If you are navigating a leadership change, reorganization, strategy shift, or internal restructure, you are probably wondering how to manage yourself during organizational change without damaging your reputation. This episode breaks down how to stand out at work during uncertainty, how to build influence inside your company, and how to grow your career without waiting for a promotion.

Organizational change creates instability when your reporting lines shift, priorities change, and projects lose owners. In those moments, most professionals focus on frustration or job security. Fewer people think strategically about how to get noticed at work, how to expand their role without a title change, and how to build career leverage when responsibilities are unclear.

In this episode, career expert, Julia Toothacre covers:

• How to position yourself during leadership change

• What to do during a reorganization at work

• How to stand out at work when roles are unclear

• How to build influence inside your organization

• Why career growth inside your company often happens during uncertainty

• The difference between execution and strategic positioning

• How emotional regulation impacts your reputation during change

You will learn how career leverage forms when responsibility is up in the air, why transitions accelerate reputation-building, and how to move from task execution to higher-level problem-solving within your current organization.

If you are trying to grow in your company, get promoted internally, or expand your influence at work without changing jobs, this episode will help you think differently about organizational change and leadership transitions.

Read the blog:
https://ridethetidecollective.com/2026/03/31/season13episode3/

Explore all episodes:
https://ridethetidecollective.com/podcast/

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakrussell/

FREE Career Resources:
https://ridethetidecollective.com/free/

If you want to get promoted, create more career options, and stop feeling stuck at work, you need more than strong performance. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre breaks down how to position yourself for promotion by building real career leverage.

Promotion decisions are rarely based on effort alone. Leaders evaluate trust, visibility, judgment, and risk. This episode explains how to build the five forms of career leverage that determine whether you are seen as promotable or simply dependable in your current role.

You'll learn how to strengthen:

• Skill range that expands beyond your job description

• Professional reputation inside your organization

• Market visibility outside your company

• Financial flexibility that supports better career decisions

• Decision discipline when evaluating promotions or lateral moves

If your career only advances when you apply for roles or push for recognition, you may still be operating in execution mode. This conversation will help you understand how to create positioning that leads to more career control, more influence, and stronger long-term growth.

In the next episode, we go inside your organization and examine where promotion leverage is built day to day.

Read the blog:
https://ridethetidecollective.com/2026/03/17/season13episode2/

Explore all episodes:
https://ridethetidecollective.com/podcast/

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakrussell/

Career resources:
https://ridethetidecollective.com/free/

Do you hate networking? You are not alone. For many professionals, networking feels forced, fake, and exhausting. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre redefines what networking really is and how to make it authentic, strategic, and aligned to your personality.

Julia breaks down why traditional networking advice fails introverts and overachievers, and she shares a simple approach that helps you connect genuinely without the small talk or awkward coffee chats.

You will learn how to:

• Reframe networking from transactional to relational

• Identify your natural networking style (Connector, Curator, or Consistent)

• Use the five-stage Control Your Career framework to assess and strengthen your network

• Build consistent habits that expand your visibility without draining your energy

• Create meaningful connections that actually support your growth
  
  

Networking does not have to feel gross. It can feel natural, intentional, and aligned with who you are.

👉 Subscribe to Control Your Career for more practical strategies that help you navigate your professional growth with clarity and confidence.

Explore all episodes: https://ridethetidecollective.com/podcast/

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakrussell/
Visit the website: https://ridethetidecollective.com
Get your free career tools: https://ridethetidecollective.com/free/

Episode Blog Post: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2025/11/19/season12episode11/ 

Get your Control Your Career Worksheet: https://ridethetidecollective.com/cycworksheet/

