The Career Report

Hosted by Tim Madden

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Episodes

231

Latest episode

Jan 2026

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About the show

The Career Report is your weekly update on what’s happening in the job market — from hiring trends and layoffs to new workplace innovations shaping how we work and lead. Hosted by the team at Executive Career Upgrades , this show delivers quick, insightful episodes that break down the headlines and stories impacting your career right now. Each week, you’ll get real-world commentary, expert interviews, and actionable insights designed to help professionals and executives stay ahead in a constantly changing market. If it affects your career, you’ll hear it here first.

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60 recent

November 11, 20241 min

UNLOCK Your Full Potential with Success by Design!

Welcome to Success by Design, the podcast crafted for high achievers ready to take charge of their careers, elevate their businesses, and create lasting fulfillment in life. Hosted by Tim Madden, CEO of Executive Career Upgrades, this podcast delivers actionable strategies, expert interviews, and industry insights for meaningful growth.Whether you’re aiming for a breakthrough in your current role, transitioning to a new industry, or growing your business, Success by Design is here to guide you toward your full potential. With over 22 years of military experience and a track record of scaling multiple businesses, Tim Madden brings insights from a career spanning leadership, entrepreneurship, and executive coaching.Join us weekly to learn how you can define success on your terms—and achieve it. Hit subscribe to start your success journey today! 🎧

January 8, 202627 min

230 | The Career Report | When the Offer Comes Early: Handling Timing, Notice, and the AI Myth

In this episode of The Career Report, Tim and Kristina talk through a situation more professionals are facing than they expected: being employed, actively exploring new opportunities, and suddenly receiving an offer sooner than planned.They break down what the professional move actually looks like in these moments—how to think about notice periods, how to manage conversations with both your current employer and a potential new one, and how to avoid burning bridges when timing feels uncomfortable.The conversation also touches on the growing misconception that AI will solve timing, communication, or career decision challenges on its own. While tools can help, Tim and Kristina explain why judgment, preparation, and strategy still matter far more than automation.If you’re navigating a job search while employed, or wondering how to handle an unexpected offer without creating long-term consequences, this episode offers practical perspective and grounded advice.

January 7, 202618 min

229 | The Career Report | Strategic Volume: Rethinking Job Searches for 2026

In this episode of The Career Report, Tim and Kristina Madden break down the idea of strategic volume and why it’s becoming one of the most important concepts in job searches heading into 2026.As hiring processes evolve and competition increases, many professionals default to doing more—more applications, more outreach, more activity—assuming volume alone will create results. Tim and Kristina explain why that approach is increasingly ineffective, and how unintentional volume often creates noise instead of momentum.They discuss how strategic volume differs from mass applying, how leaders and recruiters actually respond to outreach, and why fewer, better-targeted actions tend to outperform high-effort scattershot searches. The conversation focuses on clarity, positioning, and knowing where to apply pressure rather than exhausting yourself everywhere at once.If you’re planning your job search for 2026 and want to avoid burnout while improving results, this episode offers a clear framework for doing less, smarter, and more intentionally.

January 5, 202617 min

228 | The Career Report | Stop Setting Goals That Work Against You

Every January, professionals flood their calendars with new goals, ambitious targets, and aggressive timelines. And every year, most of them quietly abandon those plans weeks later.In this episode of The Career Report, Tim and Kristina Madden challenge the idea that success comes from doing more, faster. Instead, they break down why overloading yourself with goals often backfires and how incremental progress creates momentum that actually sticks.This conversation is about clarity over chaos. It’s about choosing fewer, smarter priorities. And it’s about building forward motion in a way that fits real careers, real workloads, and real life, not motivational posters or New Year hype.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your own goals or frustrated that you can’t keep up with them, this episode will help you rethink how you set direction and make progress without burning out.

December 29, 202513 min

227 | The Career Report | The Flood Is Coming: Why Waiting for the Wave Is a Risk

In this episode of The Career Report, Tim and Kristina talk about why this quiet week before the new year matters more than most people realize. While many professionals are waiting for January to take action, hiring leaders are already moving, conversations are already happening, and momentum is quietly building.They break down what happens to careers that stay on pause, why waiting can create unnecessary pressure once the market picks up, and how small, intentional actions right now can make a meaningful difference in how you start the year. This isn’t about panic or rushing. It’s about awareness, positioning, and not getting caught off guard when things accelerate.If you’re feeling like you’ll “get serious” once the new year starts, this episode offers a timely perspective on why now is often the better moment to prepare.

December 22, 202527 min

226 | The Career Report | Before the Reset: Reflecting on Wins, Lessons, and What’s Next

In this episode of The Career Report, Tim and Kristina talk about why reflection matters before you jump into setting new PPF goals. It’s easy to rush into planning the next year without taking a moment to look back, but skipping that step often means missing what actually worked.They walk through how to review the past year honestly, how to recognize wins that are easy to overlook, and how to carry lessons forward without beating yourself up over what didn’t go as planned. This conversation is about clarity, momentum, and setting yourself up for a stronger year ahead, not just creating another list of goals.If you’re wrapping up the year and thinking about what’s next, this episode will help you slow down just enough to move forward with intention.

December 18, 20259 min

225 | The Career Report | Your Job Title has Nothing to do with Getting You Hired

In this episode of The Career Report, I break down why your job title matters far less than you think when it comes to getting hired. Too many professionals get stuck chasing the “right” title instead of focusing on what actually moves the needle in interviews and executive searches.We talk about how hiring managers really evaluate candidates, what recruiters look for beyond titles, and how relying on a title alone can quietly hold your career back. If you’ve ever wondered why strong experience isn’t translating into interviews or offers, this episode will help you rethink how you position yourself and your value.This is especially relevant for directors, VPs, and senior professionals navigating a competitive market where perception, clarity, and impact matter more than labels.

December 17, 202520 min

224 The Career Report | The Market Isn't Slow, Your Process Is

In this episode, hosts Tim and Kristina Madden debunk the common myth that current hiring delays are a byproduct of "the market," instead pointing the finger at the internal corporate paralysis and "hiring by committee" culture plaguing modern organizations. They pull back the curtain on why 90-day interview cycles and endless rounds of vetting have become the new norm, explaining that these bottlenecks are driven by leadership's fear of making the "wrong" hire rather than external economic shifts. By breaking down the mechanics of this bureaucratic inertia, Tim and Kristina empower job seekers to stop internalizing the wait and provide actionable strategies to navigate the "black hole" of the modern application process with their confidence and leverage intact.

December 15, 202516 min

223 | The Career Report | Why Waiting Feels Safer Than Moving (and When It Isn’t)

In this episode of The Career Report, Tim and Kristina unpack the growing hesitation they’re seeing across the job market and within careers at every level. They discuss why so many professionals are choosing to stay put, how uncertainty is influencing decision-making, and where caution can quietly turn into stagnation. Together, they explore how to evaluate risk, build confidence, and make intentional career moves even when the market feels unpredictable. If you’ve been stuck between staying and going, this conversation offers clarity and perspective to help you move forward with purpose.

December 12, 202511 min

222 | The Career Report | The Lowest Quit Rate Since Spring of 2020

In this episode of The Career Report, Tim breaks down what it means to see the lowest quit rate since spring of 2020, and why that shift matters in today’s job market. He unpacks what’s driving professionals to stay in place, how uncertainty is influencing career decisions, and what this trend signals for leaders thinking about their next move. If you’re weighing a job change, feeling cautious about making a move, or trying to understand where the market is heading, this episode offers timely insight and practical perspective.