We help high achievers and leaders live impactful lives, starting with their careers
Unleash your authentic self
in your job search with our exclusive
and proven systems
Ditch the Burnout | Uncover Your True Value | Land Your Dream Job
Unleash your authentic self in your job search with our exclusive and proven system
Ditch the Burnout | Uncover Your True Value | Land Your Dream Job
Kara’s Story
As a Senior HR and Corporate Recruiting Leader, I innovated behind the scenes, implementing hiring systems and strategies, employee and leadership trainings, and consistently driving ROI.
I was met with extra hours, broken promises of promotions, and leadership changes that turned the culture I worked hard to build into a toxic work environment.
I didn’t just burnout at my corporate job, I worked myself right into a hospital bed.
After that moment, I started my mission to share all the tools, tricks, and strategies I learned in corporate HR and recruiting to help high achievers and leaders land authentic, purposeful dream jobs.
Over the past 4 years, we’ve helped over 2,000 high achieving professionals and leaders land their authentic dream jobs, helping to negotiate over $12M in salary increases. My team has completed over 8000 executive resumes and watching lives transform as high-achievers get their lives back when they work at companies they’re aligned with is my authentic dream job.
Our clients are authentically leading at companies like
The Authentic Job Search Framework
We’ve designed our program based on accountability, structure, and results. Our team has supported over 2100 Directors, VPs, & C-Suite Executives and have provided over 10,000 hours of 1-on-1 mentoring, interviewing, and coaching…
We know how to land high-quality interviews in just weeks by helping you connected to those who matter: decision-makers.
We do this by working with you to discover who you are authentically in your career AND your life while giving you extreme clarity and handing you the keys to drive your career, confidently.
Together, we’ll discover how your career affects your life, what your true value is in the marketplace, and how to tell your impactful story.
Stop struggling to reach the next level alone.
-job boards
-recruiters
– your competition
-and your own self-limiting beliefs…
right into your dream role!
After using our Authentic Job Search Framework you will:
Consistently Find Aligned Job Opportunities:
You’ll feel magnetic, attracting a flood of job opportunities that align with your values and needs beyond just your salary. You’ll no longer feel the need to settle for whatever job offer comes your way.
Crush Imposter Syndrome & Master Your Mindset:
Learn how to overcome self limiting beliefs holding you back from your purpose-filled career you truly deserve, handle rejection like a pro, and gain the confidence to kick imposter syndrome to the curb.
Share Your Impact and Become Memorable:
You’ll ooze confidence as you share powerful stories that show impact and leave a lasting impression on leaders and decision makers who will be fighting to hire you.
Work Smarter, Not Harder:
Leverage consistency, set up a winning routine into your daily life to ensure success, knowing your activities are generating ROI and giving you feedback as you gain traction towards your career goals.
Heal Burnout:
You’ll recapture that lost feeling of ease, peace, and excitement for your work. Gain tools to soothe burnout, relieve stress, and bring yourself back into centered alignment with your work. Become the most valuable person in your department, capable of helping your teams overcome burnout, mitigate stress, and spot early burnout symptoms before they get worse.
Transform into an Industry Thought Leader:
Get recognized as the industry rockstar you know you are. You’ll become a LinkedIn master with insider knowledge on how to create micro-viral content, leverage your profile effectively, and become the person ideal decision makers are dying to talk to. Ultimately helping you by-pass gatekeepers and find job opportunities before they’re every posted.
Build Your Executive Level Network:
Become the best-connected person you know. You’ll quickly build a professional network of executives and decision makers that can help you continue to grow as an industry thought leader for the rest of your career. Discover how to build authentic relationships in a way that doesn’t come across as spammy, needy, or desperate
Become A Master Offer Negotiator:
You’ll feel rock-solid confidence when negotiating salary and benefits to get the best possible offer with your job package. No more feeling like you left anything on the table or settled for less than you deserve.
The 5 Key Parts of an Authentic Job Search
Discover Your Authentic Career & Leader Mindset
Become the executive of your LIFE. Get crystal clear on your holistic vision for your ideal role beyond the salary and benefits, and burst through the invisible mental barriers standing in the way of that dream lifestyle. You’ll discover our techniques for overcoming imposter syndrome and self-limiting beliefs with proven frameworks, psychological persuasion techniques, and mindset transformations that help you step confidently into your next career chapter.
Unleash Your Authentic Branding
No more twisting and tweaking your resume for every new job description. Gain the professional branding that is aligned with your true value.