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 4 is all about learning to manage your career. We will be treating your career like a business and you will step into common roles found on an executive board, hence the season name being "Be Your Own Board: Strategies for Career Management."   In the fifth episode of the season, Julia talks about the benefits of have a learning and development plan for your career and gives you tips on how to get your company to pay for it.   If you want a printed document to follow along, check out the complimentary "Be Your Own Board: Career Management 101" PDF available HERE.   If you have any questions, please connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 4 is all about learning to manage your career. We will be treating your career like a business and you will step into common roles found on an executive board, hence the season name being "Be Your Own Board: Strategies for Career Management."   Did you know your professional self is a brand? Julia takes you through your career brand identity as if you are the CMO of your career. This is an action-packed episode that will have you truly taking stock in how others view you from a professional lens and how it might be impacting your ability to advance.   If you want a printed document to follow along, check out the complimentary "Be Your Own Board: Career Management 101" PDF available HERE.   If you have any questions, please connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 4 is all about learning to manage your career. We will be treating your career like a business and you will step into common roles found on an executive board, hence the season name being "Be Your Own Board: Strategies for Career Management."   MONEY! Ah! One of the topics most people don't like to discuss, but the one that impacts us the most. In the third episode of the season, Julia is talking about how to be the CFO of your career and gives you a slew of tips and tricks to help you evaluate, manage, and take control of your finances and salary.   If you want a printed document to follow along, check out the complimentary "Be Your Own Board: Career Management 101" PDF available HERE.   If you have any questions, please connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 4 is all about learning to manage your career. We will be treating your career like a business and you will step into common roles found on an executive board, hence the season name being "Be Your Own Board: Strategies for Career Management."   This episode is about unpacking your career through the lens of a COO or Chief Operating Officer. It's all about applying good habits and processes to your career in order to level-up and advance.   If you want a printed document to follow along, check out the complimentary "Be Your Own Board: Career Management 101" PDF available HERE.   If you have any questions, please connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 4 is all about learning to manage your career. We will be treating your career like a business and you will step into common roles found on an executive board, hence the season name being "Be Your Own Board: Strategies for Career Management."   In the first episode of the season, Julia sets the tone and expectations for what you will get out of this season. She will also be describing the CEO position and how you should embody the CEO roles and mindset to manage your career.   Podcast episodes about values: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2020/01/15/should-i-quit-my…-drives-you-3-10/ https://ridethetidecollective.com/2019/12/17/intentionalcareergoalsetting/ https://ridethetidecollective.com/2020/04/01/5-steps-to-finding-clarity-in-your-career-path-s2-ep-1-20/ https://ridethetidecollective.com/2020/09/16/this-is-what-i-care-about-s3-part-5-8/   If you want a printed document to follow along, check out the complimentary "Be Your Own Board: Career Management 101" PDF available HERE.   If you have any questions, please connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 4 is all about managing your career as if your career is a business.   The trailer for Season 4 - Be Your Own Board: Strategies for Career Management walks you through how and why we are going to apply corporate execute board positions to your career so you can manage and level-up in your career strategically.   If you want a guide to follow along in this season, grab your complimentary copy of "Be Your Own Board: Career Management 101" by clicking here.   If you have any questions or want more career management and advancement tips, connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 3 centers around a common thought many professionals have at some point: "I don't know what I'm doing with my life!"   This episode is all about your questions! Julia selects 4 questions from listeners and followers to answer. The questions that will be covered include: (1) I understand that we need to know who we are in order to figure out what's next, but I'm still confused about how to know what type of job is best for me. (2) I've been in my career for over 15 years and I feel like I can't do anything else. How do I move forward? (3) How do you know the difference between whether you are complacent in your career or in a season of stability and comfort. (4) You mentioned needing time, clarity, and connections to find a career - can you expand on what you mean?   If you want to dig deeper into the topics discussed in the episode, grab your copy of "I Don't Know What I'm Doing My Life!" A Guide To Career Clarity by clicking here.   If you would like to submit a question for Part 8 of this season, connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 3 centers around a common thought many professionals have at some point: "I don't know what I'm doing with my life!"   In this week's episode Julia debunks the idea that you have to have the same career at the same company for the rest of your working days. She encourages you to break the generational thought patterns that we adopt from well-meaning parents and family member and stretches you to make decisions that work for you and not others.   If you want to dig deeper into the topics discussed in the episode, grab your copy of "I Don't Know What I'm Doing My Life!" A Guide To Career Clarity by clicking here.   If you would like to submit a question for Part 8 of this season, connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 3 centers around a common thought many professionals have at some point: "I don't know what I'm doing with my life!"   In this episode, Julia tackles the feeling of overwhelm, specifically in you career. She shares her personal "I don't know what I'm doing with my life!" story and the strategies she used to move past that feeling. Along with her 10 years of career coaching, the strategies she used to manager her own overwhelm are the foundation for how she coaches today.   If you want to dig deeper into the topics discussed in the episode, grab your copy of "I Don't Know What I'm Doing My Life!" A Guide To Career Clarity by clicking here.   If you would like to submit a question for Part 8 of this season, connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 3 centers around a common thought many professionals have at some point: "I don't know what I'm doing with my life!"   In this episode we are examining what you care about and aligning it with your career path. Julia discusses a few of her personal values and how they impacted her career choices, as well as shares a client example of how values can change with experience. Most people don't consciously think about what they value, but when you do and you can articulate it, you are more likely to make career and life decisions that align with your values.   If you want to dig deeper into the topics discussed in the episode, grab your copy of "I Don't Know What I'm Doing My Life!" A Guide To Career Clarity by clicking here.   If you would like to submit a question for Part 8 of this season, connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

If you feel drained, unmotivated, or disconnected from your work, you might be tempted to label it burnout. But what if it is actually boredom? In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre breaks down the key differences between burnout and boredom, what each means for your well-being, and how to recover and re-engage with your career.

Through her five-stage Control Your Career framework, Julia helps you identify whether you are overextended or under-stimulated and what steps to take next to regain energy, meaning, and motivation at work.

