Authentic Career + Life Design

Hosted by Laura F Kestner-Ricketts

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Aug 2025

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About the show

Welcome to Authentic Career + Life Design! Are you ready to take control of your career and academic journey? Look no further! Here, I specialize in empowering individuals just like you to navigate the dynamic world of job searches, resume writing, career transitions, and academic pursuits. At Authentic Career + Life Design, I believe in designing your career and life with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Whether you're a recent graduate stepping into the workforce, a seasoned professional seeking a career change, or a student planning your academic path, I've got you covered. Join me as I provide valuable insights, practical tips, and actionable strategies to help you achieve your goals. Let's embark on this journey together and unlock your full potential! Subscribe now and start crafting the future you deserve. It's time to take charge and create a fulfilling career and life on your terms.

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14 recent

August 14, 2025Episode 2113 min

Mastering Resume Keywords: Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market

Authentic Career and Life DesignLaura Kestner-Ricketts, Career + Life Design CoachIn this episode, Laura dives into the importance of using the right keywords on your resume to navigate the challenging job market of August 2025. Discover how AI-driven automation and hiring freezes are impacting job seekers, and learn practical tips to ensure your resume gets noticed by both ATS systems and hiring managers.Chapters:Introduction to the Job Market - Understanding current trends and challengesThe Power of Keywords - Why they matter and how to find themAvoiding Common Mistakes - Tips to prevent keyword stuffing and generic termsCustomizing Your Resume - The importance of tailoring your applicationResources and Next Steps - Tools and tips for further learningKey Takeaways:Get up to speed on today’s job market—what’s working, what’s not, and why it matters for your search. I’ll show you how to pinpoint the exact keywords that can help your resume rise to the top and how to use them strategically without falling into the trap of keyword stuffing or bland, generic terms. You’ll also learn why tailoring your resume and cover letter for every application isn’t optional anymore—it’s the edge that gets you noticed.Resources:Want to see exactly how to do this for your own resume? Check out the blogpost: Crafting Your ResumeGrab my free Resume ChecklistCheck out other job search resources at authentic-careers.com/blog-posts/Call to Action: If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from it. Don't forget to subscribe for more career insights!facebook.com/authenticcareers laura@authentic-careers.com instagram.com/authenticcareerlifedesign tiktok.com/@authenticcareer Next Episode: Join us next week for the start of our 10-part series, "The Job Search Blueprint."

July 21, 2025Episode 205 min

The Power of Intention: A New Way to Approach Your Career

In this episode of Authentic Career and Life Design, Laura discusses the importance of intention in career development, introducing the seven faces of intention as outlined by Dr. Wayne Dyer. She emphasizes the need to approach job searching from a place of intention rather than stress, and how this internal alignment can lead to more authentic career choices. The episode invites listeners to reflect on their intentions and offers a framework for navigating their career paths with clarity and purpose.TakeawaysYour next big career move begins with your intentionPause and ask yourself what you want to be moving forwardIntention helps align your energy for career successThe seven faces of intention include creativity, kindness, love, beauty, expansion, unlimited abundance, and receptivity.Internal alignment is often overlooked in traditional job search adviceOperating from intention leads to clearer decisions and authentic choicesReflect on the intention you want to carry into your careerChapters 00:00 The Power of Intention01:24 Reframing Job Search Strategies02:45 The Seven Faces of Intention04:48 Internal Alignment in Career Development06:12 Invitation to Reflect on IntentionBONUS: A free downloadable worksheet with reflection prompts and career action steps. Download: Set Your Career Intention worksheetWant More?Subscribe to the blog at authentic-careers.com to get each new post in your inboxPrefer to read about this episode? Check out the blog post and companion worksheetDownload: Set Your Career Intention worksheetReady to take action? Book a free discovery call

September 21, 202425 min

You Can’t Step in the Same River Twice: Embracing Change While Creating Coherence

Are you feeling out of sync with your career or life? Discover how to realign your actions with your evolving values in our latest blog post and podcast episode!In this insightful discussion, we explore the ancient Greek metaphor "You can't step into the same river twice" and how it relates to finding coherence in your ever-changing life. Learn how to embrace change, make practical adjustments, and stay connected to your core values even when faced with challenges.✨ Highlights:Understanding the flow of change and coherencePractical activities for realigning your values and actionsReal-life stories of overcoming frustration and finding purposeTune in to our podcast and check out the blog post for actionable tips and inspiring stories. Let’s navigate the river of change together and create a life that truly resonates with who you are!🔗 https://authentic-careers.com/2024/09/15/coherence/🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWrSkW-UvF0#CareerDevelopment #LifeDesign #PersonalGrowth #Coherence #Podcast #Blog #YouCantStepIntoTheSameRiverTwice

