Check out the podcast on Macslist here: (⁠https://www.macslist.org/?post_type=podcasts&p=16289&preview=true⁠) 
Your story is your most powerful job search tool, yet most candidates fail to use it effectively. According to Find Your Dream Job guest Levi Gaytan, job seekers without personal narratives appear formulaic and forgettable to hiring managers. Stories create connections, showing employers why you're applying and how your past experience relates to their needs. Levi's approach uses two frameworks: SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) and VRIO (value, rarity, imitability, organization). He says effective stories follow a simple formula: before, action, result, and then why it matters to the employer. Every experience contains transferable skills – parenting demonstrates leadership, driving for Uber shows resourcefulness. Rather than weak language like "supported," use strong action words like "led" and "directed." Success comes from authentic self-reflection and conducting informational interviews to truly understand what employers need, rather than simply matching resume buzzwords to job descriptions.


About Our Guest:
⁠Levi Gaytan⁠ is an HR leader, speaker, and community builder. 


Resources in This Episode:
⁠Connect with Levi⁠ on LinkedIn. ⁠Portland Human Resources Management Association⁠


How Your Story Can Transform Your Job Search, with Levi Gaytan

Check out the podcast on Macslist here: (https://www.macslist.org/?post_type=podcasts&p=16291&preview=true) 

Job searching involves invisible emotional labor that can quietly erode your confidence and self-worth. According to Find Your Dream Job guest Alondra Canizal Hsu, constant rejection and uncertainty cause job seekers to question their value, especially when they don't receive feedback or explanations. BIPOC, first-generation, and immigrant professionals face additional challenges through code-switching and navigating spaces not originally designed for them, often feeling pressure to minimize their cultural identity. The emotional toll manifests as self-doubt about accomplishments, comparison with others on social media, and attributing rejections to personal failings rather than market realities. Alondra recommends building both formal and informal support networks – from family cheerleaders to professional "boards of directors" who can advocate and connect you with opportunities. She emphasizes tracking small wins throughout the process, setting boundaries to protect your mental health, and remembering that ghosting and rejection aren't personal attacks. Managing emotional labor requires acknowledging these feelings as normal, seeking community support, and maintaining perspective on what you can and cannot control in an unpredictable job market.

About Our Guest:

Alondra Canizal Hsu is a career strategist and the founder of Soluna Career Consulting. 

Resources in This Episode:
Connect with Alondra on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Soluna Career Consulting

Navigating the Emotional Labor of a Job Search, with Alondra Canizal Hsu

Check out the podcast on Macslist here: (⁠https://www.macslist.org/?post_type=podcasts&p=16287&preview=true⁠) 
Career pivots during uncertain times can lead to unexpected opportunities. Find Your Dream Job guest Mitch Kutin successfully transitioned from fitness gym operations manager to university recruiter, navigating the shift from hands-on physical work to a professional office environment. After experiencing a poor culture fit at one company, Mitch learned that researching an organization's culture matters as much as its role requirements. His successful strategy involved meticulous organization – tracking applications, tailoring resumes for specific positions, and analyzing success rates. Mitch stresses that today's high-volume environment requires persistence and treating rejection as a numbers game. Don't limit yourself geographically, as expanding the search radius significantly increases opportunities. Success comes from thorough company research, customized applications over easy-apply features, and systematic tracking with self-reflection throughout the process.
About Our Guest:
⁠Mitch Kutin⁠ is a recruitment specialist at the ⁠University of Oregon⁠. 
Resources in This Episode:
⁠Connect with Mitch⁠ on LinkedIn. To learn more about Mitch Kutin’s job search, visit ⁠macslist.org/stories⁠.


One Hire at a Time: Mitch Kutin’s Job Search Success Story

Check out the podcast on Macslist here: (⁠https://www.macslist.org/?post_type=podcasts&p=16293&preview=true⁠) 
Most job searches lack direction because people can't answer a fundamental question: What specific work would actually energize you? According to Find Your Dream Job guest Theresa White, career clarity means more than understanding your skills and values — it requires knowing which specific roles genuinely excite you and feel realistic to pursue. Without this clarity, job seekers resort to applying broadly for any available position, leaving their professional networks unable to offer targeted assistance.
Theresa identifies three barriers that keep people stuck: analysis paralysis from endless worksheets that never translate into action, the sunk cost fallacy that traps them in unfulfilling careers due to the time and money already invested, and simply not knowing how to move from abstract career advice to concrete next steps. Her Career Clarity Formula centers on distinguishing between skills you're good at and skills that energize you, then using informational interviews to test whether specific roles truly align with what makes you come alive.
About Our Guest:
⁠Theresa White⁠ is the founder of ⁠Career Bloom⁠. 
Resources in This Episode:
⁠Connect with Theresa⁠ on LinkedIn⁠Career Bloom Coaching⁠










