The Tenacity Co. Podcast – Season 2, Episode 4 - From Fired to Hired: Job Acquisition in a Brutal Market with Alan Stein

In this episode of The Tenacity Co., Sharlene sits down with Alan Stein, founder of Kadima Careers and former leader at Google, Meta, Salesforce, and American Express. Alan has been fired five times, bounced back each time with bigger roles and better pay, and now teaches ambitious professionals how to treat their job hunt like job acquisition, not aimless job searching.

Alan breaks down what to do in the first 24–48 hours after a layoff, how to avoid getting stuck in sunk costs (“I’ve been here 20 years, I can’t start over”), and why you should always be looking, even when you’re happily employed. Alan also shares concrete strategies for answering “Why did you leave your last role?”, sharpening your interview skills fast, negotiating for more money without losing the offer, and rebuilding your network and resume after a long stint at one company. If you’re unexpectedly job searching or you just want to be ready before the tap on the shoulder this episode is your playbook.

In this episode, you will learn about :

Ditch the sunk cost mindset. Time spent in a role or industry is not a life sentence. Stop over-valuing what you’ve already invested and start investing in where you want to go next.

Shift from “job search” to “job acquisition.” Don’t wander. Decide what you want to acquire (role, level, type of company), then build a proactive plan to go get it.

Always Be Looking (ABL). Keep your resume updated, LinkedIn tuned, and “open to work” quietly on for recruiters before a layoff hits. Practice interviewing by taking low-stakes interviews regularly.

Negotiate every offer (respectfully). Most companies expect negotiation and will not rescind an offer if you ask thoughtfully. Know your BATNA (plan B) and your minimum acceptable number before you start the conversation.

Update your assets quickly, then move on. Get to an “objectively perfect, subjectively good enough” resume (no typos, clear impact, quantified results). Use LinkedIn strategically show trajectory, highlight strong brands or titles, and start reconnecting with your existing network via a downloaded contacts list.

Resources:

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