262. The Champions List: How Your Network Actually Lands Jobs feat. Karen Worthy
Tue Feb 03 2026
This week, Traci welcomes Karen Worthy, an executive career transition coach who helps leaders accelerate their job search and land their dream roles often in half the time of their peers.
Karen unpacks why building community and leveraging your network is the most powerful tool in your career transition toolkit.
What We Cover:
Your personal "champions list" and how it opens doors across companies, not just within them
Why the person you talked to three years ago at a training class can be your secret career weapon
The three communities you should be part of at any given time
How to network when you're terrified of reaching out to someone you barely remember
The transferable skills framework that helped Karen go from engineering to HR
Breaking into HR (or any new field) when job postings require experience you don't have yet
Why "applying off the street" is only 5-10% successful and what actually works
The gym buddy, the neighbor's son, and other weak ties that landed real interviews
How to identify and articulate your transferable skills in a new career
The difference between having one amazing mentor and building multiple supportive communities
Connect with Karen Worthy:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenworthy/
Website: https://www.worthycareerpaths.com/
Connect with Traci here:
https://linktr.ee/HRTraci
Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed.
Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.
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This week, Traci welcomes Karen Worthy, an executive career transition coach who helps leaders accelerate their job search and land their dream roles often in half the time of their peers. Karen unpacks why building community and leveraging your network is the most powerful tool in your career transition toolkit. What We Cover: Your personal "champions list" and how it opens doors across companies, not just within them Why the person you talked to three years ago at a training class can be your secret career weapon The three communities you should be part of at any given time How to network when you're terrified of reaching out to someone you barely remember The transferable skills framework that helped Karen go from engineering to HR Breaking into HR (or any new field) when job postings require experience you don't have yet Why "applying off the street" is only 5-10% successful and what actually works The gym buddy, the neighbor's son, and other weak ties that landed real interviews How to identify and articulate your transferable skills in a new career The difference between having one amazing mentor and building multiple supportive communities Connect with Karen Worthy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenworthy/ Website: https://www.worthycareerpaths.com/ Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.