The Career Transition Experts

Hosted by Jonathan Flaks

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Episodes

192

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The Career Transition Experts is designed to help you get hired for the job you’ll love. Discover what top recruiters and job search professionals have to say about current job trends and what hiring parties are looking for. You’ll also get expert leadership and career transition advice on writing your resume and cover letter, interviewing, networking, and more. In this podcast, we interview members of our executive recruiter network, including CEO recruiters and CFO recruiters as well as many other successful professionals in the executive search business. Discover how to love your career with financial success, happiness, and work-life balance. If you are interested in leadership career success, listen up! You can find more from Jonathan at https://betheonebest.com

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60 recent

June 8, 2026Episode 1225 min

EP 192. What Every Career Professional Must Know About AI, the Job Market, Networking, and Getting Hired in 2026 - with Adam Smith

In this episode of The Career Transition Experts, we cover the following key strategies for career transition success in the age of AI:AI & the Job Market: Understand how AI is already reshaping hiring across every industry and why waiting to engage with these tools is the most dangerous career move you can make right nowThe Jevons Paradox & Job Security: Why AI is not going to shrink the job market, it is going to expand it and how to position your career to benefit from that growthSkepticism & Fear in the Workplace: How to navigate colleagues and leaders who resist AI, why ego silently drives that resistance, and how to bring people along on the journey as a multiplierCompany Culture & Career Growth: The three non-negotiable ingredients of a great workplace culture open mindedness, bidirectional communication, respect and trust and why culture determines whether even the most brilliant AI professional will succeed or failOvercoming Imposter Syndrome: How to silence self-doubt, reframe rejection, show up confidently in interviews, and stop letting fear of being found out hold your career backResume Strategy in the AI Era: Why even the AI expert needed outside expertise to craft a truly compelling resume and why AI gets it wrong more often than most people realizeInterview Mastery: Why the best hiring managers have completely abandoned old-school whiteboarding interviews and what they are actually measuring in candidates todayCareer Advice for Every Industry: Why AI is coming across every field without exception and why the professionals who experiment constantly, fail forward, and teach others will always be the ones writing their own ticketOur guest, Adam Smith, Director of AI Development and former Senior Software Engineering Manager, has spent years on the front lines of AI adoption building automated AI pipelines that generated nearly a million dollars in labor value in just three weeks, leading high-performing teams with exceptional retention, and championing a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and human connection. His journey from self-driven AI experimenter to recognized thought leader and career success story is a masterclass in what it truly means to future-proof your career in today's job market.You may contact him at asmith0935@gmail.comIf you're interested in how to apply these insights to gain traction in your job search, let's schedule a FREE Resume and Strategy Review session - click here for more information.

June 1, 2026Episode 111 min

EP 191. AI Is Not Coming, AI Is Already Here — Why Every Career Professional Needs to Stop Waiting and Start Experimenting Now

In this episode of The Career Transition Experts, we share one of the most powerful and urgent career wake-up calls: AI is not coming, it is already here. And the professionals who are waiting for someone else to teach them may already be falling behind.Our guest explains what every career professional needs to hear right now regardless of industry. Stop waiting. Start experimenting. The job market is not going to slow down for anyone, and the only way to build real confidence with AI is to get in, let the tool fail, and learn from it. The people who will lead in tomorrow's hiring landscape are the ones teaching others today not waiting to be taught.Our guest, Adam Smith, Director of AI Development and former Senior Software Engineering Manager, has dedicated years to experimenting with, applying, and championing AI across his organization. His hands-on approach to AI adoption has made him a recognized thought leader and a trusted voice on how professionals at every level can embrace these tools to accelerate their careers.You may contact him at asmith0935@gmail.comIf you're interested in how to apply these insights to gain traction in your job search, let's schedule a FREE Resume and Strategy Review session - click here for more information.

May 25, 2026Episode 102 min

EP 190. Why Fear of AI Is the Biggest Career Threat Nobody Talks About

In this episode of The Career Transition Experts, we dive into one of the most honest conversations happening in today's job market, the fear and skepticism surrounding AI that is quietly holding professionals back from career growth.Our guest breaks down why so many people struggle to embrace AI in the workplace, how ego and the fear of being replaced silently drives resistance, and what mindset shift separates the professionals who thrive in today's hiring landscape from those who get left behind. If you are navigating a career transition or simply trying to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving job market, this conversation will challenge the way you think about AI and your own potential.Our guest, Adam Smith, Director of AI Development and former Senior Software Engineering Manager, has dedicated years to experimenting with, applying, and championing AI across his organization. His hands-on approach to AI adoption has made him a recognized thought leader and a trusted voice on how professionals at every level can embrace these tools to accelerate their careers.You may contact him at asmith0935@gmail.comIf you're interested in how to apply these insights to gain traction in your job search, let's schedule a FREE Resume and Strategy Review session - click here for more information.

