In this episode of “People in Transition”, we’re joined by Sue Maitland, an ICF-accredited life and career transitions coach with over 13 years of experience helping high-achieving professionals navigate midlife change and create more meaningful, fulfilling lives.

After a successful 20+ year career in IT consulting, Sue reached a point many can relate to - her life looked great on paper, but it no longer felt aligned. That realization sparked a bold career pivot, leading her to support others who feel stuck, uncertain, or ready for change but unsure where to begin. Today, she works one-on-one with clients, leads workshops, and runs a thriving global community designed to help people gain clarity, confidence, and direction in their next chapter.

In this conversation, we explore a topic that resonates with so many - how to navigate midlife transitions, overcome self-doubt, and build a life that actually feels as good as it looks.

Key topics we discussed:

• The signs of being “successful but stuck,” including dreading the start of the work week, feeling underutilized, and questioning what you’ll have to show for your efforts
• Why change is inherently difficult - our brains are wired for consistency, making career transitions especially challenging
• The importance of doing real-world research before pursuing a new path (including Sue’s example of the “romantic” idea of winemaking vs. the reality of it being farming)
• Understanding imposter syndrome, which affects over 70% of people, and how it shows up as a fear of being exposed as not good enough
• The concept of keeping a journal to track your wins, to reflect on and appreciate your accomplishments
• Practical advice for getting unstuck: pausing to reflect, identifying your core values, and aligning your work with both your strengths and your passions

…and much more around gaining clarity, building confidence, and taking meaningful steps forward.

Connect with Sue Maitland:

• Website: https://www.suemaitland.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suemaitland/
• Email: sue@suemaitland.com

If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to leave a rating and review - it really helps others discover the show. And if you know someone who might benefit from this conversation, share it with them.

Your next chapter might be closer than you think . . .

Send us Fan Mail

David Chami, Managing Partner of Consumer Justice Law Firm, joined us on “People in Transition” to shed light on an issue that quietly impacts millions of job seekers: background checks. With a legal career rooted in consumer protection and years of experience litigating under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, David has helped clients recover tens of millions of dollars from companies that reported inaccurate or misleading information. His work sits at the intersection of law, employment, and fairness—making him a powerful advocate for individuals navigating the hiring process.

Even before founding his current firm, David Chami built a reputation for holding large institutions accountable, including insurance companies and credit reporting agencies. Today, his focus is on ensuring that everyday people are not unfairly denied opportunities because of errors, outdated records, or systemic flaws in background screening and credit reports. His insights offer both a legal and human perspective on what can often feel like an opaque and unforgiving system.

In our conversation, we explored the realities of modern hiring, where background checks are used by nearly 95% of employers and are often handled by major background check companies. We talked about why employers generally cannot deny employment based solely on a charge without a conviction, and the many challenges within the system—such as dismissed charges that remain on records, mistaken identity issues (like data confusion caused by common names or hyphenated names), and inaccuracies caused by data vendors that don’t rely on Social Security numbers. David also shared a compelling case involving a client who successfully sued Uber over incorrect background information, resulting in a $680,000 verdict. We discussed who actually pays for legal representation (the answer may surprise you), the differences between expungement and record sealing—and why neither fully guarantees your past won’t resurface—and, most importantly, how the Fair Credit Reporting Act exists to protect employees and ensure their rights are upheld.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating today’s job market. Whether you’re actively searching, considering a career move, or simply want to understand your rights, David’s insights could make a critical difference. Tune in to “People in Transition” and learn how to protect your future before a background check defines it.

Listeners can get in touch with David Chami at:

Consumer Justice Law Firm

dchami@consumerjustice.com
844-808-2553 (firm)
480-626-2359 (direct)

Consumerjustice.com

Send us Fan Mail

I’m excited to welcome Anthony Sharp to “People in Transition”. Anthony is a career strategist and job search expert who has helped countless professionals clarify their value, sharpen their messaging, and approach the market with greater confidence and intention. With a practical, no-nonsense style and a deep understanding of how recruiters and hiring managers think, Anthony brings both technical expertise and real-world insight to every conversation.

In this episode, we explored a wide range of topics designed to help job seekers find their confidence and clearly communicate their value. Anthony debunked common myths job seekers believe about resumes — including the idea that because AI helped write it, it will automatically pass an applicant tracking system, or that an employer will figure out where you fit within their organization. We discussed why using numbers and percentages is critical to demonstrating measurable impact, and what it really means when a recruiter reads your resume and silently asks, “So what?”

