Always the Hire, Never the Fire

Always the Hire, Never the Fire

NOTE: While this transcript has been reviewed, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript.

Jill Wiltfong:

Hi, I’m Jill Wiltfong, Chief Marketing Officer for Korn Ferry, and this is Briefings—our deep dive into topics that corporate leaders need to care about.

Odds are, you know someone—maybe several people—who’ve been unemployed for the better part of this year. And that’s probably because a quarter of unemployed people nationally have been jobless for an average of 27 weeks. For those over 55, it’s 33 weeks. That’s eight months.

With odds like that, it’s not surprising that a growing army of people are not only pulling their hair out—they’re giving up. And yet, in the midst of all this mayhem, there are a handful of folks who seem to be living in an alternate universe. Some might even call it paradise—coasting along, easily shifting from job to job.

We’ve dubbed them the always hired: a cadre of professionals who seem to be draped in workplace Teflon when it comes to layoff announcements and economic downturns. Even HR professionals are mystified by these career chameleons who can change jobs seemingly at will, while the rest of us frantically update our LinkedIn profiles and send email after email to unresponsive hiring managers.

So the question is—how exactly do they do it?

Today, we’ll find out as we talk to one of these specially anointed individuals, along with a top professional search executive, to learn the secret to being always the hire, never the fire.

Episode Title Card

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I’m joined now by Laura Podesta, a media training and PR strategy consultant—and one of the rare breeds of professionals who’s always working. Get this: in a three-decade career, she’s only been unemployed for ten business days.

Laura, that is intimidating. Thank you for coming on today.

Laura Podesta:
Hi, Jill. It’s so nice to be here—and hopefully I can offer some tips to help other people get back to work.

Jill Wiltfong:

I think we need you. I have to ask—this is a brutal job market. When people hear that you’re always employed, how do they react? Do they get upset? Do they not like you?

Laura Podesta:
No, I’ve never gotten that reaction. Most people want to know how I’m doing it. They want to get on a call and ask: How are you finding clients? How are you putting yourself out there on LinkedIn? How can I do the same?

It’s really about people trying to figure out how they can convert what I’m doing into something that works for their own industry.

Jill Wiltfong:
You’ve said that you get 95% of your work through LinkedIn—but that platform has over a billion users, with about 65 million people actively seeking jobs each week. What are you doing to separate yourself from such a big pack?

Laura Podesta:
I’m very open about what I do, and I’m very communicative on LinkedIn. I’m a former journalist, so I use LinkedIn a bit like a newsroom—except the news is about me and what I’ve been doing for clients.

For example, when I land one of my clients in the news, I’ll post the article and explain what they’re doing that made CNBC interested. I explain how the sausage is made in public relations. Other founders, brands, and PR folks see that and reach out asking if I can help—or what my rate is.

I get a lot of work simply because I’m advertising myself on LinkedIn.

Jill Wiltfong:

Do people ever say, “That’s not my style—I’d feel like I was bragging”? How do you balance that?

Laura Podesta:
I hear that all the time. Friends who’ve been laid off say, “I couldn’t do what you do—it feels uncomfortable.” I ask them to reframe it.

You’re not bragging. You’re explaining how you can help people. You’re saying: Here are my skills. Here’s how I can support your business. And I’m available right now.

That’s very different from begging for work.

Sound Bite Insert

From the film Yes Man

“Once you leave this building, every time an opportunity presents itself—no matter what it is—you will say yes.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

Jill Wiltfong:

That’s Jim Carrey in Yes Man, where his life transforms after he decides to say yes to everything. Laura, you’ve said this approach has been key to your career. Tell me more.

Laura Podesta:
I love to work—and I love to learn. Recently, I was approached by a healthcare company. I hadn’t worked much with healthcare reporters, but I knew I could tell a story and pitch journalists.

So I said yes.

In learning that industry, I elevated my career. I also say yes to coffee chats—virtual or in person. Fifteen minutes, twenty minutes. You never know when you’ll need that connection again, or when it could lead to work.

It’s about having an abundance mindset and staying open to where things might lead.

Jill Wiltfong:
You’ve also said that creating your own employment can be a bridge to the next opportunity. You once created a Udemy course that only made you $12—but led to much more. Tell that story.

Laura Podesta:
I read all those articles about passive income and thought, I can do that. I created a Udemy course based on my background in TV news and public relations.

Financially, it didn’t work—I’ve made maybe $19 total. But what it became was a living, breathing portfolio. I can send it to prospects and say, This is how I work. This is how I speak.

That visibility has been invaluable and has led to many jobs. If you can consolidate your work into a portfolio link or YouTube channel, it helps you move quickly when opportunities arise.

Jill Wiltfong:
You certainly have a can-do spirit. I can see why people want to hire you. Thank you for sharing so generously today.

Laura Podesta:
Thank you. I hope this resonates—and if anyone needs PR or media training support, I’m always here.

Break

From Kramer vs. Kramer

“Fine. I’ll have a job in 24 hours.”

“How the hell are you going to do that?”

“I’ll have a job in 24 hours.”

Jill Wiltfong:
We’ve been talking about the lucky few professionals who are always hired. To shed light on this from the company perspective, I’m joined by Smriti Kangovi, a managing consultant with Korn Ferry’s North America Technology Practice of Professional Search.

Smriti, thanks for joining me.

Smriti Kangovi:
Thank you so much for having me, Jill.

Jill Wiltfong:
That clip is obviously fantasy for most job seekers today. How would you describe the job market right now compared to a few years ago?

Smriti Kangovi:
The 2025 job market is very different from the post-pandemic boom. Hiring has slowed, and employers are being more strategic—focusing on high-impact roles tied to specific skills rather than mass hiring.

Jill Wiltfong:
What separates candidates who are always getting hired from those who aren’t?

Smriti Kangovi:
Three things: preparation, personal branding, and soft skills.

Strong candidates do their research and prepare thoroughly. They have a clear professional narrative. And soft skills matter—a lot. Clients often say candidates seem low-energy or too mechanical. They don’t show enough personality.

Job search strategist Madeline Mann:

“We need to talk about your camera setup during your Zoom interview. Appearances matter.”

Jill Wiltfong:
With virtual interviews now the norm, how has video changed candidates’ odds?

Smriti Kangovi:
It’s a double-edged sword. There’s flexibility and convenience—but rapport is harder to build. Chemistry still matters, and technical issues or awkward delays can hurt that connection.

Jill Wiltfong:
Finally, what’s your pep talk for someone who wants to become “always hired”?

Smriti Kangovi:
Have a clear three-to-four-minute elevator pitch. Prepare examples that show impact. And ask thoughtful questions—like what success looks like in six, twelve, or twenty-four months.

Jill Wiltfong:
Thank you so much. It’s reassuring to finally understand what separates the always hired from the rest of us.

Smriti Kangovi:
Thank you for having me.

Jill Wiltfong:

The executive producer of Briefings is Jonathan Dahl. Today’s episode was produced by Rupak Bhattacharyya and Zachary Dore, and it was edited by Jaren Henry McRae.

It contains reporting by Russell Pearlman, Ariane Cohen, Peter Lauria, and Meghan Walsh. Our video segment contains original artwork by Fraser Milton, Haley Kennel, Jonathan Pink, and Sasha Kotzek.

Don’t forget to read our magazine—available at newsstands and at kornferry.com/briefings.

That’s it for Korn Ferry Briefings. I’m Jill Wiltfong. See you next time.