Never Search Alone: The Power of a Job Search Pod

Job searching is often a long and challenging journey, filled with ups and downs. Rejection can feel personal, and the process can be exhausting. Yet, just like training for a marathon, job seekers don’t have to—and shouldn’t—go it alone.

When preparing for a marathon, runners rely on a support team: coaches to refine their technique, pacers to keep them steady, and friends or family to provide encouragement along the way. A job search should be no different. Having a team to support you can make the process more effective, less isolating, and even increase your chances of landing the right role faster.

Remember the Career Fair Model

Think back to your final years in school. Universities often host career fairs or interview events where companies send recruiters to meet with students. These events are filled with energy, collaboration, and opportunity. Students don’t just attend alone; they prepare together, exchange tips, and encourage each other. The...

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Showing Up Even When You Donā€™t Feel Like It

Losing a job can feel like a crushing blow, leaving you feeling vulnerable and uncertain about the future. It’s easy to fall into isolation, but in times like these, showing up and attending networking events—whether it's industry conferences, trade shows, or networking meetups—is more important than ever. Even when you don’t feel like it, stepping into these spaces can provide invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth.

It's natural to feel a lack of motivation after losing a job. You might experience feelings of self-doubt, frustration, or even embarrassment. It’s important to honor those emotions, but don’t let them dictate your next move. The power of networking isn’t just about landing a new job—it’s about making connections, staying informed about industry trends, and being visible. Often, opportunities arise when you least expect them.

Recently, I met up with two former colleagues who had recently lost...

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Networking as an Introverted Job Seeker

As an introvert, the thought of social networking used to terrify me. Early in my career as an engineer, I believed that success depended solely on my technical expertise. I focused on mastering my craft—running tests, documenting results, writing detailed specs, and keeping meticulous records. I thought that if I just did my job well, everything else would fall into place.

But I was wrong.

This narrow focus led to isolation. I kept my head down, diligently working, but I found myself excluded from important conversations. Worse, I encountered unkind individuals who took advantage of my reserved nature. Then, an incident nearly cost me my job. That was my wake-up call—I realized that technical excellence wasn’t enough. I needed connections, relationships, and allies. I needed to network.

But how? The idea of attending networking events, engaging in small talk, and putting myself out there was overwhelming. I had no idea where to start. Then I found How to Win...

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Staying encouraged after facing setback after setback

Recently, I met with a friend, a former colleague whom I greatly respected and admired during our time working together. As we sat down for coffee, I noticed a weight in his demeanor. His eyes had lost their usual spark, and his shoulders were slumped. When I asked how he was doing, he forced a smile and said, "Great." But it was clear something was wrong—his facial expression and body languages expressed a sense of defeat, discouragement, and sadness.

As we continued talking, he confided that he had lost his job nine months ago and had been relentlessly applying for new positions since then. Despite sending out countless applications and attending numerous interviews, he had yet to receive a single offer. “Thanh,” he said, “I’ve applied to over 500 jobs in the last nine months. I’ve had maybe a dozen interviews, made it to the final stage three times, but never got an offer. I keep wondering if it’s because I’m over 50 and not an...

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Overcoming Financial Insecurity

The number one struggle of a job loss is typically financial insecurity. Losing a job often means a sudden loss of income, which can lead to difficulties in paying bills, meeting financial obligations, and covering basic needs such as food, housing, and healthcare. This financial strain can cause stress, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future, impacting not only the individual who lost their job but also their family members or dependents who rely on them.

Here are a few practical steps to take to address the situation and regain stability:

Assess Your Financial Situation

Review Your Finances: Take stock of your current financial situation, including savings, expenses, and any severance package or unemployment benefits you may be entitled to. You may even negotiate your severance package to get a higher amount or an extension on health care coverage.

Create a Budget: Develop a budget that reflects your current income and expenses. Cut any non-essential spending to conserve funds....

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How to Overcome Bias and Discrimination as a Woman Engineer: A Personal Reflection

Today, I had a heartfelt coaching session with a young female engineer who reached out for guidance. As we wrapped up, she hesitated, then said she had one last question. We were out of time, but I sensed it was important, so I encouraged her to share.