You will learn:

• How burnout and boredom show up differently in your energy and emotions

• Why confusing the two can make things worse

• How to reflect on your environment, workload, and values

• How to realign your goals with what you truly need

• What actions to take for both burnout and boredom recovery
  
  

You do not have to stay stuck in exhaustion or indifference. Understanding what is really going on is the first step toward creating sustainable change.

👉 Subscribe to Control Your Career for more conversations about confidence, clarity, and career growth.

Explore all episodes: https://ridethetidecollective.com/podcast/

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakrussell/
Visit the website: https://ridethetidecollective.com
Get your free career tools: https://ridethetidecollective.com/free/

Episode Blog Post: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2025/11/12/season12episode10/ 

Get your Control Your Career Worksheet:
https://ridethetidecollective.com/cycworksheet/

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 3 centers around a common thought many professionals have at some point: "I don't know what I'm doing with my life!"   In this week's episode Julia discusses three reasons why having a mindset of "I'll do anything" when it comes to your career is dangerous. From there, she discusses preferences and interests and uncovers a great place to start when trying to figure out what interests you in your career.   If you want to dig deeper into the topics discussed in the episode, grab your copy of "I Don't Know What I'm Doing My Life!" A Guide To Career Clarity by clicking here.   If you would like to submit a question for Part 8 of this season, connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 3 centers around a common thought many professionals have at some point: "I don't know what I'm doing with my life!"   One of the foundational topics that needs to be discuss when figuring out where your career is headed is personality. In this week's episode, Julia share her go-to assessments, why she uses them, and unpacks The Big 5 personality traits used by most psychologists and therapists. She drives home the point that if you don't have a clear understanding of yourself you won't be able to make decisions about your career that are lasting.   If you want to dig deeper into the topics discussed in the episode, grab your copy of "I Don't Know What I'm Doing My Life!" A Guide To Career Clarity by clicking here.   If you would like to submit a question for Part 8 of this season, connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 3 centers around a common thought many professionals have at some point: "I don't know what I'm doing with my life!"   The week's episode helps the listener determine what is truth in how they view their career. We all create stories and situations that can be exaggerated in our mind. Julia uses her personal and professionals experiences to articulate how these thoughts can impact relationships and gives you tips on how to reframe the situations.   If you want to dig deeper into the topics discussed in the episode, grab your copy of "I Don't Know What I'm Doing My Life!" A Guide To Career Clarity by clicking here.   If you would like to submit a question for Part 8 of this season, connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path. Season 3 centers around a common thought many professionals have at some point: "I don't know what I'm doing with my life!"   This week's episode reminds you that you are not alone in feeling lost in your career and even in life. Julia explains different scenarios that you are likely experiencing or have experienced and encourages you to start the process of finding clarity. She also shares her journey of finding clarity in life and career in the midst of tragedy.   If you want to dig deeper into the topics discussed in the episode, grab your copy of "I Don't Know What I'm Doing My Life!" A Guide To Career Clarity by clicking here.   If you would like to submit a question for Part 8 of this season, connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a weekly podcast that provides actionable advice and tips for ambitious professionals looking to advance, change, or take control of their career path.   In the trailer for season 3, Julia explains the importance of the theme and why she chose it. Aptly named "I Don't Know What I'm Doing With my Life!" each episode has been structured to help you combat this feeling. Only an 8-episode season, Julia is getting straight to the point to help you move forward in your career.   Along with the episodes, there is a guidebook that takes the content a step further. Grab your copy of "I Don't Know What I'm Doing My Life!" A Guide To Career Clarity by clicking HERE.   If you would like to submit a question for Part 8 of this season, connect with Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and send a message.

Moving from doubt to confidence in your career is the final episode topic for this season because most of my clients, regardless of where they are in their career, struggle with doubt. For some it's been ingrained since childhood to question your abilities, for others its a byproduct of anxiety or depression, and for some a person or situation has made you doubt yourself.   In this concise episode I cover common doubts I hear from clients, share doubts I've had in my career, and I share a situation where a leader made me doubt my abilities and how I worked through it to be successful after.   More than anything, I provide tactical actions and exercises you can use RIGHT NOW to help you manage and mitigate any doubt you may have in your career.   Our brains love to tell us that we aren't good enough or we could never do XYZ, but when you arm yourself with information and data, you can put your brain at ease. More often than not, that's what need to feel confident.

If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Negotiating a salary package can be scary and intimidating, especially if you aren't well-versed in negotiating.   I titled this episode Salary Negotiation Tactics for Mid-level Professionals because I believe there are a few different strategies you can use later in your career that might not apply early in your career. Does that mean you can't negotiate early in your career? No, but the higher you go and the more specialized your role, the more room you have to negotiate.   The reality is, when you are mid-level or mid-career your priorities for work and life change. What you negotiated early in your career might not matter to you now.   This episode will go through what you CAN negotiate that isn't salary-related and I provide my top tips and advice as you are going through the salary negotiation process.   At the end of the day, always remember that you are worth it! You have value and you need to find the place that will appreciate your value and pay you for it accordingly.

