Trevor Nielsen

How to thrive after a layoff

Freelance product designer, co-founder at Kleo, writing to 58k readers on LinkedIn

Raw talent isn't enough. Plenty of talented designers are looking for work. Discoverability is the missing piece.

How to become a highly discoverable designer

Your expertise + your work aren't serving you if you keep it to yourself. Capture opportunities by hitting publish.

How to leverage the internet to attract leads

Let's talk pros and cons of working for someone else vs. working for yourself. There are a few key things to consider.

How to decide between full-time or self-employment

You're an ambitious, accomplished high performer who KNOWS the power of a personal brand. But you haven't gotten around to it... You're held back by: →&nbsp;Overwhelm→&nbsp;Procrastination→&nbsp;Cringe Mountain→&nbsp;Imposter Syndrome→&nbsp;Not having a clear plan→&nbsp;Not knowing where to start LET ME GUESS... →&nbsp;You KNOW that building your brand on Linkedin works, you’ve seen other people do it, you just don’t know how to get started. →&nbsp;You feel stuck and overwhelmed by social media. You’re posting - but nothing is happening! →&nbsp;You already spend time on Linkedin, you just don’t know how to optimize your time spent. HAVE YOU EVER... →&nbsp;Let the fear of posting stand in the way of huge career and business value? →&nbsp;Watched your friends or colleagues seemingly “blow up” on social overnight, wondering how they went from 0 to influencer so quickly? →&nbsp;Watched other professionals that aren’t even talented as you, take your clients just because of their audience size? THEN YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE! You'll learn the exact systems, strategies, and process to master LinkedIn. You'll skyrocket your clients, job opportunities, press, and audience growth. You'll overcome your fear of "putting yourself out there" and step into a position as a thought leader. LinkedIn is one of the most powerful platforms to grow your personal brand in 2024. Many see LinkedIn as a just place for job applications, but it's so much more than that. With the right strategy and approach, you can leverage LinkedIn to build your personal brand, network with potential clients and companies, and establish yourself as an expert in your field.&nbsp; You may be thinking: Why should I even be on LinkedIn? How can I level up my career using Linkedin? How can I be an authority in my field? How can I grow my business with LinkedIn? What should I post? How do I connect with right people? All of these questions were in my head when I started LinkedIn a few years ago. I thought LinkedIn was boring. It was too corporate and professional. I don’t know if this is the right platform for me. But I was gradually shifted from being a consumer to a creator. And everything changed. - Leads- Clients- Community- Job opportunities- Press opportunities- And hundreds of thousands of dollars later... I'm finally teaching you how to do the same. In this course, I will share everything that I have learned with you during my LinkedIn journey, including my systematic approach to gaining over one million impressions month after month, finding jobs, clients, and more, and becoming a thought leader in your industry.

Higher-Paying Jobs, More Clients, & Increased Revenue thru Thought Leadership

Get a solid understanding of why LinkedIn is essential for your personal brand and how to effectively use it to your advantage and get course overview. Learn how to adopt the right mindset to become a successful thought leader and develop a clear strategy to achieve your goals.

MONDAY, OCT 9: INTRODUCTION, MINDSET, AND PROFILE

Your profile is your first impression on LinkedIn, and it's crucial that you get it right. Get hands-on framework to create a top-notch LinkedIn profile that showcases your expertise and attracts the right audience.

WED, OCT 11: BRANDING AND POSITIONING 

Get the inside scoop on creating high-quality, shareable &amp; compelling content that drives engagement and grows your audience. You'll discover how to use various formats, such as blog posts, videos, and infographics, to communicate your message effectively.

