Mac's List

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

It&rsquo;s a fact: employers hire candidates that they know and those who are recommended to them by people that they trust. That&rsquo;s why networking is so important: it gets you face-time with fellow professionals and kickstarts relationships that get you known in the community.

When you&rsquo;re looking for a job, one of the best things you can do is conduct informational interviews with professionals in your desired field. But how do you find the right people with whom to meet? And what are the takeaways you can expect from these meetings?

In this episode of Find Your Dream Job Mac talks with Nathan Perez, an executive recruiter and writer who has mastered the art of networking. According to Huffington Post, Nathan is one of the most connected people on LinkedIn, with 30,000 professional contacts. He is also the author of The 20-Minute Networking Meeting, a primer on how to conduct successful informational interviews. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In this 36-minute episode you will learn:

 - How to structure a short but effective networking meeting
 - How to make a good impression in an informational interview
 - How to build and leverage your network
 - The one thing you should never do in a networking meeting

This week&rsquo;s guest:

Nathan Perez
Principal, 20 Minute Communications
Author of The 20 Minute Networking Meeting
Minneapolis, Minn.

Listener question of the week:

What do I do when a professional connection &ldquo;ghosts&rdquo; (disappears) on me?

Do you have a question you&rsquo;d like us to answer on a future episode? Please send your questions to Cecilia Bianco, Mac&rsquo;s List Community Manager at cecilia@macslist.org.

Resources referenced on this week&rsquo;s show:

 - The 20-Minute Networking Meeting (Executive Edition) (http://amzn.to/1KiEKt2)
 - The 20-Minute Networking Meeting (Graduate Edition) (http://amzn.to/1FaxwLC)
 - Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (http://www.ynpn.org/)
 - Network After Work (http://www.networkafterwork.com/)
 - Ignite Conferences (http://igniteshow.com/)
 - Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com/)
 - Meetup.com (http://meetup.com)
 - Find Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond): The Complete Mac&rsquo;s List Guide (https://www.macslist.org/macslistguides/)

If you have a job-hunting or career development resource resource you&rsquo;d like to share, please contact Ben Forstag, Mac&rsquo;s List Managing Director, at ben@macslist.org.

--

Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/find-your-dream-job-insider/id1047320599?mt=2

Learn more about Mac's List at http://www.macslist.org.

Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, http://www.freddytrujillo.com.&nbsp;

Ep. 001: How To Find A Job Through Networking

Most colleges and universities provide career advising services to their current and former students. Yet only 10-20% of all college students or alumni ever use of their university career center.
Are you making the most of your alma mater?
This week on Find Your Dream Job Mac chats with Linda Williams Favero, director of alumni career services at the University of Oregon. Linda discusses how career centers function, the services they provide for students, and the opportunities available to alumni. She shares tips on how to make the most of your university career, even if it's been many years since you graduated. Linda also talks about the importance of maintaining a connection with your alumni networks. As she notes: &ldquo;Ducks like to help Ducks... and you&rsquo;ll find that at any university.&rdquo;
In this 29-minute episode you will learn:

How career centers can benefit current students and alumni
How to build a strong professional relationship with a career counselor
The value of networking with alumni associations and local alumni chapters
Special career center services often available to older alumni
The single-best thing you can do to make the most of your university career center

This week&rsquo;s guest:
Linda Williams Favero (@LindaFavero)Program Director, Alumni Career Services, Career Center and Student Life, University of OregonPrincipal, Linda W Favero | Organization + Individual DevelopmentPortland, Ore.
&nbsp;
Listener question of the week: 

Should I list every job I&rsquo;ve ever had on my resume?

Do you have a question you&rsquo;d like us to answer on a future episode? Please send your questions to Cecilia Bianco, Mac&rsquo;s List Community Manager at cecilia@macslist.org.
Resources referenced on this week&rsquo;s show:

LinkedIn YOUniversity
Alumni Career Services, Career Center and Student Life, University of Oregon
Linda W Favero | Organization + Individual Development
Find Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond): The Complete Mac&rsquo;s List Guide

If you have a job-hunting or career development resource resource you&rsquo;d like to share, please contact Ben Forstag, Mac&rsquo;s List Managing Director at ben@macslist.org.
--
Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Ep. 006: Making the Most of Your University and Alumni Networks

&ldquo;Wing it&rdquo; and &ldquo;job interview&rdquo; are two phrases that should never go together in the same sentence. Before you walk into an interview, you need to prepare yourself, do your homework, and practice what you will do and say.
But how do you prepare responses when you don&rsquo;t know the questions? And what, besides having good answers, contributes to a successful interview?
This week on Find Your Dream Job we talk about the interview process and share tips on making a great in-person impression with a prospective employer. Mac chats with executive recruiter and career coach, Janet Brumbaugh, of Janet Brumbaugh and Associates. Janet helps her clients hone their interview skills by video-recording them in mock-interviews; she then reviews the tape with the jobseeker, to identify mistakes and opportunities for improvement. In this episode, Janet shares her expert advice on how to your own interview performance and outcomes.
In this 33-minute episode you will learn:

The specific research you should do before an interview
What employers are looking for during the interview process
How to make the interview less of an interrogation and more of a back-and-forth conversation
The questions you, as the candidate, should be asking at the interview
How to respond to oddball interview questions

This week&rsquo;s guest:
Janet Brumbaugh (LinkedIn)PrincipalJanet Brumbaugh and AssociatesWest Lynn, Ore.
Listener question of the week:&nbsp;

What questions should I ask an employer in an interview?

