Wendy Braitman

Executive and Career Change coach. Guiding people to find meaningful work and thrive on the job. Access my free career change assessment tool.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

@freedlander Also a good reminder that betting markets had the Knicks at 0.4% to win game 4 at the start of the 4th quarter

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

If you’re at a career crossroads & want to be more intentional for the next job, break it down into bite-size questions. What are must-haves, deal breakers, what inspires you? That leads to discovery. Don’t get bogged down with "what's my purpose?” Smaller steps light the way.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Validation is hard to come by during a job search. Look elsewhere. Connect with the people who believe in you, use your gifts for others, create wins beyond the search. Take stock of what you've already achieved. Don't let the search erase it.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Getting a networking meeting during a job search is precious. Don't wing it. Know in advance what you want to achieve. Be ready to answer “How can I help you?” Try to walk away with at least one new person to contact.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

A coaching client was interviewing for a job at a top AI company. He was instructed not to use AI for his presentation. They said it should take 4 hours to prepare. It took him 20. We need to keep flexing our non-AI muscles. P.S. He got the job.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

I’ve been a career coach long enough to know clients who’ve lost jobs, found jobs, lost jobs & found jobs. A reminder not to get complacent. If you’re in a job that’s not working, don’t wait to take action. Keep your resume & LinkedIn profile up to date. Ramp up your networking.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Checking your email every hour after a job interview? Resist speculating. Negative assumptions can be exhausting. Positive ones can create false expectations. Focus on things you can control: polish your elevator pitch, grow your network, uncover new leads, take a walk.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

A big part of a successful job search is stress management. And not just your own. It’s managing your inner circle as they ask, “when will you find a job?” Find support from people who don’t have skin in the game, to keep you uplifted even as those closest to you start to panic.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Rusty at interviewing for a job search? For a 15-minute recruiter call, keep answers crisp and clear. Don’t get in the weeds unless asked. Prepare for what makes you a good fit for the role, why you want to work there and your salary expectations (don’t initiate a number).

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Job searches can grind you down. Long periods of taking action, but no results. After months of this, my SVP client went to his kitchen & ruthlessly cleaned out expired condiments from the fridge. Finally, a task with beginning, middle & end. Victory! Create your small wins.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Thinking about launching a business because your job search stalled? Ask yourself 4 q's: Who's your audience? What keeps them up at night? Why are YOU the solution? How will you reach them? Don't rush the answers. While in discovery mode, you can still keep the job search moving.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

When you’ve been at a company for a long time, losing a job can leave you scrambling to remember all your accomplishments. Don’t wait to be ready. Keep a running list so you can communicate your impact at interviews, networking events, performance reviews or salary negotiations.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Being laid off can leave a wound not quickly healed. The gnawing questions I hear: “Was I good enough? Was I political enough? Did people dislike me? Am I too junior? Am I too old?” But most layoffs are not personal. Hold onto the truth about your value.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

I’m a fan of salary negotiations. People worry that a counter offer will result in an offer being withdrawn. But if done respectfully and with eagerness to say yes to the job, that won’t happen. Negotiating is more than comp. It builds the relationship and signals leadership.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Like 10 million+ people, I start each day with Wordle, which offers something people in a job search are longing for. A quick win. To replicate, reach out to 1 person in your networking list. Maybe not as fun. But let the outreach be the win.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Recruiters, hiring managers, executive staff firms: Please abandon the "what is your weakness?” interview question. Why should a job candidate (or anyone) answer that question honestly when there’s no trust? Ask what makes candidates succeed, their strengths, their unique value.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Can you blow a job interview? Interviews are precious, so don’t wing it. Prepare fully. But you won’t blow it with one wrong word, being nervous, or pausing before answering. You DO NOT need to be perfect. If a company thinks you do, it’s not the right place for you.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Your resume and LinkedIn profile are foundational for a job search. They need to be strong, not perfect. AI will suggest tweaks forever. Stop revising. Set a time limit to wrap it up, and spend more time networking. Conversations, not documents, are what lead to opportunities.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

When you've reached out to everyone in your network for your job search, build a target list. Map your LinkedIn connections at each company. Names that pop up won't all be close contacts. Some will be weak ties. Those are often the conversations that lead to opportunity.

[Wendy Braitman @wendybraitman]

Out of work for over a year, a C-suite exec pushed himself to go to an in-person networking event, something outside his comfort zone. One 5-minute conversation with a stranger led to an introduction to a CEO. He starts a new job next week. #WeakTies #Networking #JobSearch