ How one candidate at Meta used a single question to create a 5-minute connection✔️ What to look for in someone’s LinkedIn, blog, or social posts✔️ Examples of conversation starters that feel natural—not forced✔️ How to show up as thoughtful, intentional, and memorable in your interviewsWhether you're early in your UX career or a seasoned pro, this episode will help you build stronger relationships—and better results—from every interview.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy00:56 The Power of Human Connection in Interviews01:29 Real-Life Example: Making a Personal Connection02:54 LinkedIn Post Breakdown04:05 Why UX Research Matters in Interviews05:27 Tactical Tips for Interview Research08:18 Creating Conversation Starters09:37 Conclusion and Homework11:04 Final Thoughts and Contact Information🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
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118: 3 things your UX job search has in common with soap operas
Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | InstagramYou might think soap operas have nothing to do with your UX job search, but in this episode, Sarah Doody shows you why that thinking might be keeping you stuck and invisible.Back in the 1930s, Procter & Gamble created soap operas to sell, well… soap. But what they really created was one of the most effective audience engagement strategies in marketing history. And today, you can apply the same four principles to dramatically improve your visibility and momentum as a UX job seeker.Whether you’re on the job hunt now or preparing for the future, this episode will reframe how you think about visibility, consistency, and strategy—and show you exactly where you might be going wrong.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why visibility, not just talent, gets you hired✔️ The 4 key takeaways from Procter & Gamble’s soap opera strategy✔️ How to show up where your audience (aka recruiters & hiring managers) are already hanging out✔️ Why timing and repetition are critical to your job search success✔️ What most UX portfolios and resumes get totally wrong✔️ The mindset shift that turns your job search from passive to powerfulResources & Links Mentioned:📌Avoid this mistake when writing your LinkedIn profile headline (Podcast)📌How commenting and posting on LinkedIn can land you more interviews and opportunities (Podcast)📌 What to post on LinkedIn to increase your visibility in your job search (Podcast)📌 LinkedIn mistakes to avoid & how to optimize your LinkedIn profile (Podcast)📌Stop Sending Recruiters Cold Emails & Get Them To Reply By Doing This Instead (Podcast)Timestamps:00:33 Unlocking Career Success with Strategy00:55 Soap Operas and Your UX Job Search01:24 The Birth of Soap Operas: A Marketing Masterstroke02:13 Applying Soap Opera Strategies to Your Job Search03:49 Lesson 1: Go Where Your Audience Is05:53 Lesson 2: Design for Your Audience08:26 Lesson 3: Repetition Builds Trust10:59 Lesson 4: Timing Matters13:05 Conclusion: Applying the Soap Opera Strategy15:11 Final Thoughts and Contact Information🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
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117: Applied to 100s of UX jobs? Consider this your intervention
Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | InstagramIf you’ve applied to 100+ UX jobs and still haven’t landed an interview or offer… this episode is your wake-up call.Sarah Doody shares the tough love and practical insights you need to finally pause, reflect, and strategically pivot your job search. Because applying to more jobs isn’t the answer—strategy is.This episode is part pep talk, part intervention, and fully packed with real talk about what it takes to get hired in today’s competitive UX job market.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why applying to 100+ jobs without results is a sign—not a failure✔️ The difference between a numbers game and a strategy game✔️ Why being great at UX doesn’t mean you’re great at getting hired✔️ How to assess what’s really not working in your job search✔️ The mindset shifts and next steps that will actually move the needleIf you’re feeling discouraged, stuck, or ready to give up—this one’s for you.Timestamps00:59 The Job Search Intervention03:13 Identifying the Problem04:01 Real-Life Analogies06:30 The Need for Change08:49 Seeking Expert Help09:28 Facts vs. Emotions17:05 Final Thoughts and Encouragement🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
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116: How to optimize your resume for the ATS so you can get more UX job interviews
Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | InstagramThis episode was from a session on Maven! Click here to watch the replay.If you’re applying to UX jobs and not getting interviews, your resume might be the problem—specifically, how it interacts with the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).In this episode, Sarah Doody breaks down exactly how to format your resume so it gets past ATS filters and lands in front of recruiters and hiring managers.You'll learn why you need TWO versions of your resume, what formatting mistakes to avoid, and how to tailor your resume for each job posting—without spending hours on every application.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why ATS matters and how it scans and ranks resumes✔️ The difference between an ATS-friendly and a human-friendly resume✔️ Why two-column resumes can sabotage your chances✔️ How to use job descriptions to tailor your resume for better results✔️ Three common resume mistakes that could be costing you interviews✔️ Why a one-page resume could be hurting your job searchTimestamps01:04 The Importance of a Strategic Resume03:08 Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)06:24 How ATS Parses Your Resume08:19 Formatting Your Resume for ATS16:23 Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid24:01 Recap and Final Tips25:23 Conclusion and Contact Information🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
O Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody | UX, Product Design, UX Research
A third of our lives, or about 70,400 hours, are spent at work. At some point, you’ve likely found yourself stuck in your career and felt underpaid, undervalued, unfulfilled, underutilized, or unsure of where you’re headed and what you’re doing. Being stuck in your career is not your fault! Most career advice feels like it’s stuck in the 80’s and 90’s. The Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, Founder & CEO of Career Strategy Lab, will help you apply timeless design, marketing, and sales strategies to your career. Each episode has actionable steps that will take the overwhelm and stress out of advancing your career regardless of what stage you’re at.
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