150. Career Pivot After Layoff: Land Your Next Role Without Starting Over with Madelyn Mackie

Send us Fan MailYou were handed someone else's decision. 200 positions were eliminated, including yours. Now you are wondering if you must go back to school or start at the bottom. What if you did not have to start over? In this episode, Kele Belton interviews Madelyn Mackie, a certified career management coach who has helped clients land positions at Google, Facebook, Deloitte, and Kaiser. You will learn how to write your resume for the future, craft a career pivot narrative that shifts you from victim to visionary, and activate your network with strategic command.WHAT THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT Madelyn Mackie, founder of Madelyn Mackie and Associates, has spent her career helping professionals navigate major transitions. Her own journey moved from biochemistry research to professional theater to the C-suite of the American Red Cross. Her secret: she focused on how her skills could solve their problems, not on her past titles. In this 43-minute interview, Madelyn breaks down the Career Pivot Framework that eliminates the belief that you need a new degree to pivot your career.WHAT YOU WILL LEARNThe Green and Yellow Highlighter Exercise. Print a job posting. Highlight what you know in green and what you need to learn in yellow. If it is 60% green, you are ready for the role.The Workforce Reduction Script. A professional way to frame your departure: "XYZ organization had a workforce reduction. 200 positions were eliminated, including mine. Now I am taking my expertise in [keywords] to help your organization achieve [mission]."The Three LinkedIn Essentials. (1) Professional headshot, (2) Headline with job title, 3 to 5 skills, and a big metric, (3) Job descriptions with outcomes rather than just responsibilities.Networking with Specificity. Do not say "let me know if you see anything." Instead: "Can you refer me for this job by Friday?" or "Can you introduce me to these three people? Here is the email to copy and paste."WHAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY DO THIS WEEKBreathe First. Stop spinning on job boards. List everything you need to do and categorize them. Handle urgent items like health insurance before moving to LinkedIn.Run the Highlighter Audit. Find 3 to 5 job postings. Highlight your skills. If you hit the 60% green threshold, you are ready to apply.Identify Your Top 20. List past bosses, colleagues, and neighbors. Reach out with a specific ask rather than a general request.Update Your Headline. Use the formula: [Job Title] | [3-5 Skills] | [Big Metric Result].CONNECT WITH MADELYNLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelynmackie/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madelynmackieaycd/Website: https://www.madelynmackie.com/ABOUT YOUR HOST Kele Belton is the CEO of The Tailored Approach and a leadership communication coach. Through her podcast Communicate to Lead, which is ranked in the Top 10% of podcasts globally, she helps high-achieving women move from execution to strategic leadership during major career transitions.CONNECT WITH KELE:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com