134: A career break has NOT ruined your career, here's why...

Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody | UX, Product Design, UX Research

Worried your career break in UX has made you unemployable? Let’s talk about what’s actually holding you back.

In this episode, Sarah tackles a concern she hears constantly: “Did my career break ruin my chances of getting hired in UX?” Whether you took time off for caregiving, burnout, travel, or health, this episode will help you stop spiraling and start focusing on what really matters, your story.

You’ll learn the 3 strategies every UX job seeker needs (Design, Marketing, Sales), how to tell if you’re missing one, and why the story you're telling about your break matters more than the break itself.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ Why your break isn’t the problem—but your story might be

✔️ What “terminal uniqueness” is and how it keeps you stuck

✔️ The 3-part strategy you need to get hired (and how to know what’s missing)

✔️ How to shift from self-doubt to clarity in your job search

✔️ Why visibility and connection matter more than perfection

✔️ How to rebuild your momentum with intention—not burnout

Timestamps:

00:38 The Impact of Career Breaks on UX Careers

00:56 The Importance of Your Personal Story in Job Searches

01:22 Addressing Career Break Concerns

03:37 LinkedIn's Career Break Feature

05:28 Three Essential Strategies for UX Candidates

09:53 Identifying Gaps in Your Job Search Strategies

12:23 Building and Leveraging Professional Relationships

16:51 Final Thoughts and Workshop Invitation

18:35 Conclusion and Additional Resources

⭐ Support the show! Leave a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts to help more UX professionals find this podcast.

🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025

👉 Join Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

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