We also talked about how to “own your story,” especially when addressing employment gaps — including a helpful LinkedIn hack using the career break section. If there’s one action Anthony recommends you take this week, it’s this: be intentional about what you’re looking for. Throughout the conversation, he shared powerful examples and stories that brought his technical advice to life, making this an episode full of practical strategies you can use right away.

For more information on Anthony, go to his website, brandingsyou.info, or his LinkedIn profile, linkedin.com/in/brandingu. You are going to want to follow his thoughts as recruiting and the market evolve.

Send a text

In this episode of “People in Transition”, we discuss what really happens inside the hiring process — and how understanding it can help you land your next role faster, smarter, and with far more confidence.

My guest is Dan Waskow, founder of OnPoint Job Search Solutions. With more than 20 years as a corporate recruiter for organizations like Dell Technologies, Fidelity Investments, Credit Suisse, Accenture, NASDAQ, and Madison Square Garden, to name a few — plus over a decade as a job search coach — Dan has seen the hiring process from every angle.

He knows exactly what recruiters look for… and why strong candidates often get overlooked.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• Why you’re not hearing back
• Why interviews stall
• Or how to position yourself strategically instead of emotionally

This conversation is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why recruiters don’t “connect the dots” for you — and how to clearly translate your background so they instantly see the fit.

• The truth about the job market — there’s no “good” or “bad” time to search, only busier and slower cycles. The candidates who consistently build relationships always win.

• The two pillars of a successful job search: Marketing and Storytelling. Master how you present your value and how you tell your career story, and everything changes.

• Resume strategy that actually works. Clean formatting. No colors. No text boxes. No graphics. Make it easy for both humans and systems to read.

• How informational interviews and virtual coffee chats create momentum. They’re not just conversations — they’re relationship builders that open real doors.

What an episode. Dan brings clarity, strategy, and straight talk to a process that often feels confusing and frustrating.

To learn more about him and his coaching services, visit myjobsearchadvisor.com.

🎁 Bonus for listeners: If you sign up for one of Dan’s coaching packages by the end of March, 2026, and mention you heard him on “People in Transition”, you’ll receive 15% off.

And if you found this conversation valuable, please share this episode with your friends, colleagues, and anyone in your network who may be navigating a career move. A simple share could make a meaningful difference for someone in transition.

Send a text

Welcome to another episode of People in Transition. I’m your host, Bob Gerst.

Today’s conversation is especially relevant for anyone who appears successful on paper—but feels burned out, unsettled, or quietly questioning what’s next.

My guest is Mallory Byers. Mallory spent nearly a decade as a top-performing sales recruiter at Salesforce, where she helped highly driven professionals secure roles at the highest levels. She understood the hiring process inside and out—and by all external measures, she was thriving.

Yet along the way, Mallory began to notice something that fundamentally changed the direction of her work. Even the most capable and accomplished people weren’t stuck because they lacked strategy. They were stuck because deeper forces were at play: long-standing patterns, chronic nervous system overload, and a version of confidence built entirely on performance.

Today, Mallory is a Career Breakthrough and Empowerment Coach who supports high achievers navigating career transitions, burnout, or layoffs. Her work goes far beyond résumés and interviews. She helps clients strengthen the person behind the strategy—by rebuilding self-trust, regulating the nervous system, and untangling subconscious patterns such as people-pleasing, perfectionism, and over-functioning.

Through her signature one-on-one program, The Inner CEO, Mallory helps clients stop outsourcing their worth to job titles and start leading their careers with grounded authority. As she teaches, you are the CEO of your life and your career.

If you’re in a season of transition—or sensing that the next chapter of your career requires a different version of you—this conversation will resonate deeply.

Topics We Discuss in This Episode Include:

• How tying your identity to your job impacts your career—and how to navigate that shift
• What it means to operate from survival mode, and how people-pleasing reinforces it
• Where imposter syndrome shows up and how it quietly influences decisions
• The connection between perfectionism, overthinking, freezing action, scarcity thinking, and a dysregulated nervous system
• How the inner critic drives overwork during a job search—and how to stay grounded without letting others dictate your direction
• Why layoffs are such a disorienting experience, and why “staying in your lane” may not lead to fulfillment or success
• Why you don’t solve issues of the mind with the mind—how working with the body changes the job search process
• What it truly means to take ownership of your career and embody your “Inner CEO”

This is a powerful and insightful episode, and there is so much to take away from Mallory’s perspective.

To learn more about Mallory Byers, connect with her on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmallorybyers/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mallory-byers-coaching/

Send a text

This week on "People in Transition", I had the pleasure of speaking with Rachel Spekman, a career strategist, therapist, and founder of Made for More Coach. Rachel brings a rare and powerful blend of experience—having spent years in corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit work before navigating multiple career transitions of her own into mental health and career strategy. You can learn more about Rachel and her work on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelspekman.