September 8, 202437 min

Key Mindsets for Designing Your Life + Career

Welcome to this episode of Authentic Career + Life Design! In today’s episode, we dive into the key mindsets of life design and how they can revolutionize the way you approach career planning and personal growth.🚀 What You'll Learn: Curiosity and Reframing: Explore how curiosity fuels personal and professional growth and how reframing challenges can open new opportunities.Radical Collaboration: Find out how collaborating with diverse individuals and perspectives can enhance your career design process.The Power of Prototyping: Learn how experimenting with different career paths through internships, volunteering, and informational interviews can help you make more informed decisions.Understanding Bias Toward Action: Discover what it means to have a bias toward action and why it’s crucial for overcoming indecision and taking proactive steps in your career.Real-Life Examples: Hear compelling case studies of people who successfully navigated their career journies by applying one or more of these mindsets. Highlights:The value of taking small, actionable steps to test out career ideasHow prototyping can save time and prevent burnout Strategies for shifting from indecision to actionInsights on how to incorporate curiosity and collaboration into your career planning 📅 Join Us Weekly:Tune in weekly for more insights and strategies to help you design a career and life that aligns with your passions and goals.🔗 Links and Resources: Blogpost: https://authentic-careers.com/2024/09/05/key-mindsets-for-designing-your-life-career/Podcast: Listen to this episode on your favorite podcast player:SpreakerSpotifyI Heart RadioApple PodcastsAmazon MusicBooks: Burnett, B., & Evans, D. (2016). Designing your life: How to build a well-lived, joyful life. Alfred A. Knopf.Subscribe & Connect: Don’t miss out on future episodes! Subscribe to Authentic Career + Life Design on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and connect with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and my website. youtube.com/@authentic-careersfacebook.com/authenticcareerspinterest.com/authenticcareersauthentic-careers.comWith a career dedicated to guiding students and alumni toward careers aligned with their passions, Laura Kestner-Ricketts brings over three decades of experience in career counseling, professional speaking, and leadership. Her journey spans various universities and small liberal arts colleges across the Midwest, where she has empowered individuals from diverse backgrounds to achieve their career goals. Learn more about Laura and her work with Authentic Career + Life Design.

August 3, 202430 min

Step Ten: Ace Interviews

🎙️ New Episode Alert! Step Ten: Ace InterviewsAre you ready to master the art of interviewing? In this episode of Authentic Career + Life Design, we'll dive into essential strategies to help you shine in your next interview. From thorough preparation to nailing the "Tell me about yourself" question, we've got you covered! Join Laura, a career coach with 30 years of experience, as she shares her 10/10 trick, tips for answering common interview questions, and the importance of knowing your strengths and the organization inside out. Plus, learn how to dress the part and build your confidence. 🔑Key Takeaways:The importance of early and thorough preparationHow to create your 10/10 list of skills and examplesMastering the STAR method for behavioral questionsThe significance of researching the organizationDon’t miss out on these valuable insights! Tune in now to ace your interviews with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.See accompanying blog post here: https://authentic-careers.com/2024/08/03/step-ten-ace-interviews/🎧 Listen hereSpreakerSpotifyI Heart RadioApple PodcastsAmazon Music🔗 For more resources and to schedule a discovery call#CareerTips #JobInterview #InterviewPrep #CareerCoach #AuthenticCareerDesign #Podcast #JobSearch #InterviewSkills #ProfessionalGrowth

June 22, 202424 min

Step Eight: Maximizing Career Events for Job Seekers

🌟 Podcast/YouTube Episode: Maximizing Career Events for Job Seekers 🌟Attending career events can be transformative for job seekers. In this Authentic Career + Life Design episode, Laura explores the benefits of career fairs, networking events, company info sessions, workshops, hackathons, job simulations, and more. Discover how to network, gain valuable insights, and impress potential employers. Learn about tools like Forage and get tips on finding and making the most of career events to engage with your dream employers and elevate your career prospects.Don't miss this chance to take your job search to new heights! 🚀#CareerEvents #JobSearch #Networking #CareerAdvice

May 27, 202425 min

Step Seven Apply Strategically with a Targeted Job Search

🚀 Frustrated with your job search? Applied to hundreds of positions with no response?It’s time to switch gears and apply strategically!In our latest blog post on Authentic Career + Life Design, we dive into Step Seven of our Mastering Your Job Search series: Apply Strategically with a Targeted Job Search. Learn how to tailor your applications to align with your skills and career goals, boosting your chances of landing interviews and job offers.Check it out now and start making each application count!💼✨#JobSearch #CareerAdvice #ResumeTips #CareerGoals #AuthenticCareerDesign #JobHunt #ProfessionalGrowth

May 6, 202420 min

Step Six: Strategies for Finding Job Openings

Step Six: Strategies for Finding Job OpeningsJoin us for the latest episode and blog post of our series "Mastering Your Job Search in Ten Essential Steps"! In this installment, we're diving into Strategies for Finding Job Openings.Gone are the days of scanning ads; but now, with countless online job search sites, how do you narrow down your search?We'll explore utilizing multiple platforms to broaden your scope and increase your chances of finding the perfect opportunity.Plus, we'll share industry-specific resources and tips for uncovering hidden job openings. BONUS WORKSHEETReady to level up your job search game? Tune in now! #JobSearch #CareerAdvicefacebook.com/authenticcareersyoutube.com/@authentic-careerslaura@authentic-careers.compinterest.com/authenticcareersauthentic-careers.com

April 24, 202415 min

Step Five: The Power of Expert Guidance in Your Job Search Journey

Join host Laura in this episode of Authentic Career + Life Design as she explores the game-changing benefits of seeking expert guidance in your job search journey.Discover how connecting with industry experts can provide invaluable insights, refine your materials, and expand your network.📄BONUS WORKSHEET📄Don't miss out on expert tips to navigate your career path with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.

April 19, 202419 min

Step Four: Networking Effectively (deep dive)

Welcome to another episode with Laura, your trusted career coach! Today, we're diving into a topic many find daunting: Networking. But fear not, we're not talking about awkward meet-and-greets. Instead, I'll guide you through authentic networking strategies that align with who you are. We'll spend time:Defining ExpectationsCrafting Your Elevator PitchCovering Where To NetworkNavigating Career Conversations🏆BONUS WORKSHEET🏆I’ve provided a Networking Worksheet to help you prepare for authentic connections through networking. Download it at authentic-careers.com. Remember, networking isn't about collecting business cards—it's about cultivating meaningful relationships that propel your career. Tune in to learn how to network authentically and leverage connections to achieve your professional aspirations. Don't miss out on unlocking doors to new opportunities and forging genuine connections that matter. Hit play now and take your networking game to the next level!