If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

This is the final episode of our recruiter tips mini-series as part of season two. If you want to learn more about the types of recruiters out there, listen to their job search tips, or their resume tips - check out episodes 16 and 17 of season 2. I'll link them below.   In this episode I share my interview tips from my time as a hiring manager, as well as multiple interview tips from our recruiters Alice Liu and Eric Mason.   I love the tips provided in this episode it helps you know how to stand out and gives you insight into how a hiring manager may think.

If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

After all the foundational tips and advice I have given you through this season, I wanted to have a few episodes where we focus on tips from others, namely recruiters or talent acquisition professionals. In this episode Alice Liu and Eric Mason are back with their resume tips and they don't disappoint!   Eric shares practical resume tips that you would think most people know, but recruiters consistently see and it impacts you ability to get to the interview.   Alice shares a piece of advice that I actually disagree with, but I also explain why that's important and how you deal with it if you are faced with something similar. Alice also shares some of the BEST tips for you to go the extra mile in the hiring process.   Referenced Podcast Episodes: LinkedIn Tips: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2020/04/15/leveraging-social-media-for-maximum-career-impact-s2-ep3-20/ First episode in this mini-series:   Interested in receiving the resume guide when it comes out? Sign-up for emails here: https://ridethetidecollective.com/emailsignup/

Have you ever wondered how best to connect with recruiters or talent acquisition professionals? This episode is the first of a 3-part mini-series within season 2 where I'm sharing tips and advice from a few of my recruiter friends. This episode will focus on their best tips for job seekers.   Starting out this episode I share the most common types of recruiters or talent acquisition professionals you might run into in the hiring process including a corporate recruiter, recruiter for a recruitment agency, a headhunter, and a staffing agency.   It's also worth noting that I share one of my most embarrassing moments with a recruitment agency early in my career.   Special thanks to Eric Mason, Mike Conte, and Alice Liu for their job search tips!

If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

 It is frustrating when your hard work does not lead to the outcome you expected. You showed up, delivered, and still the promotion went to someone else. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre explains how to reset your focus after a missed promotion so you can move forward with clarity, not just frustration.

Using her five-stage Control Your Career framework, Julia walks you through how to process the disappointment, analyze what happened, and decide whether to stay, pivot, or move on. This episode is a practical guide for anyone navigating career setbacks with professionalism and purpose.

You will learn:

• How to separate emotion from information and understand what really happened

• The difference between an assumed promotion and a promised one

• How to evaluate if your environment still aligns with your goals

• What to do when leadership changes or priorities shift

• The mindset and habits that turn rejection into redirection
  
  

👉 Subscribe to Control Your Career for more practical career advice on confidence, leadership, and advancement.

Explore all episodes: https://ridethetidecollective.com/podcast/

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakrussell/

Episode Blog Post: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2025/11/05/season12episode9/
 

Get your Control Your Career Worksheet:
https://ridethetidecollective.com/cycworksheet/

The topic for this episode is around disappointment in the job search process. This is a common feeling experienced and expressed by job seekers usually when they don't get the interview, but more prominently when they make it through multiple interviews and don't get the position.   Disappointment is never easy to mitigate or manage. I have found that clients who let others control their career trajectory are prone to more disappointment because they aren't doing the intentional work to take control of where they want their career to go. You can't wait until you hate your position or your manager or your company to look for the next opportunity. Whether it's in your current company or you want to move on, you need to be actively meeting with professionals, refining your career path, and sharing your hopes and dreams for your career. When you are clear about what you want and you share it, people will remember and look out for you.   Can we avoid disappointment in this process? Yes and no. This episode will go over my three main tips to keep in mind through the job search process to mitigate disappointment. Notice I didn't say avoid or not have disappointment, because this is a natural reaction when we don't achieve something we want.

If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

How do you know what questions to ask in an interview? Are there off limits questions? How many questions are too many questions? Are there different questions to ask if you have more experience? I am answering all these in this episode!   This episode will dive into how your values play a part on the questions you ask and I'll break down the types of interviews you might encounter in your process and the appropriate questions for each stage.   I also talk about researching the organization you're interviewing with and how to ask questions around the information you find.   Values Podcast referenced in the episode: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2020/01/15/should-i-quit-my-job-what-drives-you-3-10/

If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

I'm excited about this episode because it will be a go-to episode when you need to write content for your resume. While my content is focused more on mid-level professionals, the process I am sharing today on how to write content for your resume is applicable to ANYONE who needs to write a resume.   This is another pen and paper episode in which you might want to take notes, but not required.   This episode breaks down how to write a statement on your resume and take it from generic and boring to unique and accomplished. I also give my tips for brainstorming content to help you write your statement easily.   I'll be putting together a resume guide soon, so go to the website - ridethetidecollective.com - to get on the mailing list so you are the first to know when it's available!   I want to note that I do not provide resume editing services unless you are an established client.

