Ever notice how interviews keep coming from roles that don’t quite match what you actually want? In this conversation, we'll explore why attention so often drifts toward what’s available instead of what’s intentional – and how that pattern quietly pulls professionals away from their best-fit roles. What looks like momentum on the surface can sometimes be a form of relief, distraction, or energy conservation rather than true progress.

This is a field-notes look at what happens psychologically when fear, urgency, and “better than nothing” thinking creep into the job search. Once those patterns become visible, it becomes much easier for you to step out of reaction mode and make decisions that actually support long-term satisfaction and alignment.

You’ll learn:

✔ Why “available” roles can feel more compelling than ideal ones

✔ The hidden psychology behind applying to jobs you don’t really want

✔ How short-term relief can masquerade as productivity

✔ Why attention naturally drifts away from intentional career goals

✔ How to reclaim focus and stop settling before you’ve truly explored your options

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ WELCOME TO THE UNCOMMON CAREER! Here's a few ways we can get to know each other:

📥 Podcast Roadmap - our most popular episodes for every stage of your search: https://theuncommoncareer.com/roadmap

📥 Download our 5-step process: https://theuncommoncareer.com/process

🔍 Learn about my coaching approach: https://theuncommoncareer.com/approach

💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn to get targeted resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmortega/

💬 Ask me your question or get featured on the podcast: https://theuncommoncareer.com/ask

📆 Ready to talk through your specific job search? Book a call here: https://theuncommoncareer.com/call

_____________________

Patricia Ortega is known for coaching clients to a strategic, emotionally intelligent approach to job searching that emphasizes clarity over activity, quality over quantity, and positioning over bragging. She helps mid-career professionals rise above crowded applicant pools and land aligned roles faster by combining three core areas: 1) Clear branding and messaging, 2) job search strategy, and 3) Identity, Confidence, and Emotional Intelligence Under Pressure. Learn more at https://theuncommoncareer.com.

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If you walk into interviews prepared but still find yourself rambling, freezing, or circling the same point, this episode explains what’s really going on. Today, we'll break down why this happens most often to capable, experienced professionals—and why it’s not a confidence flaw or a communication problem.

We'll explore the gap between preparation and pressure, and how belief in your preparation gets tested in real-time. When your mind and body don’t fully trust that your preparation will hold up, clarity slips. Once you understand that dynamic, it becomes much easier to communicate naturally, concisely, and with confidence.

You’ll learn:

✔ Why rambling and blanking out come from the same root cause

✔ What pressure reveals about your interview preparation

✔ How belief in your answers is built—not forced

✔ Why mock interviews work when they’re designed correctly

✔ What actually helps your communication click under pressure

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ WELCOME TO THE UNCOMMON CAREER! Here's a few ways we can get to know each other:

📥 Podcast Roadmap - our most popular episodes for every stage of your search: https://theuncommoncareer.com/roadmap

📥 Download our 5-step process: https://theuncommoncareer.com/process

🔍 Learn about my coaching approach: https://theuncommoncareer.com/approach

💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn to get targeted resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmortega/

💬 Ask me your question or get featured on the podcast: https://theuncommoncareer.com/ask

📆 Ready to talk through your specific job search? Book a call here: https://theuncommoncareer.com/call

_____________________

Patricia Ortega is known for coaching clients to a strategic, emotionally intelligent approach to job searching that emphasizes clarity over activity, quality over quantity, and positioning over bragging. She helps mid-career professionals rise above crowded applicant pools and land aligned roles faster by combining three core areas: 1) Clear branding and messaging, 2) job search strategy, and 3) Identity, Confidence, and Emotional Intelligence Under Pressure. Learn more at https://theuncommoncareer.com.

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If you know you’re capable but suddenly feel less confident in the job search, this episode explains why that disconnect happens - and why it’s not a personal failure. Things have changed, with more factors (AI tools, psychometrics, etc.) helping to make decisions along the way.

The goal today is to understand how your story is interpreted and to show up calmer, clearer, and more compelling, without trying to be someone you’re not.

You’ll learn:

✔ Why feeling capable but unsure can be a signal and not a weakness

✔ How the assumption trap can impact your resume

✔ What helps recruiters during screening calls

✔ How psychometrics can influence hiring decisions behind the scenes

✔ Three ways to set yourself apart in an AI-forward hiring process

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ WELCOME TO THE UNCOMMON CAREER! Here's a few ways we can get to know each other:

📥 Podcast Roadmap - our most popular episodes for every stage of your search: https://theuncommoncareer.com/roadmap

📥 Download our 5-step process: https://theuncommoncareer.com/process

🔍 Learn about my coaching approach: https://theuncommoncareer.com/approach

💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn to get targeted resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmortega/

💬 Ask me your question or get featured on the podcast: https://theuncommoncareer.com/ask

📆 Ready to talk through your specific job search? Book a call here: https://theuncommoncareer.com/call

_____________________

Patricia Ortega is known for coaching clients to a strategic, emotionally intelligent approach to job searching that emphasizes clarity over activity, quality over quantity, and positioning over bragging. She helps mid-career professionals rise above crowded applicant pools and land aligned roles faster by combining three core areas: 1) Clear branding and messaging, 2) job search strategy, and 3) Identity, Confidence, and Emotional Intelligence Under Pressure. Learn more at https://theuncommoncareer.com.

