EPISODE SUMMARY Facing rejection after rejection in today's brutal job market? You're not alone and you deserve more than "just practice self-care" advice. In this episode of The Money Healing Club podcast, host Rachel Duncan teams up with career advancement coach Shannon Bowen to tackle a raw listener question: How do you keep your self-esteem intact when the job market keeps saying no? They dive deep into what's really going on in today's job market, why generic resumes don't cut it anymore, and how to stand out when hundreds of people are applying for the same position. Plus, they share unconventional income ideas, the power of getting hyper-specific about your strengths, and why the hiring process has become a trust-building exercise on both sides. 💬 "Your core value—you also have to find ways to feed your value. If you're not getting that external validation through a job and a job offer and all these things, you just have to work harder to feed that well of self-esteem." KEY TAKEAWAYS Get radically specific about your unique strengths instead of using generic phrases like "mission-driven professional" Add statistics and proof points to every resume bullet point to build trust Customize your cover letter like a love letter to each organization Ask 3-5 friends: "What three words would you use to describe me?" Use their answers in your materials Don't self-select out of jobs with 10-30% uncertainty. Interview to find out what's negotiable Send thank-you notes after every interview (still matters!) Consider charging for work product requests during interviews Build a fallback plan with side income ideas that work for you About Shannon Bowen Shannon Bowen is a career advancement coach, job search strategist, and "salary whisperer" who helps professionals land jobs they love at salaries that support their actual lives. As CEO of Monsoon Leadership and co-president of AFP Advancement Northwest, she brings insider knowledge from years as a nonprofit C-suite leader. When she's not coaching clients through negotiations, she's DIY-ing her house, tending to 50+ houseplants, or planning her next foodie vacation. ⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN 03:00 | The Hard Truth About Today's Job Market Why the job search process has fundamentally changed and what hiring managers are really worried about 10:30 | Making Your Resume Actually Stand Out How to get specific, ditch the clichés, and use proof points to build trust from page one 18:00 | Fallback Plans That Aren't BS Practical side income ideas and why having your own thing matters for your mental health and wallet 25:00 | The Secret Weapon: Your Authentic Strengths How being hyper-specific about what makes you you attracts the right opportunities (and repels the wrong ones) 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED • Episode 16 of The Money Healing Club podcast: Shannon's previous appearance on salary negotiation and networking • Monsoon Leadership, Shannon's coaching company: monsoonleadership.com 💬 Join the Conversation Have you been in a brutal job search? What strategies have actually worked for you? Or maybe you have your own money question you'd like Rachel and a guest expert to tackle? Click on the big orange button on our site right from your phone or browser and leave a voicemail about your job search experience or your burning money question: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 🎧 Your Next Listen Episode 16: Salary Negotiation Secrets with Shannon Bowen 💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process! https://www.moneyhealingclub.com Free Email Course: Curb impulse spending with compassion and mindfulness at moneyhealingclub.com/challenge Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 🎙️ We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.