If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

We are diving into how to answer interview questions in this episode. I will cover my 3-step process and break down answers to a few common interview questions such as "Tell me about your leadership style?" and "Tell me how you handle conflict?"   I also give my thoughts on discrimination in the interview process and hiring managers hiding behind the "You weren't a good fit" statement.   This episode is definitely a pen and paper one and a great episode to save when that interview opportunity presents itself.

If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Episode 11 is going to give you a high-level overview, along with multiple tactical, actionable strategies to figure out what's next in your career.   In this episode I also let you in on a little (or big) secret that most career coaches and professionals DON'T want you to know!   Areas covered in this episode: (1) Interests (2) Skills (3) Values (4) Dreams or Passion   I also spend time discussing dealbreakers within your career, especially as you advance and have more experience under your belt. Career dealbreakers are almost always tied to a bigger value and need to be considered when making a career move.   Career Clarity eBook referenced in the episode: https://ridethetidecollective.com/strategies/careerclarityebook/

If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Resumes for more experienced professionals should look different than early career. You've probably had a few professional experiences, you've made an impact within your organization or industry, you might be managing people, but you aren't in the beginning anymore.   Resumes at this level are more often read by humans than machines. You might need to submit and official application through an electronic system or an Application Tracking System, but you have likely been referred for a position or headhunted to apply. In this case, you want to make sure you don't do the following on your resume:   1. Don't undervalue your experience 2. Don't focus of menial tasks 3. Don't forget about soft skills 4. Don't make the resume hard to follow 5. Don't get attached to irrelevant experiences   Résumé formatting episode I referenced: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2020/05/20/formatting-your-resume-matters-s2-ep7-20/   Other episodes related to this content: Leveraging Social Media for Maximum Career Impact https://ridethetidecollective.com/2020/04/15/leveraging-social-media-for-maximum-career-impact-s2-ep3-20/ Three (3) Networking Strategies for Experienced Professionals https://ridethetidecollective.com/2020/04/22/three-3-networking-strategies-for-experienced-professionals-s2-ep4-20/ If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

The Job Search Narrative is the story or pitch that you have when you are looking for a new position. The interesting part is that you don't have to be actively job searching to have a good job search narrative. This is similar to an elevator pitch, but more intentional.   A job search narrative is more about the story you are telling about who you are as a professional and where you are headed in your career. It is the next level of depth past an elevator pitch to inform someone of your professional status.   In this episode, I share my own experience of not having a good job search narrative that cost me positions and I share examples of what a good narrative sounds like and what an unprepared narrative sounds like.   The components of the Job Search Narrative include: 1. Know where you are headed. 2. Know what makes you awesome. 3. Be prepared to talk about a big project or accomplishment in your career that support where you are headed.   Here is the Career Clarity eBook I referenced in the episode: https://ridethetidecollective.com/strategies/careerclarityebook/   BONUS: At the very end of the podcast, after the closing music, I shared a short recording my son made with me - He's 2.5. Enjoy!   If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

In this episode, we are talking about moving from scared to confident in the interview process. For most people, the entire process of interviewing is what creates stress, anxiety, and sometimes panic. For others, interviewing is just another piece of the career puzzle.   To get to the root of your anxiety about interviewing, we are going to explore self-efficacy, self-esteem, and self-confidence.   I spent about 8 years in career development in high education and my master's degree is in College Counseling and Student Development, which means I took a lot of counseling courses and because of the nature of my job, I focused a lot on these 3 "self" beliefs.   So what do these 3 "self" beliefs have to do with interviewing? Well, everything. Most people think if they prepare enough for an interview they won't be scared. While preparation is extremely helpful to lowering your interview anxiety, the root of the stress comes from how much you believe in yourself.   Having said all that, I know that someone you are just trying to make it through an interview and the time it takes to get to the root of your self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-confidence is more than you have right now. So I also talk about tactical strategies to move from being scared to being confidence:   1. Prepare and Practice. 2. Timing. 3. Healthy Habits. 4. Articulate Your Goals. 5. Know that you will mess up.   Fear and confidence are tricky emotions because sometimes it feels like we don't have any control over them, but the reality is, we do. It definitely takes work, especially if we are coming from a place of low self-esteem or low self-efficacy, but it can be done.   A big thank you to positivepsychology.com where I was able to obtain the definitions needed to make this episode possible. https://positivepsychology.com/self-confidence/   The networking episode I referenced: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2020/04/22/three-3-networking-strategies-for-experienced-professionals-s2-ep4-20/ The other interview episode I mentioned: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2020/04/29/tell-me-about-yourself-s2-ep5-20/   If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Over the years, the standard and expectation for formatting a resume has changed depending on the needs of the time. Currently, we are in a time where the majority of hiring is done online with AI systems and algorithms reading your resume and matching it with a job description.   This episode is going to be about formatting your resume. Yes, it matters, even if you have experience. These are not tips that you need to visualize on a sample to implement. They are simple, but impactful.   The 5 tips I'm going to cover are formatting tips for a human. Some will also apply to application tracking systems.   Tip #1 - Don't write paragraphs of information TIP #2 - Font choice matters - for some. Tip #3 - The order of information on your resume is important Tip #4 - Use Margins to your advantage. Tip #5 - Font Size matters   At the end of the episode, I give an ATS Bonus tip AND a double bonus tip for formatting your resume for humans or ATS.   Networking Episode I referenced: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2020/04/22/three-3-networking-strategies-for-experienced-professionals-s2-ep4-20/