Instead of worrying about how to condense your many years of experience into a 2-page document, we’ll do the heavy lifting and ensure your best accomplishments are being showcased and show you how to use both your resume and LinkedIn profile as tools to leverage your unique and impactful story.
Bypass Job Boards Entirely. Uncover the Hidden Job Market
Stop standing in line with hundreds of other applicants competing for the same 40% of jobs that hit the Job boards. Skip the line and discover the Hidden Job market!
We’ll teach you how to find the 60% of job openings that get filled before a single word is posted on the job boards.
We’ll teach you our tried and tested systems to build authentic relationships with decision makers who can leverage you into job openings before the job descriptions have even been written.
Confidently Network & Interview With Decision Makers
Approach your job search strategically and authentically by building genuine relationships. By using our proprietary techniques, systems, and strategies, you’ll know how to build an army of advocates who are ready to help accelerate your career and job search!
You’ll feel like an interviewing master. You’ll ooze confidence as you share powerful stories that show your impact and leave a lasting impression on leaders and decision makers who will be fighting to hire you.
Land Offers & Maximize Your Dream Role
When you’re navigating an authentic job search, you’ll be able to recognize what job offers align with your long term life goals. Learn how to confidently ask for what you’re worth while being backed by a team of experts who have helped negotiate over $12M in salary increases for professionals just like you.
Be confident enough to say no to those “golden handcuff” roles that will only leave you burnt out, unfulfilled, and back in survival mode. Say YES to roles that bring you financial fulfillment, fuel your passion, meet all your family needs, and bring joy back into your life.
Who is An Authentic Job Search For?
This is for you if:
You are tired of old, outdated methods in the job search and are ready to learn new tactics. You’re willing to take action and implement new strategies until you get the results you deserve.
You’re willing to be introspective to uncover and transform the self-limiting beliefs holding you back from being the leader you know you can be.
You deeply desire to be held accountable to your long-term career goals. You’re done settling in your career.
You’re a leader of high achiever who may be having trouble communicating your years of experience and accomplishments in an impactful way in interviews and your resume.
You’re looking to heal from burnout, ready to leave toxic environments, finally make a career pivot, or reach that next level in their career and aren’t sure how to do it.
You’re ready and want to invest in yourself to learn skills that will be invaluable to long term career success.
You’re a professional looking to expedite their career growth instead of waiting in line for the promotion that they’re overqualified for.
Leaders who want to become sought-after industry thought leaders, that companies are fighting to hire.
This is NOT for you if:
You’re looking to be passive and unintentional in your career search, willing to accept any role or offer a recruiter or headhunter brings your way.
You’re unwilling to reflect on their self-limiting beliefs and don’t like trying new strategies.
You’re willing to compromise by not holding yourself accountable to your short term and long term goals.
You’re looking to continue to wasting time spamming the job boards and are unwilling to have genuine conversations with decision makers.
You are a professional who is content to stay where they are, are afraid of change, and are comfortable staying at the same level.
You don’t see the value in investing in yourself to develop skills that will serve you for the rest of your career.
You prefer leaving your career in the hands of others and are hoping one day your hard work will be enough to speak for itself
You prefer to stay in the shadows, and don’t want to be noticed for your accomplishments
The authentic job search is not for passive professionals who do not want a fulfilling career that funds a fulfilling life
You’re willing to be introspective to uncover and transform the self-limiting beliefs holding you back from being the leader you know you can be.
You’re unwilling to reflect on their self-limiting beliefs and don’t like trying new strategies.
You deeply desire to be held accountable to your long-term career goals. You’re done settling in your career.
You’re willing to compromise by not holding yourself accountable to your short term and long term goals.
You’re a leader of high achiever who may be having trouble communicating your years of experience and accomplishments in an impactful way in interviews and your resume.
You’re looking to continue to wasting time spamming the job boards and are unwilling to have genuine conversations with decision makers.
You’re looking to heal from burnout, ready to leave toxic environments, finally make a career pivot, or reach that next level in their career and aren’t sure how to do it.
You are a professional who is content to stay where they are, are afraid of change, and are comfortable staying at the same level.
You’re ready and want to invest in yourself to learn skills that will be invaluable to long term career success.
You don’t see the value in investing in yourself to develop skills that will serve you for the rest of your career.
You’re a professional looking to expedite their career growth instead of waiting in line for the promotion that they’re overqualified for.
You prefer leaving your career in the hands of others and are hoping one day your hard work will be enough to speak for itself
Leaders who want to become sought-after industry thought leaders, that companies are fighting to hire.
