If you’re feeling stuck at mid-career, unsure whether to stay, pivot, or start something new this episode is for you.

In this case study, I’m joined by my former client Claire, who went from feeling uncertain about her next move after leaving a role of 13 years in education to gaining crystal-clear career clarity and launching her own consulting business in just three months.

We talk about what it really takes to get unstuck, how to move from overthinking to aligned action, and why clarity doesn’t have to take years when you approach it strategically.

If you’ve been sitting in “what’s next?” mode for longer than you’d like, this conversation will give you both perspective and momentum.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why mid-career transitions can feel heavier and how to navigate them strategically
• The difference between being “stuck” and being unclear
• How Claire moved from uncertainty to launching a consulting business in 3 months
• What actually creates clarity (hint: it’s not more overthinking)
• The mindset shifts required to stop default climbing and start designing what’s next

Action Steps:

1️⃣ Get honest about what feels misaligned.
Instead of asking “What job should I apply for?” ask “What do I no longer want to tolerate?”

2️⃣ Stop gathering endless information and choose one direction to test.
Clarity often comes from action, not analysis.

3️⃣ Define your next 90-day focus.
If you had to move forward strategically for the next three months, what would you prioritise?

👉 Book a clarity call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore your next best step.

Connect with Claire and learn more about her work - https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-bartkus/

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🔗Connect with me

LinkedIn: Janine Esbrand

Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast

In this episode, I’m speaking directly to the introverts and the “just let me do my good work” professionals who feel resistant to the whole “be everywhere, build your personal brand, post every day” narrative.

Visibility is important for career progression, whether you want to move up internally or explore opportunities externally. But being visible doesn’t mean becoming someone you’re not.

I break down how to approach visibility in a way that feels aligned, strategic, and sustainable, especially if you don’t naturally enjoy being in the spotlight.

I share the three-step framework I use with my coaching clients to help them build visibility without compromising their personality or values.

If you’ve ever been passed up for opportunities and wondered why less experienced people seem to get ahead, this episode will give you clarity and a practical way forward.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why visibility is required for career progression (even if you’re brilliant at what you do)
• The difference between being everywhere and being strategic
• The 3-step visibility framework: Who, How, When
• Why people promote based on perceived potential and how to influence that perception

Action Steps:

1. Identify Your “Who.”
   Ask yourself: Who specifically needs to see me and understand my value?
   A hiring manager? A senior leader? A decision-maker in your industry? Get clear.
2. Choose Your Method.
   Decide how you will raise your visibility with intention.
   This might look like speaking up once in key meetings, booking strategic coffee chats, supporting a senior leader’s project, or attending a targeted event.
3. Set Your Cadence.
   Visibility doesn’t mean constant noise. It means consistency.
   Choose a rhythm that works for you; monthly or quarterly and commit to more than one touchpoint.

If this episode resonated with you and you’re ready to build a visibility strategy that feels aligned to who you are that’s exactly what we work on inside my one-to-one coaching.

Once we’re clear on where you want to go, we design the right visibility plan to get you seen by the right people without forcing you to become someone you’re not.

👉 Book a clarity call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore your next best step.

And if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. It helps the show reach more ambitious professionals who need this message.

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🎙️ Episode Overview

In this solo episode, I’m talking about something I see come up again and again during career transitions: the difference between appearing confident and actually feeling confident.

I work with so many high-achieving professionals who look confident on the outside; capable, accomplished, and put together, yet internally they’re second-guessing themselves, especially when they’re navigating interviews, considering a move, or trying to figure out what’s next in their career.

In this episode, I unpack why “faking it till you make it” doesn’t work long-term when you’re in transition, and what actually helps you build confidence that supports you as you move towards your next role, opportunity, or career chapter.

I also share a recent client example that highlights how confidence grows when you reconnect with your experience, your value, and the evidence of what you already bring to the table.

If your confidence has dipped as you think about what’s next or you’re tired of performing confidence rather than truly feeling it, this episode is for you.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why confidence often dips during career transitions, even when you’re highly capable
• The difference between looking confident and feeling confident and why that matters in interviews and career conversations
• Why “fake it till you make it” can leave you feeling scattered and disconnected
• How reflecting on your experience helps you position yourself more confidently for what’s next
• Why confidence comes from action and evidence, not waiting until you feel “ready”

🧭 Action Steps

1. Take stock of your experience: I encourage you to write down what you’ve done, achieved, and navigated especially the things you tend to dismiss.
2. Connect the dots: Look at how your past experience links to the roles or opportunities you’re exploring next.
3. Build confidence through action: Take small, intentional steps outside your comfort zone and pay attention to what you learn along the way.

💬 Ready for Support?

If you’re in the middle of a career transition and want to feel more confident in interviews, networking conversations, and decision-making, I’d love to support you.

👉🏽 Book a Clarity Call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore how coaching can help you move forward with confidence as you step into your next career chapter.

Send us a text