May 18, 2026Episode 910 min

EP 189. AI, Recruiters & The Hidden Job Market: Job Search Strategies You Need to Stay Ahead - with Michael Neece

In this episode of The Career Transition Experts, we cover how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the hiring process and how savvy job seekers can use the same tools hiring managers are using to get ahead of the competition.Key strategies covered in this episode:Navigating AI screening: Understand how employers are using AI to screen hundreds of resumes and get down to a shortlist of 10 to 20 candidates, and what that means for youResume formatting trick: Learn why leading your resume header with your target job title before your name is getting candidates noticedInterview prep with AI: Use the job description to generate likely interview questions, then prepare bullet-point responses so you're never caught off guardMock interview strategy: How to simulate a real interview with a friend using AI-generated questions even before you have an interview scheduledResearch your hiring manager: Use Claude or ChatGPT to research the hiring manager or recruiter across LinkedIn, industry publications, and beyondTapping the hidden job market: Why companies are advertising less and turning to social media, and how to find opportunities before they're postedVideo cover letter: How a short, authentic video can make you immediately more relatable and memorable than any resume aloneOur guest, Michael Neece, is a Chief Product Officer at Bowmo Inc and Interview Mastery.Michael is a TEDx speaker and former Interview Master at Monster.com who has also appeared and contributed on NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News, Financial Times of London, The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, and NY Times. He works with job-seeking executives and consults to hiring companies to improve their hiring processes. You may contact him at michael.neece01@gmail.com.If you're interested in how to apply these insights to gain traction in your job search, let's schedule a FREE Resume and Strategy Review session - click here for more information.

May 11, 2026Episode 82 min

EP 188. Using AI To Help with Job Hunting Research

In this episode of The Career Transition Experts, we uncover a powerful but often overlooked job search strategy using AI to research the people on the other side of the hiring table.We walk through how job seekers can use tools like ChatGPT or Claude to go beyond a basic Google search and build a deeper understanding of the company, location, hiring manager, or recruiter before ever stepping into an interview.Knowing who you're talking to before the conversation starts is no longer a luxury, it's a competitive edge.Our guest, Michael Neece, is a Chief Product Officer at Bowmo Inc and Interview Mastery.Michael is a TEDx speaker and former Interview Master at Monster.com who has also appeared and contributed on NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News, Financial Times of London, The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, and NY Times. He works with job seeking executives and Michael consults to hiring companies to improve their hiring processes. You may contact him at michael.neece01@gmail.com.If you're interested in how to apply these insights to gain traction in your job search, let's schedule a FREE Resume and Strategy Review session - click here for more information.

May 4, 2026Episode 73 min

EP 187. How Hiring Managers Are Using AI to Screen Your Resume (And How to Beat Them at Their Own Game)

In this episode of The Career Transition Experts, we explore how AI is reshaping the hiring landscape and how job seekers can use the same tools to their advantage.We break down exactly how employers, hiring managers, and agency recruiters are leveraging AI today: primarily to screen hundreds of resumes and get down to a shortlist of 10 to 20 candidates. Understanding this process is the first step to beating it.You'll learn how to use AI to align the language on your resume and LinkedIn profile with what hiring managers are actually searching for plus a simple but powerful resume formatting trick that's been getting applicants noticed.Our guest, Michael Neece, is a Chief Product Officer at Bowmo Inc and Interview Mastery.Michael is a TEDx speaker and former Interview Master at Monster.com who has also appeared and contributed on NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News, Financial Times of London, The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, and NY Times. He works with job seeking executives and Michael consults to hiring companies to improve their hiring processes. You may contact him at michael.neece01@gmail.com.If you're interested in how to apply these insights to gain traction in your job search, let's schedule a FREE Resume and Strategy Review session - click here for more information.