MON, OCT 16: THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, PRESS, AND CONTENT

You'll learn how to connect with potential clients, partners, press and influencers and make meaningful connections that lead to success. Learn how to create meaningful connections and engage with your target audience to build relationships and grow your influence.&nbsp;

WED, OCT 18: ENGAGEMENT AND AUDIENCE BUILDING

Course Syllabus 

<ul><li>LIVE Cohort Kickoff Session</li><li>Workshop Take-Home Challenge</li></ul>

WORKSHOP #1 (Europe Group)

<ul><li>LIVE Cohort Kickoff Session</li><li>Workshop Take-Home Challenge </li></ul>

WORKSHOP # 1 (USA Group)

<ul><li>LIVE Cohort Session #2</li><li>Assignment Review</li><li>New Workshop Take-Home Challenge</li></ul>

WORKSHOP #2 (Europe Group)

WORKSHOP # 2 (USA Group)

<ul><li>LIVE Cohort Session #2</li><li>Assignment Review</li><li>New Workshop Take-Home Challenge</li></ul>

WORKSHOP #3 (Europe Group)

<ul><li>LIVE Cohort Session #3</li><li>Assignment Review</li><li>New Workshop Take-Home Challenge</li></ul>

WORKSHOP #3 (USA Group)

<ul><li>LIVE Cohort Session #4</li><li>Assignment Review</li><li>New Workshop Take-Home Challenge</li></ul>

WORKSHOP #4 (Europe Group)

<ul><li>LIVE Cohort Session #4</li><li>Assignment Review</li><li>New Workshop Take-Home Challenge</li></ul>

WORKSHOP #4 (USA Group)

<ul><li>Office Hours with Courtney</li></ul>

(OPTIONAL) OFFICE HOURS #1

(OPTIONAL) OFFICE HOURS #2

Course schedule

You want to take the next step in your career You feel like you just can’t break into that next level of your career, and need a boost.

You want to monetize your Linkedin You know the Linkedin basics but you're not sure exactly how to monetize it.

You want to drive more inbound leads from LinkedIn You're tired of spending time job hunting or cold outreaching clients.

You want to start showing up online powerfully. You're tired of playing small and want your personal brand to be a business driver.

This course is for you if:

What you’ll get out of this course

You'll learn how to connect with potential clients, partners, press and influencers and make meaningful connections that lead to success

Discover the secrets to growing a massive and engaged following that you can leverage for your business
and your career.

You'll learn how to create engaging content, participate in conversations, and build a loyal following that supports your brand, plus tips and tricks for job and client hunting.

Learn how to reach the next level in your career using Linkedin, and monetize your time spent on Linkedin

&nbsp;You'll discover how to use various formats, such as blog posts, videos, and infographics, to communicate your message effectively.

Get the inside scoop on creating high-quality, shareable & compelling content that drives engagement and grows your audience. 

l wrap up everything you've learned and provide you with a clear plan of action to help you reach your goals.

You'll leave this course with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become a successful thought leader on LinkedIn.

Learn to Overcome "Cringe Mountain" and Leverage the Power of Your Most Valuable Professional Asset: your Personal Brand on Linkedin

Courtney Johnson

September Cohort

Q4 2024

Read my post on passing first-round interviews in Lenny's newsletter here: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-pass-any-first-round-interview This workshop is designed as the prequel to that article: helping you design a targeted job search, network artfully to build a job pipeline, and convert opportunities into interviews. Workshop content Designing your job searchStrategies for the post-ZIRP tech job marketHow to design a 'niche of one'How to shortlist companies (and tailor your efforts by tier)How to write a stand-out resume (ATS and human-optimized)How (and when) to have multiple resumes and/or role-tailored resumesHow to craft your LinkedIn profile to attract more interest Conducting your searchHow to run a 4-hour job searchHow to build a pipeline from zeroHow to job search in the open NetworkingHow to activate your network (colleagues, friends and family, hiring managers you know)How/why to get referred, even by randosHow to write a powerful professional blurb How to write winning warm intro emailsHow to cold connect with hiring managers or employees at target companiesHow to leverage online communities to accelerate your job search ConvertingHow to throw green flags (and avoid red flags) in screener interviewsHow to answer common and tricky recruiter screening questionsHow to use the recruiter screen to tee up a better offer Plus: a resume glow-up mini-workshopPlus: a LinkedIn polish mini-workshopPlus: a professional blurb writing workshopPlus: a cold connection request writing workshopPlus: two in-depth Q&amp;A sessions with Erika Bonus: Speeding up your job search (levers and when to use them)Bonus: Debugging your job search (with benchmarks) (all sessions are live, taught by Erika) Includes:Tools and tactics to drive your job search (niche of one mad lib, company tiering strategies, referral guide, the 4-hour job search daily agenda, LinkedIn content roadmap, and more), leaving you with concrete next steps for your job search. Frameworks for presenting yourself with effortless confidence (multiple resumes, tailored resumes, intro blurbs, cold outreach messages, etc). Case studies from Coach Erika's 200+ successful job seeker clients to understand real-world scenarios you may encounter in your search (and what to do). Resume glow-up, LinkedIn polishing, and blurb writing workshops during the seminar. You'll walk out with an updated set of tools and a punch list of follow-on tasks to kickstart or reboot your job search. Discord Community Invite to stay connected to your cohort through this job search and beyond. Co-source opportunities, review resumes, do mock interviews, and more.