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Do you feel like the job search is more competitive than ever - even for roles you know you’re qualified for? A lot is changing, from a flood of tech-enabled applications to today's topic, AI tools that are layered into applicant tracking systems. These tools are helping more candidates to be considered, but how can you make sure you are sharing your experience in a way that makes it easy to see the connection, even when more candidates are in the room?

We'll talk about why clarity, relevance, and consistency matter more than just keywords. Understanding how candidates are scored, ranked, and resurfaced helps you stop competing blindly and start positioning yourself more intentionally.

You’ll learn:

✔ What hiring systems look for beyond keywords and job titles

✔ Why clarity and consistency now outweigh broad experience

✔ The three most important actions to take to stay competitive going forward

✔ Why past applicants and former employees can now be resurfaced more easily

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ WELCOME TO THE UNCOMMON CAREER! Here's a few ways we can get to know each other:

📥 Podcast Roadmap - our most popular episodes for every stage of your search: https://theuncommoncareer.com/roadmap

📥 Download our 5-step process: https://theuncommoncareer.com/process

🔍 Learn about my coaching approach: https://theuncommoncareer.com/approach

💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn to get targeted resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmortega/

💬 Ask me your question or get featured on the podcast: https://theuncommoncareer.com/ask

📆 Ready to talk through your specific job search? Book a call here: https://theuncommoncareer.com/call

_____________________

Patricia Ortega is known for coaching clients to a strategic, emotionally intelligent approach to job searching that emphasizes clarity over activity, quality over quantity, and positioning over bragging. She helps mid-career professionals rise above crowded applicant pools and land aligned roles faster by combining three core areas: 1) Clear branding and messaging, 2) job search strategy, and 3) Identity, Confidence, and Emotional Intelligence Under Pressure. Learn more at https://theuncommoncareer.com.

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If the job market feels unfamiliar or "new" to you right now, you're not wrong. Today’s conversation unpacks the shift happening beneath the surface of hiring and how you can think about your materials to bring your best foot forward.

More importantly, this episode reframes the moment we’re in. When the market shifts, opportunity opens first for those who understand the change early. This is about learning how to position yourself clearly, intentionally, and strategically so you can stay ahead of the curve.

You’ll learn:

✔ Why today’s job market feels so different than it did just a few years ago

✔ How AI is changing what hiring systems look for beyond keywords

✔ What “clarity” really means in the modern job search

✔ Why consistency across your resume, LinkedIn, and story matters

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ WELCOME TO THE UNCOMMON CAREER! Here's a few ways we can get to know each other:

📥 Podcast Roadmap - our most popular episodes for every stage of your search: https://theuncommoncareer.com/roadmap

📥 Download our 5-step process: https://theuncommoncareer.com/process

🔍 Learn about my coaching approach: https://theuncommoncareer.com/approach

💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn to get targeted resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmortega/

💬 Ask me your question or get featured on the podcast: https://theuncommoncareer.com/ask

📆 Ready to talk through your specific job search? Book a call here: https://theuncommoncareer.com/call

_____________________

Patricia Ortega is known for coaching clients to a strategic, emotionally intelligent approach to job searching that emphasizes clarity over activity, quality over quantity, and positioning over bragging. She helps mid-career professionals rise above crowded applicant pools and land aligned roles faster by combining three core areas: 1) Clear branding and messaging, 2) job search strategy, and 3) Identity, Confidence, and Emotional Intelligence Under Pressure. Learn more at https://theuncommoncareer.com.

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If the job search keeps dragging on because things never feel quite “ready,” this episode puts a name to what’s happening; perfectionism. Today’s conversation breaks down how perfectionism quietly stalls momentum by pulling attention into small details while the bigger goal slips further away. We'll walk through the cycle perfectionism creates, how it shows up in resumes, interviews, and decision-making, and why it feels productive—even when it’s not.

More importantly, this episode helps you identify where perfectionism is coming from and what kind of shift actually gets you moving again. The goal isn’t to do things perfectly, but to act decisively, preserve energy, and focus on what truly drives results.

You’ll learn:

✔ The perfectionism cycle that quietly kills job-search momentum

✔ How to recognize when “refining” turns into avoidance

✔ The three different scenarios perfectionism usually falls into

✔ Why decisiveness creates clarity faster than over-research

✔ How to choose the right support to break the cycle and move forward

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ WELCOME TO THE UNCOMMON CAREER! Here's a few ways we can get to know each other:

📥 Podcast Roadmap - our most popular episodes for every stage of your search: https://theuncommoncareer.com/roadmap

📥 Download our 5-step process: https://theuncommoncareer.com/process

🔍 Learn about my coaching approach: https://theuncommoncareer.com/approach

💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn to get targeted resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmortega/

💬 Ask me your question or get featured on the podcast: https://theuncommoncareer.com/ask

📆 Ready to talk through your specific job search? Book a call here: https://theuncommoncareer.com/call

_____________________

Patricia Ortega is known for coaching clients to a strategic, emotionally intelligent approach to job searching that emphasizes clarity over activity, quality over quantity, and positioning over bragging. She helps mid-career professionals rise above crowded applicant pools and land aligned roles faster by combining three core areas: 1) Clear branding and messaging, 2) job search strategy, and 3) Identity, Confidence, and Emotional Intelligence Under Pressure. Learn more at https://theuncommoncareer.com.