You prefer to stay in the shadows, and don’t want to be noticed for your accomplishments
The authentic job search is for leaders and high achievers who want to continually grow in their career.
The authentic job search is not for passive professionals who do not want a fulfilling career that funds a fulfilling life
Apply Now if You Want to…
Turn fear & doubt into unending confidence
Network directly with people who have the power to hire you!
Leverage your personal brand to stand out as an industry leader
“The most valuable part of working together was that is is a holistic kind of program. Not just resume, not just LinkedIn, or learning how to learn to network, it was not just specialized in one area, but a structured program. It’s like having the VP of HR on speed dial. Kara always had a perspective or point of view that always was right on.”
– Mark V
Customer Experience & Operations Executive
“I had such a positive experience, my coaches helped with negotiations and prep for interviews, and I always had them to lean on for next steps. I would have wasted so much time had I tried to do this on my own. It seems so simple to say but the mindset piece was huge for me. Kara & Jack’s positivity was huge for me.“
– Bonnie P
Chief Operating Officer
“Getting to the next level quickly was one of my goals and we were able to achieve that in 2 months. All aspects of the program were so valuable but the 1 on 1 prep and complete revamp of my linkedin profile and resume which every recruiter that I came in contact with were all very positive about how efficient and on point it was so valuable to me. Your process is so efficient it probably saved me months of back and forth effort.“
– Robert P
Senior Support Manager
“Before working with you, I had a lot of fear. The ads were intimidating to me and I didn’t feel like I was good enough if I didn’t check every mark that they were asking. Going through the program strengthened my confidence. I ended up in a 3 offer situation and I was able to double my salary and negotiate terms that worked best for me and my family.“
– Courtney R
Senior Program & Project Manager
“I applied to over 200 companies easily and heard back from maybe 3 with rejection letters so I was at a point of complete frustration. In using your program, I’ve actually lost track of how many networking calls and job interviews I’d had! Your system works. Your coaching is phenomenal.“
– Helen H
Chief Operating Officer
“It’s like having a good lawyer or a good financial advisor, if you want to take the job search seriously, you’re going to need some professionals on your side to show you how to do it. Having Jack on my side to keep me accountable and having Kara back me up on all my decision making and get me polished for interviews was what really drove results.“
– Mark E
VP of IT – Strategy & Innovation
“Receiving coaching on how to manage potential objections, whether they were real or mental was a key aspect of the support I received. Kara is an expert not just in recruiting and HR but she’s also a psychologist because in the process you need to overcome objections, but also opportunities that might not happen in order to move forward, so there was a lot of psychological motivation in her coaching support that was really important for me when it came to adjusting our strategy.“
– Carlos T
Global Business Development Executive
“I was overwhelmed, burnt out, and didn’t know how to position myself as the leader I am instead of the individual contributor I was. Now I’m out of my burnout phase, I’m in a new organization, in a new role that really fits my skill set and is where I want to be and my personal happiness is so much more than the amount I invested. Working with the Dennisons was wonderful.“
– Sarah L
Learning & Development Leader
“There’s an overwhelming amount of articles and information on job searching and resumes and I realized after talking with you, your program expedites every, makes it simple, and easy to understand and learn. The mindset and interview prep had so many golden nuggets. The HR lady at my current job said she’d never head such good questions in the hundreds of people she interviewed so thank you Kara, it sealed the deal! When I talked to Jack, he eased my fears and put some normalcy to them too. I realized I was underpaid, what my worth is, and it was game-changing on my mindset.“
– Josh M
Sales & Business Development Leader
“After owning my own business for 14 years, I realized the landscape is very different and I felt like I was just flopping around. The program and the process itself works. Each step build on another and gets you one step further in the process. There so much in the program between the videos, the 1 on 1 sessions, and the group sessions, you feel part of a community that understands what you’re going through. What can’t be replicated is the combination of Kara and Jack. They’re able to really see you as an individual and to be able to see someone for who they are and where they are and help them to the next stage is incredible and unique.“
– Carrie H
Senior Project Management Executive
“I’ve worked in HR for 25 years and thought I knew how to interview. I didn’t think I needed coaching and in working with Kara realized that I do not know how to interview! But I followed the outline and patterns you presented and got better. I don’t know why I didn’t think I needed a coach. Tom Brady has a coach. Lisa Leslie has a coach. Professional vocalists have coaches. The interview prep with the coaches helped me speak to all levels of employees with confidence.“
– Cindy F
VP of Human Resources
“One of the best parts of the programs was having a coach there for a quick question that normally for me I might have thought about a day or two and been worried about. Instead, I could just ask and it would be answered and I could move forward almost immediately. I really felt supported which made the whole program worth it, it was awesome!“
– Paige D
Senior Project Manager
“I was working in my industry for 35 years when all of a sudden I got laid off for the first time ever in my life. I took a big psychological and ego hit. I had to admit I needed help because looking for jobs is different than it was 35 years ago. The best part for me was meeting a group of other professionals going through what I was, getting my resume and LinkedIn updated, and most importantly, the accountability to make sure I was doing what I needed to do!“
– Carlos M
Program Management Executive
“When I first started my search it was a scary process and hands down this program made it attainable with your structure and support. I was overwhelmed trying to figure out how to brand myself, what to go after, and how to even strategically start. Knowing you had a plan I could commit to, with unending and personalized support helped me overcome insecurities and fear, transformed my job search, and I become empowered and confident. I would do your program 10 times over again. “
– Kristin K
Chief Operating Officer
In our Unlimited Coaching Program, you get all the Support and Resources you need to go:
FROM THIS
→
TO THIS
Constantly tweaking your resume and yourselves to fit every new job description.