If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Episode 6 of Season 2 is all about mindset and your career. Specifically how a positive mindset will benefit your career growth and advancement.   The main topics covered in this episode include defining your current reality, evaluating situations objectively, reframing situations where needed, choosing positivity, and identifying a fixed or growth mindset.   Not everyone is born seeing the glass half full. Sometimes we need to choose positivity in order to, not only live a better life, but also advance and succeed in our career - whatever success means to you.   As a self-professed negative nellie, I will share how I shifted my negative mindset, discuss how I choose positivity because it doesn't come natural, and give you actions to accomplish this yourself.   For those who are innately positive, I'll provide examples of situational negativity and how to overcome it to keep that healthy optimism.   If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

If asking for a raise, a new project, or even clearer boundaries makes you nervous, you are not alone. Most professionals know their worth but freeze when it is time to speak up. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre shares how to ask for what you want with clarity, confidence, and strategy, without feeling aggressive or entitled.

Through her five-stage Control Your Career framework, Julia breaks down how to prepare for uncomfortable conversations, make direct requests, and navigate communication differences between you and your manager.

You will learn:

• Why asking for what you want feels so hard

• How to identify the culture and power dynamics that may be holding you back

• What to do when your workload changes without recognition or compensation

• Communication styles that help you advocate effectively

• The one question that will help you move from fear to action

Being clear about what you need is not demanding, it is part of managing your career strategically. Stop waiting to be noticed and start asking with confidence.

👉 Subscribe to Control Your Career for more conversations about leadership, growth, and strategic career management.

Explore all episodes: https://ridethetidecollective.com/podcast/

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakrussell/

Episode Blog Post: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2025/10/29/season12episode8/ 

Get your Control Your Career Worksheet: https://ridethetidecollective.com/cycworksheet/

For most people interviewing is THE WORST. You're nervous, you're anxious, you want to do a good job, but you don't know if you are, the interviewer is hard to read, you mess up once and feel like you tanked the whole interview. It can be a lot.   In reality, the nerves will probably never go away. Most people will feel some nerves no matter how prepared they are and that is the key to interviewing - preparation.    In this episode I will give you advice and tips for answering this question and three structures that you can use when you answer the question in an interview.   1.     Storytelling 2.     Chronological 3.     Most Relevant Experience First   Along with discussing the components to each structure, I also provide an example of how to answer the question.   At the end of the day, you need to answer this question in a way that allows you to highlight your skills and who you are. While you do want to practice these answers, you don't want them to sound too rehearsed. An interview should be like a conversation and you want it to flow naturally.   If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

I'm excited about this episode because as you probably know by now, networking is the #1 way advance in your career! I'm going to focus on 3 networking strategies that I believe are the strongest and I'm going to talk you through how to make it happen!   Strategy #1 - Go big or go home. Strategy #2 - Connect with peers. Strategy #3 - Put yourself out there.   I'm also going to share two stories about how networking paid off for me to advance my career.   Whatever your thoughts are about networking, love or hate it, it is one of the best tools at your disposal for career advancement. That and your reputation, but your reputation can only be known if you talk to people.   Are there other ways to network? Absolutely, but these are three networking ideas that work best for experienced professionals and have a high return, which is most important in your career right now. You don't want to waste time.   Another special touch in this episode are the breaks I take to put these strategies in context of the COVID-19 pandemic since this is the currently reality at the time this airs.   If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

This week we are talking about levering social media for maximum career impact. Social media has always been a point of contention in the career world. On the one hand you have sites that are central to your career and are built to help you advance and on the other hand you have sites that promote you making a fool of yourself or making poor decisions.   In this episode I get deep about social media and my thoughts on the future. Along with my opinion, I also outline 3 common types of LinkedIn profiles for experienced professionals:   1. The expert. 2. The manager. 3. The thought leader.   These three profile types aren't the only types you will see, but they are the most common. The key to creating a great LinkedIn profile is to understand where you are headed in your career and write a profile that supports that path, along with posting content that supports where you are headed.   Your LinkedIn profile is a marketing tool. Within 10-15 seconds of looking at your profile, I should be able to figure out what you do and where you want to go.   The Finding Career Clarity eBook I mentioned can be found HERE.   I also talk about Facebook and other social platforms that might be helpful to your career if used appropriately.

