Know Thyself

This email is going to be shorter than usual. Today I was scheduled to kickoff my LinkedIn Sprint for Job Seekers. But on Monday, I realized that I just didn’t have the capacity to add that to my plate right now. I’m wrote this newsletter on a plane flying home to New York from my regular trip to meet with members of the University of Arizona class I virtually teach.

September is always a busy month for me. There’s two birthdays in two weeks (mine and my 9-year-old’s), coordinating logistics for my U of A class, and the start of my children’s school year (first and fourth grade, wow!)

Leading LinkedIn Sprints for job seekers for the last couple years has been so fulfilling for me. Those Sprints and this newsletter are a way I can support many people currently struggling in an extremely challenging job market. I keep these offerings as inexpensive as possible—and in the case of this newsletter, free—because I know what it is like being unemployed or underemployed and having to pinch pennies. But I’m also right there with you, reader, struggling to find values-aligned opportunities to pay my bills.

And so, with the capacity I realistically have, I need to focus on where I can provide the greatest value right now and that’s building my community for Renaissance People.

Renaissance People?

Some of you may still be wondering what a Renaissance Person is. I get the question all the time when I tell people my business is called “Renaissance Woman Consulting” and posted about that on LinkedIn. We Renaissance People are complex.

We’re multipotentialites, multi-hyphenate, multi-passionates…we’re just…multitudes!

And our complexity and seemingly divergent interests can be hard for other people to understand. We’re drawn to cross-disciplinary, boundary spanning work and that means we may jump between industries bringing our extensive skillset suitcase with us. And if you, reader, are thinking, “Wait a minute, Sara, that’s ME”, I invite you to join me in the Renaissance People Community as well as here.

Expanding the definition and power of Renaissance People is something I’m going to be exploring in my new podcast this fall (because this former broadcast journalist/meteorologist loves getting behind the mic!)

Now, if you’re thinking, “That’s great, Sara, but how will that help me as a job seeker?” there’s a couple reasons why I’m sharing this message with you.

• I’ve written it over and over again, the power of community and your connections cannot be underestimated when you’re searching for a job in a challenging market. While I’m starting a podcast as one part of my Renaissance People Community building, this is just the launching pad for connecting and collaborating. (Stay tuned for more…)

• This newsletter is about translating your skills and strengths to pique the interest of a potential employer. I firmly believe that being a Renaissance Person is a significant asset, especially in a world obsessed with specializing and finding your “niche”. I hope that listening to the conversations I will be having with fellow Renaissance People will help you better understand and appreciate the value you’ll bring to your next job (and the job after that and the job after that…) Sometimes we need help finding the language to talk about ourselves.

So, if you’re a Renaissance Person, or if you want to cultivate a Renaissance mindset, join me in my new space. I’ll still be doing my career coaching (we Renaissance People are all about “and” not “or”) but until I’ve got things rolling, you may see a little less of this newsletter in your inbox.

Speaking of sharing complex stories…

If updating your LinkedIn profile – particularly the dreaded “About” section – has been on your “to do” list for goodness knows how long, this is for you, friend!

Renaissance people are complex and busy. And it's HARD to help others understand why you do so many different things. The same goes for people who are changing industries!

Together in a 1-hour session, we'll reflect on the essence of your multi-passionate soul and find the golden thread that weaves throughout your journey to today. We'll write a bio for your LinkedIn "About" section with language you can reuse on a website or when an organization asks you for your bio. We'll also update other LinkedIn profile features to make sure it accurately reflects of where you've been, where you are now, and where you want to go.

If you're sick of saying “someday I'll get around to it”, grab your spot today for only $75!

Resource Roundup

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

• I was interviewed for the podcast Job Search for High-Performing Misfits hosted by Melissa Vining. Check out my episode, Multipotentialites: Blending Ideas, Interests, & Experience with Sara Kobilka.

• 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)

• Watch my free masterclass, Yes, I am a Human where you’ll learn how to use my VAST Technique_© when applying for jobs to survive the computerized culling process and stand out when your materials reach human eyes and minds

• Purchase my workshop Building Community with LinkedIn

• Sign up for Find Your Golden Thread and update your LinkedIn profile

• Work with me for one-on-one career coaching

• 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.