How To Get Clear About Your Career, with Theresa White

Check out the podcast on Macslist here: (⁠https://www.macslist.org/?post_type=podcasts&p=16295&preview=true⁠) 
The job market feels tighter than ever, but according to Find Your Dream Job guest Scott Thompson, you can still get hired faster by avoiding common mistakes and making strategic choices that help you stand out from the competition. Scott shares that today's hiring takes nearly two weeks longer than during 2022's peak, with available jobs dropping 40% as quit rates have plummeted to one-third of Great Resignation levels. While healthcare, accounting, and finance continue growing, HR, marketing, and IT have pulled back significantly.
Most job seekers respond by sending more applications, but Scott argues this "spaghetti at the wall" approach backfires. His strategy centers on a powerful statistic: 86% of job seekers land positions through networking and referrals, while only 14% succeed through blind applications. Scott recommends aligning your LinkedIn profile with your resume since recruiters search there first, customizing summaries and cover letters for specific roles, and demonstrating both competence and genuine enthusiasm in interviews by answering two key questions: "Can you do the job?" and "Will you do the job?"
About Our Guest:
⁠Scott Thompson⁠ is the managing director of ⁠Lexicon Solutions⁠.
Resources in This Episode:
⁠Connect with Scott⁠ on LinkedIn
⁠Lexicon Solutions⁠




How to Stand Out in a Competitive Market, with Scott Thompson

Check out the podcast on Macslist here: (https://www.macslist.org/?post_type=podcasts&p=16297&preview=true) 

Making the shift from military service to the civilian workforce isn’t easy. According to Find Your Dream Job guest Angie Condon, one of the biggest challenges is letting go of rank structures and moving from a team-first mindset to advocating for your own career growth. Angie highlights common mistakes veterans make when entering the civilian job market, including not preparing early enough, relying on military hierarchy in corporate settings, and struggling to clearly communicate their value to employers.

Her advice is to start your job search at least a year before leaving the military, take advantage of transition assistance programs, and connect with veteran-focused employee resource groups. Angie also stresses the importance of finding an employer whose values align with your own. Veterans may need to accept an initial step down in responsibility, but their strong leadership skills, reliability, and discipline often set them up for rapid advancement. With the right approach, Angie says, veterans can turn their military experience into a powerful advantage — and often rise more quickly than their civilian peers.

About Our Guest:

Angie Condon is the senior military relations manager at Western Governors University.

Resources in This Episode:
Connect with Angie on LinkedIn

How to Land a Civilian Job After Military Service, with Angie Condon

Check out the podcast on Macslist here: (⁠https://www.macslist.org/?post_type=podcasts&p=16299&preview=true⁠) 
Perfectionism can quietly hold your job search back. According to Find Your Dream Job guest Tanya Romaniuk, one of the biggest challenges is waiting until everything feels “just right” before taking action. Tanya highlights common pitfalls perfectionists face, including overthinking applications, delaying outreach, and letting fear prevent progress. Her advice is to start small, take imperfect actions, and focus on progress over polish.
Tanya suggests flipping the script on your inner critic, practicing interview prep with friends or mentors, and building confidence through experience rather than waiting to feel 100% ready. She also stresses the importance of recognizing when your standards are realistic versus unhelpful. With the right approach, Tanya says that practicing imperfection will build your confidence and skills, and also get you closer to the work that truly fits you.
About Our Guest: 
⁠Tanya Romaniuk⁠ is a career counselor at ⁠Portland State University⁠. 
Resources in This Episode:
⁠Connect with Tanya⁠ on LinkedIn


Practice Imperfection in Your Job Search, with Tanya Romaniuk

Check out the podcast on Macslist here: (⁠https://www.macslist.org/?post_type=podcasts&p=16357&preview=true⁠) 

Generative AI makes it easy to create resumes and cover letters, but it also makes your application sound just like everyone else’s. Find Your Dream Job guest Gina Riley says relying on AI alone won’t help you stand out in today’s market. Instead, she encourages job seekers to focus on storytelling, showing the results you’ve achieved and the unique value you bring to employers.
Gina shares how to use AI wisely, not as a shortcut, but as a support tool for shaping stronger applications and tailoring them to specific roles. She explains why mass applications rarely pay off, why thoughtful customization matters, and why networking and referrals remain important. By building relationships, highlighting results, and positioning yourself as the obvious solution to an employer’s problem, you’ll stand out in ways that AI-generated materials never can.


About Our Guest:
⁠Gina Riley⁠ is an executive career strategist and the author 
Check out Gina’s book, ⁠Qualified Isn't Enough: Develop Your Story. Land the Interview. Win the Job⁠.

Resources in This Episode:

⁠Connect with Gina⁠ on LinkedIn


AI Can’t Make You Stand Out in Your Job Search, with Gina Riley

Check out the podcast on Macslist here: (⁠https://www.macslist.org/?post_type=podcasts&p=16301&preview=true⁠) 

Taking time away from work can feel risky, but Find Your Dream Job guest Katrina McGhee says a career break is often a smart move. She explains why intentional time off — whether planned or unexpected — can help you recover from burnout, realign with your values, or pursue long-delayed life goals. Katrina also shares why employers are increasingly supportive of breaks and how you can position yours as an advantage in your job search.

Katrina recommends starting with a clear purpose statement and designing your break around what you most want from the experience. She covers practical steps, such as setting goals, planning finances, and allowing space for both decompression and reentry. With the right approach, Katrina says, a career break won’t hold you back. It can renew your energy, build your confidence, and set you up for long-term success.

About Our Guest:
⁠Katrina McGhee⁠ is a sabbatical coach who helps professionals turn a career break into a strategic advantage. Check out Katrina’s book, Taking A Career Break For Dummies
Resources in This Episode:⁠Connect with Katrina⁠ on LinkedIn


Why a Career Break Is a Smart Move, with Katrina McGhee

Mac’s List is the premier career development resource for connecting passionate, creative professionals to meaningful and socially impactful work in Oregon and SW Washington.

AI Can’t Make You Stand Out in Your Job Search, with Gina Riley

Mac's List

Related tracks