April 28, 2026Episode 621 min

EP 186. The Neuroscience of Career Success: How to Show Up, Stand Out and Lead in a VUCA World - with John Edwards

In this episode of The Career Transition Experts, we covered the science of how your brain works and how to harness it for career transition success.Key Topics Covered:The VUCA Reality: Understand why today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world makes job searching harder and what to do about it.How Your Brain Responds to Uncertainty: Learn how the brain's natural wiring reacts to unpredictable situations and how to work with it instead of against it.The Power of Your "Why": Learn how identifying your core values brings clarity to your brain and guides better career decisions.Curating Curiosity: Find out why curiosity, not intelligence, is the new top currency in the workplace and how to develop it as a job seeker.AI and the Art of Asking the Right Questions: With AI now accessible to everyone, the ability to ask smart, curious questions, not just having the answers, is what sets top candidates and leaders apart.Status Spirals: Recognize the self-sabotaging behavior that causes even the smartest leaders to fall from grace and how to avoid it in interviews and the workplace.The Learning Orientation: Embrace a mindset of continuous learning to stay competitive in an AI-driven world and stand out as a top candidate.Our guest, John Edwards, founder of The Edwards Group, is a leadership futurist with decades of experience in Fortune 100 organizations across HR, organizational development, and organizational psychology. John's groundbreaking research on leadership neuroscience helps executives and managers show up at their best in the workplace and in their careers.You may contact him at John@edwardsgroup.orgIf you're interested in how to apply these insights to gain traction in your job search, let's schedule a FREE Resume and Strategy Review session - click here for more information.

April 21, 2026Episode 52 min

EP 185. How Workplace Currency Has Evolved and What It Means for Your Career

In this episode of The Career Transition Experts, we uncover why intelligence alone is no longer enough to land your next leadership role.The workplace currency has shifted dramatically over the generations from loyalty, to education, to smartness, and today, a brand new currency is taking center stage: curating curiosity.Training your brain to ask better questions, stay open to new perspectives, and draw out the best thinking in others is now the single most valuable skill you can bring to a job search, an interview, or a leadership role. If you are still leading with how smart you are, it may be time to rethink your strategy.Our guest, John Edwards, founder of The Edwards Group, is a leadership futurist with decades of experience in Fortune 100 organizations across HR, organizational development, and organizational psychology. John's groundbreaking research on leadership neuroscience helps executives and managers show up at their best in the workplace and in their careers.You may contact him at John@edwardsgroup.orgIf you're interested in how to apply these insights to gain traction in your job search, let's schedule a FREE Resume and Strategy Review session - click here for more information.

April 14, 2026Episode 42 min

EP 184. Start With Why: The Brain Network That Can Transform Your Job Search

In this episode of The Career Transition Experts, we explore the powerful connection between your brain and your career decisions. Before diving into your job search, the most important question to ask yourself is not what you do, but why you do it. The brain has a dedicated "why network" that is directly linked to motivation, joy, and clarity, and when you pause to align your core values with your career goals, you give your brain the focus it needs to show up at its best. This simple but profound shift in thinking can transform not just how you search for your next role, but how you show up when you get there.Our guest, John Edwards, founder of The Edwards Group, is a leadership futurist with decades of experience in Fortune 100 organizations across HR, organizational development, and organizational psychology. John's groundbreaking research on leadership neuroscience helps executives and managers show up at their best in the workplace and in their careers.You may contact him at John@edwardsgroup.orgIf you're interested in how to apply these insights to gain traction in your job search, let's schedule a FREE Resume and Strategy Review session - click here for more information.

March 6, 2026Episode 322 min

EP 183. The Black Hole Myth Busted: Top Recruiter's “Top 5” Job Search Strategy - with Kathleen Steffey

In this episode of The Career Transition Experts, we demystify today’s hiring market and share practical strategies for candidates navigating career transitions.Key Topics Covered:The Hiring "Black Hole" Explained: Companies do want to hire but are overwhelmed by applicant volume and constrained processes. Increased technology-driven applicant flow, without a corresponding increase in human reviewers, causes bottlenecks and applicant silence, which is not personal.Creative Outreach: Utilize ideas like voice-to-text messages and group introductions with trusted references to humanize the job search process.AI's Evolving Role: AI is now seen as a helpful tool in hiring, not a shortcut, as long as it supports real and accurate content.Our guest, Kathleen Steffey is the Founder & Chief Talent Officer for Naviga Recruiting & Executive Search. They are a retained firm that places sales, marketing and operations positions for businesses around the world. You may contact her at kathleen@navigaservices.comIf you're interested in how to apply these insights to gain traction in your job search, let's schedule a FREE Resume and Strategy Review session - click here for more information.