Get application ready and screener ready. With confidence and community.

Provide a brief description for each module as a way to sell the value of what students will be learning throughout the course.

First Module

Second Module

Third Module

Course syllabus

Optional pre-workshop mixer (Zoom)

Thursday, June 20th

4pm - 8 pm GMT12pm - 4pm Eastern11am - 3pm Central10am - 2pm Mountain There will be 60-75 minutes of live Q&amp;A with Coach Erika after this slot. Recording will be available, in case you need to drop off earlier.

Saturday June 22nd

4pm - 8 pm GMT12pm - 4pm Eastern11am - 3pm Central10am - 2pm Mountain This will be followed by 60-75 minutes of live Q&amp;A, which will also be recorded. The Q&amp;As on both days are very in-depth. Many students say that they feel like they are getting 1:1 coaching from Erika.

Sunday, June 23rd

Senior IC, Manager, and Director+ level tech workers who are starting a job search in the next 1-2 months or with in-flight job searches.

Job seekers keen to move from quantity to quality: design a more targeted job search, network artfully, and convert more of their funnel.

This workshop is not for students, aspiring tech workers, or early career professionals.

Who is this course for

We'll discuss the strategies and approaches you can use to glow up your resume, LinkedIn, and professional blurb. I'll share specific tactics, and you will workshop during the seminar so you can walk away with refreshed, public-facing, professional artifacts.

Refresh your digital presence

We will dive into:<ul><li>Job market data &amp; the realities of a soft market</li><li>Designing a 'niche of one'</li><li>How to shortlist companies (and ladder interviews)</li><li>How to author and format a strong resume (ATS + human optimized)</li><li>Branding your LinkedIn presence</li><li>Multiple resumes &amp; tailored resumes</li></ul>

How to handle the tech jobs downturn & search in an employer's market

We'll cover:<ul><li>how to leverage friends, hiring managers, online communities, and recruiters to get intel, first-look roles, and a human connection.</li><li>how to find &amp; connect with hiring managers (with winning notes)</li><li>how + why to get stranger referrals</li></ul>

Smart networking in the digital & distracted era

We'll review:<ul><li>employer + interviewer goals</li><li>how to throw green flags (and avoid red flags) in screens</li><li>how to use a recruiter screen to tee up a stronger offer</li></ul>

Converting interest into screeners & interviews

Learn the benchmarks, signs, and signals that will tell you if you need to make adjustments in your job search now and long after the course.

Debugging your job search

This is an intensive course; we cut to the chase and help you get set up for a more successful, focused job search. Sessions are recorded to watch again in the future, and you will get access to many tools and templates you can use for weeks &amp; months after we wrap

Tailor-made and optimized for busy tech job seekers

We'll walk through real resumes, real blurbs, real email exchanges with recruiters, and more ― to assess real-world scenarios that you may encounter in your search (and what you can do).

Case studies from Coach Erika's 200+ successful job seeker clients 

Roles of fellow cohort mates will range from product &amp; engineering to sales &amp; marketing, operations, customer-facing, and more. Titles of students range from Senior/Group/Principal/Staff to Director/Sr. Director/VP/CxO. After the course, you'll get access to our Discord community

You'll be in great company (even after the workshop ends)

You'll leave with an actual job search plan (a document) featuring concrete next steps to activate your targeted 'Niche of One' job search. Plus, you'll have an overhauled LinkedIn profile, resume, and Blurb for warm intros.

Walk away with a clear, tangible job search plan

🔥Guest on Lenny's Newsletter🔥
Design a targeted job search with a Top 1% job search coach. Get niche. Uplevel your pitch. Convert more.