→
Feeling empowered, knowing how to generate opportunities with ease.
Scared to network, feeling like you’re a bother, desperate, or spammy
→
Building genuine relationships and a network of advocates who can support you.
Hating Monday mornings, and wondering if you’ll be out of the office to see the kids before they go to bed tonight.
→
Feeling like you’re making an impact, knowing your hard work is valued, and feeling aligned both at work and home
Wondering if you need to take a step back in your career just to land an interview, any interview.
→
Feeling confident in your value and empowered to seek roles that align with what you want out of life.
Feeling pressured to stay in your toxic job because losing your breadwinning salary to go after what you really want is too risky and a burden on your family.
→
Gain true job security for the first time in your life and feel capable of taking care of your family by finding a new role any time you’re no longer aligned, making yourself recession-proof.
Confused and awkward when telling your story, trying to piece together multiple years of hard work and experience.
→
Feeling poised and powerful when sharing your story and conveying your impact in a way that makes you memorable.
Wondering what’s wrong with you when you’re landing interviews but always coming in 2nd place.
→
Gaining back your power and starting to interview companies to see if they’re a good fit for you. Walk away from interviews having them wonder if they’re in 2nd place.
In our Unlimited Coaching Program, you get all the Support and Resources you need to go:
Meet Your Coaches
Kara Dennison, SPHR
Executive Career Coach | Leadership Coach | Senior HR Professional
Kara Dennison is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Executive Career & Leadership Coach. She spent her career as a Senior HR and Corporate Recruiting Leader, working hand in hand with decision-makers to place hundreds of top talented professionals. She has personally screened over 500,000 resumes throughout her career.
She is passionate about helping high-achievers and leaders live impactful lives, starting with their careers. She has developed the authentic job search method after spending her career watching highly successful candidates get frustrated, lose confidence, and take steps back in their careers due to the broken traditional job search methods.
After suffering two debilitating burnouts that ended her in the hospital, she’s more passionate than ever about helping high-achievers heal from toxic workplaces, find companies that are aligned with their values, and support a holistic work/life integration.
She’s a current contributor writing about career advancement and leadership for Forbes and University of Phoenix, and has been featured in publications such as Thrive Global, The Good Man Project, LifeHacker, Addicted to Success, and She Owns It.
Jack Dennison
Career Consultant | Accountability Coach | Mindset Coach
Jack Dennison is our head Career Consultant & Accountability Coach for our Unlimited Coaching Program. With a background in Philosophy, Sales, Life Coaching, and Personal Training, Jack’s powerful background is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to mindset.
After coaching and consulting with hundreds of high-achieving professionals, Jack has an exceptional ability of seeing each professional’s unique gifts and drawing them to the surface to utilize them in achieving their goals. Jack’s passion is getting to the heart of what’s going on in your job search and showing you how our strategies can increase your confidence while being by your side supporting you every step of the way.
Jack will not only be your motivational coach and your accountability partner in this authentic job search, but Jack can be found helping you set up systems to connect with decision makers and help you set up routines to keep you accountable to your short and long term goals.