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In this episode, Patricia interviews Mitch Matthews, a coach, speaker, creator, and host of the top 1% podcast 'Dream Think Do.' Mitch shares his journey from a corporate job to entrepreneurship, discussing his process called the Authority Bridge. He elaborates on the challenges of transitioning from a successful career to starting a new business and offers valuable advice on how to make that shift gradually. This segment covers the importance of continued learning, the value of coaching, and how to manage the fear of failure.

00:39 Mitch's Journey from Professional to Entrepreneur

06:22 The Entrepreneurial Bug and Overcoming Fear

12:02 The Six-Figure Sequence and Scientific Method Coaching

16:58 The Authority Bridge: A Step-by-Step Process

24:16 Encouragement and Final Thoughts

Mitch Matthews is a success coach, keynote speaker, and the creator of the top 1% podcast DREAM THINK DO. Through the podcast and his coaching - Mitch helps high-achieving leaders and entrepreneurs dream bigger, think better, and do more of what they were put on the planet to do. He’s been honored to interview some of the most influential thinkers on the planet - from bestselling authors like Brendon Burchard, Michael Hyatt, and Jamie Kern Lima to Oscar winners, elite athletes, and world-class entrepreneurs.

As a speaker and elite success coach, Mitch has also spent two decades working with leaders from organizations like NIKE, NASA, Disney, and United Airlines - helping leaders clarify their purpose and lead with impact. Mitch is also the creator of The Authority BridgeTM - a high-touch coaching experience that helps seasoned professionals build a coaching and speaking business that’s aligned, strategic, and legacy-worthy.

Mitch lives a highly-caffeinated life in Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife Melissa and they have two wildly creative sons.

Attend the Workshop! 👉 Make Time for Your Next Chapter (Use Code UNCOMMON)

Connect with Mitch on LinkedIn

Subscribe to 4 Things

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ WELCOME TO THE UNCOMMON CAREER! Here's a few ways we can get to know each other:

📥 Podcast Roadmap - our most popular episodes for every stage of your search: https://theuncommoncareer.com/roadmap

📥 Download our 5-step process: https://theuncommoncareer.com/process

🔍 Learn about my coaching approach: https://theuncommoncareer.com/approach

💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn to get targeted resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmortega/

💬 Ask me your question or get featured on the podcast: https://theuncommoncareer.com/ask

📆 Ready to talk through your specific job search? Book a call here: https://theuncommoncareer.com/call

_____________________

Patricia Ortega is known for coaching clients to a strategic, emotionally intelligent approach to job searching that emphasizes clarity over activity, quality over quantity, and positioning over bragging. She helps mid-career professionals rise above crowded applicant pools and land aligned roles faster by combining three core areas: 1) Clear branding and messaging, 2) job search strategy, and 3) Identity, Confidence, and Emotional Intelligence Under Pressure. Learn more at https://theuncommoncareer.com.

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If your interviews usually go well but the offers keep falling just out of reach, this episode pinpoints what’s missing. Today’s conversation explores why strong qualifications and polished answers aren’t always enough—and how elevating your career stories from tactical to strategic changes how employers see your potential. We'll break down how to move beyond listing actions and results and instead communicate how you think, plan, and lead.

Using a clear, practical framework, this episode shows how strategic storytelling helps hiring leaders trust not just what you’ve done, but what you’ll do next. When employers understand your thinking, your interviews stop blending in and start influencing decisions.

You’ll learn:

✔ Why traditional STAR stories often fail to create differentiation

✔ How to reveal your strategic thinking—not just your past actions

✔ Four shifts that instantly elevate your interview responses

✔ How to show future potential, not just past performance

✔ What makes employers trust your outcomes aren’t a one-time fluke

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ WELCOME TO THE UNCOMMON CAREER! Here's a few ways we can get to know each other:

📥 Podcast Roadmap - our most popular episodes for every stage of your search: https://theuncommoncareer.com/roadmap

📥 Download our 5-step process: https://theuncommoncareer.com/process

🔍 Learn about my coaching approach: https://theuncommoncareer.com/approach

💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn to get targeted resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmortega/

💬 Ask me your question or get featured on the podcast: https://theuncommoncareer.com/ask

📆 Ready to talk through your specific job search? Book a call here: https://theuncommoncareer.com/call

_____________________

Patricia Ortega is known for coaching clients to a strategic, emotionally intelligent approach to job searching that emphasizes clarity over activity, quality over quantity, and positioning over bragging. She helps mid-career professionals rise above crowded applicant pools and land aligned roles faster by combining three core areas: 1) Clear branding and messaging, 2) job search strategy, and 3) Identity, Confidence, and Emotional Intelligence Under Pressure. Learn more at https://theuncommoncareer.com.

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