Coach Erika

Cohort 3

Cohort 4

// If you're feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of securing your dream role in Product Design or UX Research - you're not alone! // Many talented professionals face hurdles such as: - Being Overlooked or Ghosted: Struggling to get noticed in a sea of applicants. - Showcasing Your Strengths: Difficulty in effectively highlighting your skills through your CV and portfolio. - Limited Interview Invitations: Not receiving enough opportunities to present yourself to potential employers. - Unclear Job Descriptions: Confusion surrounding the specific requirements and expectations for roles. - Feedback After Rejections: Experiencing a lack of constructive feedback when faced with rejection. - Standing Out in a Competitive Market: Feeling lost and unsure of how to differentiate yourself from other candidates. 💥 But here is the exciting part 💥 I CREATED THE ULTIMATE JOB SEARCH ACCELERATOR SPECIFICALLY TO HELP YOU TACKLE THESE CHALLENGES. In this course, you’ll gain valuable skills through a carefully structured curriculum that will enable you to: - Develop Compelling Application Assets: Create powerful CVs and portfolios that effectively showcase your skills. - Master Job Search Strategies: Gain insider knowledge on how to navigate the recruitment process effectively. - Enhance Your Pitching Skills: Learn to confidently present yourself as the ideal candidate for any role. - Receive Personalized Feedback: Engage in practical exercises with direct input from a former Product Design &amp; UX research Recruiter. - Join a Supportive Community: Collaborate and share insights with fellow design professionals who understand the journey. Don’t let these challenges hold you back any longer! Take the first step towards transforming your job search experience and unlocking the next level in your career. Enroll today and start your journey to success!

Getting rejected? Ghosted? Not being noticed by employers and recruiters?

Join me for weekly live sessions to get all of your questions answered, practice, and learn from a guest speaker.

2 Live Sessions on Thursdays

Access all pre-recorded materials and go through them at your own pace to maximize your learning from the course. You’ll retain access even after the course is complete, allowing you to refresh your knowledge at any time!

Pre-recorded Sessions with all Materials You Need

Complete the home assignments on time and get personalised feedback from me on strengths and areas for improvements!

Weekly Projects and Personalised Feedback

Everyone will be completing their projects and submitting them to the designated channels, providing an opportunity for all to view each other's work.

Access to All Projects from Other Students 

Mid (3+ years of experience) to Leaders (10+ years of experience) in Product Design and UX Research who are looking for a new role

For Product Designers and UX Researchers who are struggling to secure their desired roles despite continuous applications

Anyone in Product Design and UX Research, who wants to elevate their job search strategies and stand out in a competitive market

In live sessions, we’ll meet twice a week to tackle your questions. Four modules include hands-on projects to create CV, Portfolio Case Study, Pitch, and Networking Outreach. Get personalised feedback to leave with "ready to be used" assets or strong templates.

Live Sessions and Personalised Feedback

Analyse common mistakes in CVs and learn the exclusive framework I've developed to highlight your skills, experiences, and impact with concise and powerful bullet points. Create a CV that stands out and receive personalised feedback from me.

Guidance on Building a Winning CV 

Review 5 examples of strong portfolios from Product Designers and UX Researchers at leading design-driven companies. Dive into the best and worst portfolio practices, and craft your own strong case study with personalized feedback from me.

Real Examples of Strong Portfolios 

Insider information on what to expect during skill assessment tasks and whiteboarding challenges, how to best prepare for them, and examples of how to present your hard and soft skills while solving problems.

Problem-Solving & Whiteboarding Session Tips

Overcome imposter syndrome by showcasing your achievements, impact, and goals in a way that inspires both you and your employer. Build confidence and success with methods like video prep, ice-breakers, and mental strategies.

Confidence Building

Learn what makes any pitch a strong pitch! Understand its key elements, how to best prepare, and the ways to build a connection with an interviewer to smoothly transition from the pitch to interview questions.

Pitch Development

Rethink what effective networking means and learn how to build it from day one. Enhance your outreaches with exercises and examples of both successful and unsuccessful networking to boost your success.

