It's Time to Talk

I'm a talker. It was true when I was a toddler. It’s why I studied broadcast journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. It’s why I love theater, participating in murder mystery parties and leading summer camps. It’s why I’m an avid podcast listener and why I can’t wait to kickoff my own podcast this fall!

Listen up, folks!

It’s also why I’m excited to do something different for this newsletter. Rather than writing, I’m sharing my latest podcast guest spot! I joined Melissa Vining, fellow career coach, Renaissance Person and flutist, on her podcast, Job Search for High-Performing Misfits.

In it, we talked about job searching for Renaissance people but I discussed many of the reoccurring themes in my newsletter:

• identity shifts

• my VAST Technique_©

• storytelling

• the importance of community in your job search.

Take a listen, reader, and let me know what you think! (podcast available on YouTube and any podcast platform you use)

p.s. If you’d rather read (no judgement, you signed up for a newsletter after all), the full transcript is here. Hooray for accessibility and multiple modes of communication!!

If you’re intrigued by the nebulous Renaissance Person Community I mentioned at the end—this was recorded before I finished the intensive CREATE program I wrote about in my last newsletter—sign up to receive updates.

Resume and Cover Letter Support

I quickly (serial speed talker here) walked through my VAST Technique_© in the podcast interview. If you want a deeper dive, join me next week.

Yes, I am a Human is a 40-minutes session introducing you to using the VAST Technique_©. Learn how to make it past the unfeeling technology designed to chop down the applicant pool. Simultaneously, we’ll embrace the fact that, in the end, a human (or humans) is hiring another human to collaborate with them. Apply with confidence for jobs you really want and stand out from the AI-generated mediocrity.

When: Thursday, August 21, 1pm ET/9am PT (recording available afterwards)

Where: Zoom

Cost: FREE!

Resource Roundup

I’ve decided to mix things up in this section of my newsletter and share a variety of types of resources.

• I describe myself as being “anti-niche” (which means I refuse to be limited to a single niche and don't believe that simply niche-ing down is the key to success). However, the article Talent archetypes: What is the “shape" of your skills?, gave me a more nuanced perspective of my skillset. Rather than being a “generalist”, I now think I'm more of a “versatilist”. What about you? What is your shape?

• Looking for folks to follow on LinkedIn who regularly post job opportunities? Check out the list at the bottom of my newsletters from November 29, 2024 to January 16, 2025.

• Struggling after being laid off? Listen to the podcast, Proxy with Yowei Shaw. Yowei is the former host of the NPR podcast Invisibilia but was laid off in 2023. She started Proxy as a way of trying to understand why she felt so terrible. She began this new podcast with “The Layoff Trilogy”. This series does an amazing job of combining research and storytelling as it address a devastating situation with compassion and generous helpings of humor. This is a must-listen resource if you’ve been laid off or if someone you care about has been.

Hi! I’m Sara Kobilka, owner of Renaissance Woman Consulting.

I am a Renaissance Woman (what’s THAT? Good question! Here’s my answer). My wide-ranging background includes time as a TV meteorologist/reporter, non-profit leader, higher education program coordinator, curriculum designer, and now, business owner. During each leg of this journey, I gained new skills that I was able take with me in my next step. Now, I work remotely with clients to help them confidently tell their story and navigate the transition to the next leg of their career journey.

Take the Next Step

• Follow me on LinkedIn where I actively cross-pollinate impactful ideas across industries and disciplines (and regularly share job opportunities I come across)

• Check out my one-on-one career coaching program and work through my VAST Technique_©

• Purchase my workshop Building Community with LinkedIn

• Participate in a LinkedIn Sprints (September is for job seekers)

• Join my Renaissance People community

Did you find this newsletter valuable?

Please share it and consider buying me an oat milk cappuccino so I can keep offering it for free to all job seekers.