Rachel helps high-performing professionals who feel stuck in high-paid but soul-sucking roles reconnect with their values, strengths, and sense of purpose—without ignoring the realities of money, market demand, and impact. As a trained therapist who deeply understands corporate pressure, burnout, and identity loss during transitions, she fills a critical gap between traditional career coaching and emotional well-being.

In our conversation, Rachel and I explored what really shows up during a job or career transition—mentally, emotionally, and physically—and how job seekers can move from being passive candidates to confident experts. This episode is packed with practical insights, mindset shifts, and strategies for anyone navigating change, questioning their next move, or trying to align impact, income, and fulfillment.

Some of the Topics We Discussed in This Episode

• Somatic symptoms job seekers experience and how to recognize and cope with the physical signals of career stress and misalignment
• Using your feelings toward community, contribution, and problem-solving as guidance in your job search
• Impact vs. income: understanding what you can do, what the market needs, and where tension naturally shows up
• Positioning yourself as the expert, not a passive candidate waiting to be chosen
• The role of confidence in your job search and practical ways to build and display it
• What an internal resume audit is and how it improves both job search results and long-term job satisfaction

Also, go to her website, where there is a free training to support your job search - https://www.rachelspekman.com/

Send a text

Stephanie Cordes knows what it means to chase success—and then intentionally redefine it. After spending more than twenty years building a strong corporate career in healthcare leadership, she made a bold pivot and now helps others take ownership of their careers on their own terms. As a Career Ownership Coach with The Entrepreneur’s Source, Stephanie creates a safe, no-pressure space for professionals to explore what they truly want next—whether that’s flexibility, control, additional income, or a complete career reinvention.

In this episode of “People in Transition”, host Bob Gerst and Stephanie dive into the real emotions and practical realities behind career decisions. They unpack why reassessing your goals is essential, how unmet needs can cloud your ability to identify what you actually want, and why money often represents much more than a paycheck. Stephanie introduces the idea of a personal “North Star”—a clear framework built around income, lifestyle, wealth, and equity—to guide smarter, calmer decision-making.

This conversation is grounded, honest, and empowering. Transition doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful—and clarity is often the most powerful first step. If you’re feeling stuck, restless, or quietly questioning what’s next, this episode will help you slow down the noise and move forward with intention.
For more information from Stephanie, visit her web site: https://scordes.esourcecoach.com/contact/

Send a text

My guest today is Merry Korn, author of Fired to Inspired, a powerful teaching memoir that chronicles an extraordinary journey from professional setback to purpose-driven success. Merry’s story begins with being fired—a moment many job seekers fear most—but instead of letting that moment define her, she used it as the starting point for reinvention.

What followed was not a polished overnight success, but a real, unvarnished transformation. Through strategic pivots, hard-earned lessons, and persistence, Merry went on to build a social enterprise that now employs more than 1,300 people across 30 states, giving hiring priority to individuals facing the greatest barriers to work. Her journey is a roadmap for anyone who has ever felt defeated by a career setback and wondered whether their lowest moment could become their greatest opportunity.

Merry’s perspective is deeply rooted in resilience. Her role model is her mother, a Holocaust survivor, who taught her the meaning of perseverance and never giving up. That lesson shows up throughout Merry’s work and is especially relevant for job seekers who may feel discouraged, fearful, or worn down by a prolonged search. In a time of economic uncertainty and career disruption, her story offers both hope and practical guidance for building something meaningful out of adversity.

Key Themes We Explore in This Episode

In our conversation, Merry shares insights and tools that are immediately applicable for anyone in transition, including:

• Turning setbacks into setups for success and reframing career disappointments as opportunities for clarity and growth
• The power of informational interviews—what they are, how to use them, and why they are one of the most effective job-search strategies
• Using available resources such as coaches, books, and LinkedIn to build momentum and expand opportunity
• Staying physically strong during your job search, and how physical health directly impacts emotional resilience and mental well-being
• Overcoming fear and uncertainty, with the reminder that this season will end
• Finding purpose before accepting your next role, and why not jumping at the first offer, can lead to a more fulfilling career

Call to Action

If you’re in the middle of a job search—or know one is coming—this episode is for you. Listen with intention, take notes, and choose one idea from this conversation that you can act on this week. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement, and subscribe to People in Transition for more conversations designed to help you move forward with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

This is Bob Gerst, and this episode is about turning transition into transformation.

Send a text