Networking Essentials

Learn how to better understand ambiguous job descriptions and role requirements through real-life examples of job posts. Discover what questions you can ask and how to prepare your CV, portfolio, and yourself to show that you are a match for any role you decide to apply for.

Role Clarity

Learn how to get recruiters' feedback and handle ghosting by creating effective follow-ups.

Feedback and Persistence

Build a strong portfolio and CV, master your pitch, and gain the confidence to become the candidate that employers can’t ignore!
 

Lena Kul

Recruitment & Job Search Advisor | ex-Lead Design Recruiter | UX Research @ Miro

Cohort 2

You're a high achiever who's used to success and you landed your dream job, right out of college. But since starting your corporate job, things have been off. Your hard work isn't paying off, and you're not getting the opportunities you deserve. It's frustrating and you're starting to doubt yourself, wondering "where did I go wrong, where did I go off track?" Boy, have I heard that before. You don't know what you don't know, and if this is your first job or you have &lt;3 years of work experience, you're facing topics that school never prepared you for. Such as: → Being "manageable"→ Staying top of mind for your busy Manager→ How to take negative feedback (constantly)→ Picking the right projects with outsized impact→ How to ask for a promotion→ Not knowing where to start HAVE YOU EVER... → Been a top performer in school, only to struggle when you entered the corporate world? → Felt stuck because you're working hard but you're not getting the accolades you deserve? → Seen co-workers (less talented than you) get selected for projects that match your skill set? → Prepared hours for a presentation to senior leadership, only for them to zone out? → Struggled with talking about your work in a way that minimizes the ick? → Thought you were aligned with your Manager, only turns out you were both on different pages? → Thought something was wrong with you and wondered if you're cut out for the corporate world? NEWSFLASH: THE CORPORATE JOB IS A GAME. And this course will help you learn the rules so you can play the game to win the game. Look, I've been there and done that. I graduated from an Ivy League school, got an internship and a full-time job at one of the best companies to work for... and thought I was going to be on the CEO path by the age of 25. Boy, was I wrong. When I entered the corporate world, I stumbled. I couldn't figure out why people who were putting in half the amount of effort I was were getting more visibility, better projects, and faster promotions. And then I started studying the people who were successful and jotting down what they did. And once I started executing that plan, I started to be successful. AND I'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THE SAME. In this course, I will share everything that I have learned (as well as from others) during my 12+ years in Big Tech, including my approach for handling ambiguity at work, making the work shine, and becoming a go-to expert for your team.

More recognition, more impact, and reaching your career goals, faster

If your events are recurring and at the same time, it might be easiest to use a single line item to communicate your course schedule to students

Tuesdays & Thursdays

Feel free to type out dates as your title as a way to communicate information about specific live sessions or other events.

May 7, 2022

Schedule items can also be used to convey commitments outside of specific time slots (like weekly projects or daily office hours).

Weekly projects

You're working hard but being passed for opportunities Your work doesn't feel valued or recognized. You feel stalled and need a boost

You're new to working and want to start your career with confidence You know your first job sets the stage for future career success

You're a top performer (and want to stay one) You want the tribal knowledge to accelerate faster in your career

Differentiate yourself from your peers by learning the corporate game playbook that you didn't learn in school. This gives you the edge from day 1.

Get the edge in the corporate job so you can succeed and accelerate faster

You'll learn how to speak to your Manager, build trust, and how to handle feedback so you can make them your #1 advocate who supports your career goals.

Make your Manager your #1 advocate by helping them reach their goals (so you can reach your goals)

Discover what it takes to be a good teammate, the types of co-workers you want on your side, and how to leverage them to help you excel in your role.

Turn your co-workers into your work allies who can provide valuable support and advocacy for you

Adopt the behaviors of busy Execs so you can elevate your brand and go from "beginner" to "high performer"

Learn to write emails, lead meetings, prioritize your time, and be more effective on the job

Learn how the most important word in the corporate job is "Impact" and how to showcase the value you're bringing (without feeling like you're the teacher's pet)

Increase your impact, visibility, and overall value you provide to the team

Adapt to the NEW corporate landscape. Elevate your career. Be the person people seek out. Become Top Talent. And future-proof your role. 

Lightning Lessons

How to thrive after a layoff