She asked, "What do you do to deal with biases and discrimination as a woman engineer? Have you ever experienced it?"

I paused—not because I didn’t have an answer, but because her question stirred a wave of memories. Memories of hurtful experiences, of challenges I’ve worked hard to rise above.


Yes, I’ve Experienced It—A Lot

Bias and discrimination have been a reality for me as a woman engineer, and as an Asian minority. In fact, being both a woman and an Asian creates a “double whammy,” meaning I’ve encountered discrimination and biases rooted in both my gender and my race. Each layer adds complexity to the challenges, as stereotypes about women and Asians intersect, sometimes...

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Happiness Is the Way: Discovering Joy in the Here and Now

Thich Nhat Hanh once said, "There isn’t a way to happiness. Happiness is the way." It's a simple, profound reminder of the nature of happiness. Every day, we’re flooded with advertisements suggesting that buying something will bring us joy, or that we need to achieve a certain milestone to finally feel fulfilled. Growing up, we’re conditioned to believe that happiness is something to reach for, as if it’s a destination in the distant future. But what if that perspective is upside down? What if, instead of constantly seeking happiness, we realize that happiness is already here, waiting for us to notice?

Last weekend, I took my children to a pumpkin patch. Watching them hunt for the “perfect” pumpkin, laughing and sharing little jokes—it struck me that this is happiness. In these small moments, happiness is alive and tangible, but it’s easy to miss if we’re too busy or distracted by what’s next on our list. This...

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Life Lesson from a High School Football Game

Going to our children's high school football games is a special tradition for our family. We're not big football fans, but we rarely miss a game to support our daughter, who proudly sings the national anthem at every home game. Besides, there’s something magical about being there together—the band, the cheering, the music pulsing through the crowd, and sharing those moments in the crisp evening breeze.

Last night’s game was a rollercoaster. Our team was just a few yards away from the end zone, and everyone was on the edge of their seats in anticipation. The atmosphere was electric, a touchdown seemed inevitable. But in a surprising twist, they didn’t make it and opted for a field goal instead—what seemed like a sure three points. But even that went awry as the ball bounced off the goalpost, eliciting a collective gasp of disbelief from the crowd.

From hope to disappointment, and then another round of it, the crowd's enthusiasm visibly waned. I found...

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Is Everyone a coach NOW?

Thanh and I were talking about coaching the other day. We commented that it seems like everywhere you turn there is another coaching company. People everywhere are promoting themselves as coaches. What amazes me is that many of those promoting how you and I need them as a coach have never been coached themselves. They see the need for you and me but not them. That seems a little, well more than a little hypocritical, don’t you think?

Thanh and I come at it from a different perspective. We have personally benefited from coaching in years past and both of us are currently being coached. We believe it can help others because we know it’s helped us. So for us it’s not some glitzy advertisement we responded to so we could make big money. It’s a mission to help others help themselves to enjoy a fulfilling life of purpose.

My sister introduced me to coaching more than 10 years ago. I read a book she gave me then set it aside. Sitting in first class next to Marshall...

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A Personal Growth Lesson in a Vertigo Episode: Embracing the Unexpected

Not long ago, while on a business trip, I woke up in my hotel room feeling unusually dizzy. Initially, I dismissed it, assuming a bit of rest would make it go away. However, the dizziness only worsened, escalating to a sensation of spinning uncontrollably, as if I were plunging off a cliff. Alone and scared, I eventually called an ambulance. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.

At the hospital, the initial fear was that I had suffered a stroke during sleep. Tests were conducted as neurologists observed my eyes spinning and my inability to recall the date, month, or year. After ruling out a stroke, they concluded that I had experienced a vertigo episode—a condition where displaced crystals in the inner ear create the illusion of falling, leaving you feeling completely out of control.

Reflecting on that episode, I learned some valuable lessons:

Lesson 1: Life Can Change in an Instant.
The night before, I was thriving—learning, working, and confident in...

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