If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

This episode is all about your resume and the skills you need to have if you are more experienced. We cover the following topics:  

• Why you should or shouldn't hire a resume writer and why.
• Skills you SHOULDN'T have on your resume
• The 4 skills you must have on your resume if you have experience AND examples of how to articulate them on your resume!
• How to obtain these skills with options other than your primary job.

  Please remember that these are generic skills that most employers are looking for, but you need to do your homework to figure out what skills you need for the next step in your career. Every functional area and industry is different!   If you haven't already, a great resource to find this information is Onetonline.com or bls.gov Both of these websites give you a great deal of information about different positions and industries.   If you aren't sure where you are headed in your career, check out our 5 Steps To Career Clarity PDF!    If you are interested in learning more or connecting on social please follow Ride the tide collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

This episode is all about finding clarity in your career path. Even for those who know where they want to go, sometimes the way to get there is murky. These 5 steps will serve as a starting point and foundation to help you gain clarity as you move forward. These are all steps I have used myself or worked through with clients to articulate what's next.   1. Define your personality. 2. Be realistic about your skill set. 3. Evaluate past positions. 4. Figure Out what drives you. 5. Dream big & be bold.   Links I mentioned in the episode: Values Worksheet  5 Steps to Career Clarity PDF 

If you are interested in learning more, please follow Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, or sign up to receive our emails HERE.

One of the main reasons people tell me they don't want to leave a position, outside of financial security, is lack of clarity and confidence around what to do. This feeling can 100% be remedied if you are ready to do the work. There is no quick fix to finding a job or advancing in your career, but being strategic and doing the work will pay off. If you're ready to work, let's go.   This 20-episode season is designed to provide career foundations for experienced professionals. We are going to give you the tools to find clarity and confidence, help you with your resume, give you simple interview strategies, known job search strategies, negotiation tactics, and more all with an experienced professional in mind. If you want to connect on social you can find Ride The Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. You can also sign up to receive emails with the latest podcast updates and relevant content to help you advance in your career!

This podcast is going to focus on how to manage your career during a crisis. The current crisis happens to be a new virus, but in the future there could be a different crisis and these tips will still apply. Think about Y2K or the crash of 2008. These were all events that impacted the world of work in different ways.   I want to start with making sure you know and understand how you react, function, and manage during a crisis situation. Being able to identify this will help you figure out the best way to move forward and where your blind spots might be during a crisis.   I believe there are 3 types of professionals in a crisis: 1. The level headed professional 2. The over-reacting professional 3. The I don't care it's probably not real anyway professional   The point of identifying this in yourself is being realistic about how you handle and manage extremely stressful situations and immediate change.   A crisis like this can have a major impact on the economy and jobs. This episode will give you actions to think about taking when it comes to your career. I will outline different scenarios you might encounter and provide you with actions to manage the situation.   I reference season 1 of the podcast "Should I Quit My Job?" and the episode on How to Set Intentional Career Goals.

Given what is happening in the world right now, I want to make sure I provide relevant content for my listeners and this topic seems to be at the forefront of many people's minds.   While I understand not everyone has the ability to work remotely, because it is such a new situation for many people, I want to make sure you are set up for success if you fall into this group.   My first few tips are going apply to everyone and are foundational to working from home. Then I'll provide some tips that might only apply to some of you including how to manage projects and what to do with children. Childcare and managing all these tiny humans who are now home seems to be one of the questions I have seen most. These tips can at least get you started and set up to manage this new season as best you can.   At the end of the day, you need to do what is best for you, you're family, and your career. Working from home can be easy for some and hard for others. This will also be an especially hard time for organizations and industries where there is little trust of the staff.   If you are in a position where you are questioning your current career or asking yourself "Should I Quit My Job?" Use this time to listen to season 1 of this podcast to help you get clear and make some decisions and plans for the future of your career.   If you have any questions or want to connect of social you can find Ride the Tide Collective on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

This is the last episode of season 1 and it's all about your questions! This topic of whether you should quit your job is obviously very personal and there are a lot of nuances to answering it for yourself. While I have provided an overview and specific actions to get started, there is a lot more that could have been addressed — hence the q&a episode!   Thank you to those who submitted questions! Here are the questions that will be addressed:  

• How do I know if I'm cut out for management?
• Tell me about recommendations. Who do you ask? Does it matter?
• What is the best way to resign? Especially if you are frustrated or annoyed with your manager. When do you submit the resignation letter, exit interview, etc. Basically, how do you keep it all professional?
• How do I know if I need a career coach or therapy?
• I don't really like my job, but I have to stay. There aren't opportunities for growth - what should I do?
• Do you have any advice on explaining a career switch to your significant other or family, especially when they think you're crazy?
• I know I can do more with my career, but I have a family and time feels scarce - how do I balance time with my family and moving forward in my career?

Take our quick assessment to determine if you should quit your job! Click HERE!   If you have any questions, please send an email to hello@ridethetidecollective.com, send me a DM on Instagram, or send me a message on LinkedIn. I look forward to connecting with you!