Rebecca Simmons, SHRM-CP
Interview Coach | Burnout Coach
Rebecca from Rebecca Simmons Coaching has partnered with Optimized Career Solutions to provide her expertise to program participants. Rebecca is an HR certified Human Resources Leader turned Interview and Burnout Coach.
She helps professionals shed the patterns that keep them burned out and get clear about what they want out of their careers and lives. She believes in accountability and responsibility when it comes to achieving higher goals.
Her experience working in some of the toughest industries has proven wildly successful when it comes to prepping program participants for interviews and overcoming limiting beliefs.
We know that adding a job search onto your plate is one of the most stressful activities a person can do. If you’re already feeling burnt out, you’re less likely to want to make a change. We want to ensure you’re healing burnout, learning techniques to set boundaries, learn how to achieve your professional and personal goals, and start the next chapter of your career feeling whole.
How it Works:
1
Apply to Speak with our Team
Fill out our application and see if you qualify to hop on a Career Success Session with one of our coaches. Find out if you’re a good fit to join our Unlimited Coaching Program and have us support you in your Authentic job search.
2
Attend Your Career Success Session
On this call, we’ll take a deep dive with you into your career goals , what you’ve tried in the job search so far, and uncover what’s holding you back from those goals. We’ll help you lay out a clear roadmap to hit those goals, answer any of your questions, and if you’re a good fit for our Unlimited Coaching Program, we’ll go over how you can get started on your Authentic job search!
3
Join & Get Started on your Authentic Job Search
Once you’ve secured your position in our Unlimited Coaching Program, you’ll immediately gain access to our course and schedule your onboarding Catalyst Call. This is where we’ll really dive in and start implementing the first steps for your Authentic job search.
Ready to embark on your Authentic Job Search?
Your career is waiting for you to find that perfect match where you can drive results, be appreciated, feel aligned and have it fund your joy of being. If you’re feeling lack in any of these areas, that’s your sign that now is the time. Make yourself the priority and gain access to the career you always deserved.
FAQs
How long does it take to land my job?
According to LinkedIn, the average job search for a $100K salary position takes about 6-7 months with an extra 1 month added to the job search for every $10-20k salary increase from there.
Clients in our coaching program typically land positions between 3-5 months from starting with us, though everyone’s situation is unique. Because of the uniqueness of every situation, we offer clients the ability to qualify for extra support for up to a year in their job search.
Will this work for me in my industry? With my experience? For the position I’m looking for?
Over the past 4 years, we’ve helped over 2,158 clients in over 21 different industries land their dream positions at companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, PWC, Deloitte, Accenture, Goldman Sacs, McKesson & Co, Cloudflare, Subway, Credit One, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Fashion Institute of Technology, & Six Flags. We’ve helped them land positions all the way from C-Suite and VP roles down to high impact individual roles like project managers, software engineers, and sales reps.
Who will I be working with?
When you qualify for our Unlimited Coaching Program, you gain access to all our coaches, all group coaching sessions, all our proprietary strategies via our course, and unlimited email support.
How often will I meet with the coaches?
We have group coaching sessions twice a week and open office hours twice a week. You also have access to book unlimited one on one sessions with the coaching team by gaining access to 1:1 coaching calendar links once you join.
How are you different from Recruiters/Headhunters?
Recruiters and headhunters are contracted by the company. This means that they are working in the best interest of the company. We are working in the best interest of YOU! So while we don’t have specific open opportunities to present to you, we teach you how to find and generate as many opportunities as you want, and we’re with you every step of the way… and won’t drop you for a better candidate that comes along.
Are you going to tell me what jobs to apply for?
In an authentic job search, we don’t focus on applying for jobs, instead we focus on clarifying your overall dream career vision, then help you vet a hit list of companies that fit your criteria. Then we coach you to build genuine relationships with decision makers at those companies who can advocate for you in your search. These are conversations you’ll need to be having, but we’ll be there to show you how, prep you for them, and generally be your co-pilot while you fly the plane during this journey. This is how you gain true job security for the rest of your career, as many of our clients have used our framework to land not just their next role, but multiple positions after working with us.
However, we will be helping you set up an automated system during your time in the program that will help to 10X your networking outreach to accelerate your search, with clients landing between 8-14 networking calls and interviews a week.
Do you have funding options?
Yes we have partnered with a 3rd party funding partner to assist your ease in enrollment to further your career. Credit Score of 620 required to qualify.
Do you have options for someone more junior in their career?
Yes, if you’re more junior in your career then the coaching program might not be the best fit. We do offer alternative packages that may be a better fit for your current needs. Check them out here.