You've spent years inside corporate America watching how the game is played — what gets negotiated behind closed doors, what's actually in that separation agreement, and what your employer is hoping you never think to ask. Carol Thompson spent 12 years as a corporate HR director before walking away to build her own consulting practice from scratch — and in this conversation she hands you both sides of the playbook: how to set your rates, land your first client, and build a location-independent business without a brick and mortar, how to job search in the age of AI including what recruiters actually want to see on your resume now, and the HR insider knowledge every employee needs before they're ever handed a severance package.ABOUT CAROL THOMPSON:Carol Thompson walked away from her corporate HR director role, turned her expertise into Thompson Professional Resources — a fully remote HR and legal consulting practice — and never went back to an office. She also coaches professionals through career transitions as part of the Power Connections outplacement team, sitting on both sides of the equation: helping businesses navigate HR and employment law, and helping individuals who've been laid off rebuild their confidence, navigate the modern job search, and land what's next. In this conversation, she delivers a dual playbook — the practical financial and strategic framework she used to build her second act career as a solo founder, and the job search tools every woman over 40 needs to compete in the age of AI: resume strategy, ATS systems, LinkedIn algorithms, and what to negotiate before you sign anything.WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:[00:05:20] Why saying yes to an unexpected offer — even one completely outside your lane — can become the defining move of your entire career, and what Carol's "always answer the call" mantra actually means in practice[00:09:20] How to land your first consulting client before you even have a company name — and why your previous employer may already be your best first client when going out on your own[00:15:11] What outplacement services actually are, how they work, and how a career transition coach helps you rebuild confidence, sharpen your job search strategy, and get to the other side[00:16:46] How to job search in the age of AI: the resume rules for women with 20+ years of experience, how far back to go, what to cut, and what recruiters actually want to see now[00:20:53] The LinkedIn algorithm strategy that makes recruiters come to you — including why joining 50 groups is less aggressive than it sounds and how to use it to land your next role[00:28:33] How to set your consulting rates as a solo founder: the exact research method, the payroll sources to check, and why you should never start at the bottom of the range[00:31:31]What's actually negotiable in your severance package — COBRA, additional weeks, and the HR insider knowledge most employees never think to use before they signGUEST OFFER:Carol is generously offering Her Intentional Reset listeners a complimentary career coaching consultation. Reach out and mention Her Intentional Reset podcast. All details below.GUEST LINKSThompson Professional Resources: https://thompsonprofessionalresources.com/Email: [email protected] Connections (Outplacement): [email protected] @ carol_thomp24CONNECT WITH HIRInstagram @ herintentionalreset.coFacebook @ Her Intentional Reset.coWebsite: www.herintentionalreset.comIf HIR has been valuable to you, you can support the show here: Kofi Support The ShowNo pressure — just making it easy for listeners who want to say so.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/hemlock/the-way-forwardLicense code: RVGOVVHKDJFBKVJC