This episode is all about the next steps if you have decided that you are ready to QUIT and move on from your position. The strategies and tactics I am going to provide in this episode will focus on professionals who are ready for the next move but don't have any issues in their position or who recognize they don't fit in their current role or company well and want to make a change. I want to be clear that I am not speaking to people who are in crisis mode with their job. I am speaking to professionals who want to move forward strategically and have time to do so.   Similar to Episode 8, I will pose 3 questions you need to be able to articulate BEFORE you embark on using the strategies I outline.   Please know that this is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. If you need a quick fix, hire a career coach, get out of your position, and then use this model to help you move up or out of the new role. This process could easily take a year or more to complete, depending on the foundation you already have established.   Some professionals are natural networkers who have a level of confidence that will get them noticed immediately. This type of person might only need a few months to find a new role. Others are starting from nothing or want to switch functional areas or industries, which will take longer in establish.   Regardless of the situation you are in, if you are ready to move up or out of a position, take the time to do the work. Don't rush the process, keep your spirits high, and see every situation as an opportunity to learn and better yourself.

Take our quick assessment to determine if you should quit your job! Click HERE!

  In the last episode of season one, I am going to do some Q&A. If you have any questions, please send an email to hello@ridethetidecollective.com, send me a DM on Instagram, or send me a message on LinkedIn. I look forward to connecting with you!

Office politics can feel like a maze of hidden agendas, alliances, and unspoken rules. But what if you could navigate it all while staying true to your values? In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre breaks down how to manage relationships, build credibility, and protect your integrity even when the workplace dynamics get complicated.

Using her Control Your Career framework, Julia shares strategies for building influence without playing games, setting boundaries that keep you grounded, and communicating in ways that reduce tension rather than fuel it.

You will learn:

• How to recognize and understand the power dynamics around you

• Ways to build influence through credibility, not manipulation

• What emotional intelligence really looks like in challenging workplaces

• How to respond to drama or gossip without losing professionalism

• The mindset shift that helps you stay authentic while advancing your career
  
  

You can navigate politics without sacrificing your character or confidence and Julia shows you exactly how.

👉 Subscribe to Control Your Career for more conversations about leadership, growth, and navigating workplace challenges with integrity.

Explore all episodes: https://ridethetidecollective.com/podcast/

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakrussell/

Episode Blog Post:
https://ridethetidecollective.com/2025/10/22/season12episode7/

Get your Control Your Career Worksheet: https://ridethetidecollective.com/cycworksheet/

This episode is all about the next steps if you have decided that you DO NOT want to quit or move on from your job. We are going to talk about what it means to stay in your position and the next steps you need to take to advance your career.   Over this season, you have taken an internal look at yourself through identifying who you are - your interests, your skills, what drives you. We have had some tough love conversations around whether you are the problem and we have looked at the external impacts that your boss and the company or team culture can create for you. Now what? You've decided that you like you job enough or you are in a season where it makes sense to stay, how do you move forward?   I'm going to cover 3 tactical action-packed strategies for professionals in this scenario, as well as pose a set of questions that you need to articulate BEFORE you start moving on the strategies.

Take our quick assessment to determine if you should quit your job! Click HERE!

  In the last episode of season one, I am going to do some Q&A. If you have any questions, please send an email to hello@ridethetidecollective.com, send me a DM on Instagram, or send me a message on LinkedIn. I look forward to connecting with you!

Culture can make or break a company. Happy employees mean happy customers which translates to higher profits, if that's the goal. These days, you are seeing more and more companies of all sizes start to embrace this concept because employees today are more interested in being happy, having balance, and making an impact than they are about loyalty to an organization who doesn't respect their values.   The culture of an organization can be just as important as your relationship with your boss or whether you like the work you do. This episode will open your eyes to three scenarios about company culture that you will want to be aware of as you advance in your career. It's possible you might be in one of these situations now!   Here is a sneak peek: 1. The printed culture of the company, what you read on the website, is the not reality. 2. You were misled about the culture of the company or team or similarly, you weren't able to read between the lines during the interview process. 3. Your team culture might be great, but your company culture is in the toilet.   Each scenario runs through relevant situations and I share my experiences with a few of these scenarios as well.

Take our quick assessment to determine if you should quit your job! Click HERE!

 

In this episode we are going walk through 3 scenarios that you might encounter if you have a crazy boss, how you can manage them immediately, and whether they are grounds to quit your job.   Scenario 1 - Your boss is Hot and Cold.   Scenario 2 - You never see your boss do any actual work and don't understand why they have this job to begin with.   Scenario 3 - Your boss shares information with you they shouldn't about other co-workers, leaders, or company issues.   This episode is equal parts evaluating your current reality and looking inside to make sure you are being fair to those around you. Sometimes, we have a tendency to take out our frustrations on others and this episode might unlock some internal bias or conflict you didn't know was there.

Take our quick assessment to determine if you should quit your job! Click HERE!

  I referenced an earlier episode called "Managing Your Incompetent Boss" which can be found HERE.