Do you have a question you&rsquo;d like us to answer on a future episode? Please send your questions to Cecilia Bianco, Mac&rsquo;s List Community Manager at cecilia@macslist.org.
Resources referenced on this week&rsquo;s show:

10 Weirdest Job Interview Questions of 2015
GlassDoor.com
Janet Brumbaugh and Associates
Land Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond) - 2016 Edition

If you have a job-hunting or career development resource resource you&rsquo;d like to share, please contact Ben Forstag, Mac&rsquo;s List Managing Director at ben@macslist.org.
--
Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

Ep. 016: How to Ace a Job Interview

Everybody knows that changing jobs regularly is the new normal. The days of working for just one or two employers through your adult life are long gone.
But what about switching not just jobs, but careers? Most of us will be in the workplace for four decades or more, so it&rsquo;s a choice each of us will face. In fact, we may have three or four distinct careers over the course of our working lives.
This week on Find Your Dream Job, we&rsquo;re talking about the challenges and benefits of changing your career. Our guest expert is Michelle Hynes a career coach who specializes in helping people in the midst of work transitions. Michelle has, herself, gone through several career changes. She shares her insights on how to reinvent yourself, not just to improve your marketability, but also to increase your happiness.
In this 30-minute episode you will learn:

Why everyone--no matter your age--needs to plan for career change
How changing careers can empower you as a professional and improve your life
How to use informational interview to guide your career change
The importance of continuing education, training, and certification
How to manage the uncertainty involved in switching careers
Resources for older professionals looking for an &ldquo;encore career&rdquo;

This week&rsquo;s guest:
Michelle Hynes (@mhynesPDX | LinkedIn)Principal, Michelle Hynes ConsultingPortland, Ore.
Listener question of the week:&nbsp;

What advice do you have for working professionals who would like to shift careers to a new field?

Do you have a question you&rsquo;d like us to answer on a future episode? Please send your questions to communitymanager@macslist.org.
Resources referenced on this week&rsquo;s show:

Michelle Hynes: Coach, Consultant Growth Guide
Encore.org: Second Acts for the Greater Good
The Encore Career Handbook: How to Make a Living and a Difference in the Second Half of Life
Encore 2016 Conference: February 9-11, 2016
The 20-Minute Networking Meeting
Laura Carstensen: The Longevity Dividend
Laura Carstensen: Older People Are Happier
Land Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond) - 2016 Edition

If you have a job-hunting or career development resource resource you&rsquo;d like to share, please contact Ben Forstag, Mac&rsquo;s List Managing Director at ben@macslist.org.
--
Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!
Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.
&nbsp;

Ep. 020: Reinventing Your Career

These days none of us need to be told that change is the one constant in the workplace. Our job responsibilities change regularly--and so do our careers. The old model of climbing the corporate ladder or sticking with one profession for life is giving way to more fluid, transient, and cross-sector careers.
Just 27% of college graduate have a career related to their major. And the average American worker switches jobs--if not entire careers--every 4.4 years.
So how do you create career stability in a constantly changing job market? By pivoting.
This week on &ldquo;Find Your Dream Job,&rdquo; we talk about career pivots with with Jenny Blake, a coach for professionals and organizations looking navigate change. Jenny defines a career pivot as &ldquo;a methodical shift in a new related area, based on what&rsquo;s already working&rdquo; and encourages job seekers to continually refocus on their strengths and passions.
In this 31-minute episode you will learn:

Why changing jobs every few years is the new normal
Why you should be doubling down on your professional strengths
How to manage your pivot in four phases: plant, scan, pilot, and launch
How to avoid professional stagnation and career crises
Why even unsuccessful career pivots lead to unexpected, positive rewards

This week&rsquo;s guest:
Jenny Blake (@jenny_blake | LinkedIn)Principal, Jenny Blake EnterprisesAuthor of Pivot: The Only Move that Matters Is Your Next&nbsp;and Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You WantNew York, N.Y.
Listener question of the week: 

I've recently had an interview with a prospective employer but after several weeks, I haven't heard back from them. How do I appropriately follow-up with the company?

Answering our question this week is Dawn Rasmussen, Chief Resume Writer at Portland-based Pathfinder Writing and Career Services. If you have a question you&rsquo;d like us to answer on a future episode, please contact us at communitymanager@macslist.org.
Resources referenced on this week&rsquo;s show:

14 Ways to Tell if It&rsquo;s Time To Quit Your Job | Forbes.com
Pivot: The Only Move that Matters Is Your Next
Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want
JennyBlake.me
Strengths Finder 2.0
Pathfinder Writing and Career Services
Pivot Podcast
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

If you have a job-hunting or career development resource resource you&rsquo;d like to share, please contact Ben Forstag, Mac&rsquo;s List Managing Director at ben@macslist.org.
Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!
Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.
--
Transcript
Mac Prichard:
This is Find Your Dream Job, the podcast that helps you get hired, have the career you want, and make a difference in life. I'm Mac Prichard, your host and publisher of Mac's List. Our show is brought to you by Mac's list and by our book, "Land Your Dream Job in Portland and Beyond." To learn more about the book and the updated edition that we published on February 1st, visit MacsList.org/book.
Ben Forstag:
Hey, Mac.
Mac Prichard:
Hey, Ben. How are you?
Ben Forstag:
I'm doing great. As our listeners might now, the book comes in 3 editions. We've got a paperback, a digital version for your Kindle, iPad, or Nook, and we've got a PDF version that you can view online. I'd mentioned before that the paperback version is our best seller, but the PDF version is really popular, too.
Mac Prichard:
What I hear from our readers who buy the PDF is they not only enjoy the book, but they get with it a set of videos, an audio interview, and tips sheets and checklists that you can use to turbocharge your job hunt. You can find a complete list of all the extra resources that come with the PDF on the website, but they include things like a salary...

Ep. 025: How to Make a Career Pivot

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.

Ep. 025: How to Make a Career Pivot

Mac's List

Related tracks