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Job Search for High-Performing Misfits

Job Search for High-Performing Misfits

Written by: Melissa Vining
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 Are you a high performer driven to grow, make an impact, and achieve success in your career? Do you feel stuck, underappreciated, and burned out in your job? Join Certified Career Coach and Resume Writer Melissa Vining and her featured guests as they share no-nonsense tips for a more intentional, effective, and authentic job search. Yes, it’s possible to get unstuck and land a fulfilling (and enjoyable!) job in a workplace that fully appreciates you for who you are. Tune in for tips, insights, and inspiration for your journey to fulfilling work that fits YOU.Melissa Vining Careers Economics Personal Success
Episodes
  • Show, Don’t Tell: Skills Based Hiring with Charles Kransberger

    Show, Don’t Tell: Skills Based Hiring with Charles Kransberger
    Dec 16 2025

    In this episode of Job Search for High-Performing Misfits, Melissa Vining is joined by vocational rehabilitation counselor and workplace neurodiversity consultant Charles Kransberger for a powerful conversation about why traditional hiring methods fail so many brilliant, capable people — especially those who are neurodivergent — and what to do instead.

    Together, they explore a better way forward: skills-based hiring. Instead of relying on gut feelings, small talk, or “vibes” in interviews, Charles advocates for giving candidates the opportunity to show their skills through project-based assessments, portfolios, and real-world examples — creating a more inclusive, effective, and practical hiring process for both job seekers and employers.

    If the usual interview process has never really worked in your favor, this episode will help you rethink how you show your skills and find spaces where you can truly do your best work.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • Why traditional interviews often fail qualified candidates
    • What skills-based hiring really looks like in practice
    • How to build and use a simple interview portfolio
    • How to identify green flags for neuroinclusive workplaces
    • When (and when not) to disclose neurodivergence at work
    • How environment and flexibility impact performance and burnout

    Guest Bio:

    Charles Kransberger is a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and workplace neurodiversity consultant on a mission to create value for organizations and neurodistinct professionals. His career in the disability and neurodiversity space has spanned technology start-ups, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, universities, non-profits, and entrepreneurship. Charles is passionate about helping businesses embrace authentic neuroinclusion by elevating and amplifying neurodistinct perspectives, and by demonstrating the compelling “business case” for cultivating an organizational culture where minds of all kinds belong and contribute to the level of their capabilities. Charles envisions a future of work where scalable, authentic neuroinclusion propagates within company cultures, human capital strategies, and tech-enabled solutions. During his evenings and weekends, Charles helps neurodistinct students and professionals take the next step on their career journey through 1-on-1 career counseling.

    Connect with Charles:

    http://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-kransberger-ma-crc-1363961a7

    https://app.wiztherapy.com/intake/VuuzC8eh6S/

    https://www.nitw.org/job-seekers#talent-database

    Episode Timestamps:

    00:36 – Meet Charles Kransberger

    03:43 – “The job wasn’t the right fit” vs. “I’m the problem”

    05:23 – The “spiky profile” and a strengths-based lens on neurodivergence

    07:00 – Preparing for support needs across environments

    08:56 – Self-advocacy without formal accommodations

    10:15 – Neurodivergent identity and workplace culture

    11:15 – How neurodiversity at work has evolved since 2013

    12:25 – Signs of a neuroinclusive organization

    14:10 – Why inclusion is better for everyone (system design)

    16:11 – Skills-based hiring vs. traditional interviews

    17:07 – What project-based hiring looks like in real life

    19:13 – Using a portfolio to support interview success

    22:23 – Why there’s no one-size-fits-all solution

    25:50 – Burnout, remote work, and work environment fit

    27:59 – Disclosure: risks, rewards, and personal choice

    31:44 – Financial realities vs. ideal conditions

    33:16 – A message for managers and leaders

    35:08 – Neuroinclusion as a leadership advantage

    36:54 – Where the movement stands in 2025

    37:22 – Where to find Charles

    P.S. If you’ve found this episode helpful and want to support the podcast, ⁠buy me a coffee here⁠! Your support helps me keep creating content that helps high-performing misfits find work that fits.
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    39 mins
  • Winning the Job Search with Demir Bentley

    Winning the Job Search with Demir Bentley
    Dec 2 2025
    The job search can feel like a black hole, consuming hours without any progress. Do you feel busy but still lost or unsure if you’re really moving toward your goal?In this episode of Job Search for High-Performing Misfits, host Melissa Vining is joined by Demir Bentley, co-founder of Life Hack Method and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Winning the Week.Demir helps individuals and teams reclaim their time, reduce burnout, and focus on what truly matters. Melissa and Demir apply this philosophy by discussing crucial mindset shifts that help job seekers gain clarity and confidence, while setting themselves up for success both at work and in the job search.You’ll learn how to:Use the time before you leave a job to test boundaries and practice bold behaviors without the fear of consequencesMaintain a low-level, "never-ending" job search to prevent getting to a place of desperation and build authentic network connections before you need themIdentify your non-negotiable lifestyle criteria and "pre-negotiate" boundaries during the interview process so they aren't a surprise during your first 90 days on the jobReframe perfectionism and procrastination by identifying the hidden fears (like fear of rejection or success) that are trying to protect youGuest Bio:Demir is an executive productivity coach, co-founder of Lifehack Method and WSJ Bestselling author of Winning The Week: How To Plan A Successful Week, Every Week. He teaches hard-hitting efficiency techniques and proven accountability strategies that have helped clients generate millions in revenue while saving thousands of hours. His team has helped more than 100,000 professionals, including executives from Facebook, Google, Uber and PepsiCo, and teams from Microsoft, Caterpillar, and many more to prevent burnout and create more freedom in their lives. Professionals who want to stop burning out and start hitting their 12-month goals in 3 months can join the Lifehack Tribe community.Demir’s advice has been highlighted in ABC News, Forbes, Fast Company, Bloomberg, Entrepreneur and more. Connect with Demir:http://winningtheweek.com/https://web.facebook.com/demirandcarey/ https://www.instagram.com/lifehackmethod_/https://www.linkedin.com/in/demirbentley/http://www.youtube.com/c/LifehackBootcamphttps://lifehackmethod.com/Resources mentioned in this episode:The 2-Hour Job SearchThe First 90 Days Episode Timestamps:00:48 – Meet Demir Bentley and the Life Hack Method 01:39 – Using the time before quitting to address burnout 02:53 – Why the problem might be how you do the job, not the job itself 07:15 – Why testing boundaries might lead you to stay… and even get promoted 09:28 – The "Two Hour Job Search" approach and the low-level, infinite job search 11:16 – Real Life Example: Using informational interviews to get an unlisted job 17:05 – Getting radical clarity on what the right next fit looks like 18:38 – Probing questions to ask in an interview about productivity and lifestyle 19:13 – The importance of claiming your first 90 days in a new role 23:43 – A small mindset shift to increase confidence in an interview 26:53 – Tracking progress and using soft metrics in a slow job search 30:11 – Focusing relentlessly on the things you can control 33:10 – Strategies for staying motivated and getting out of "messy brain" 38:39 – Dealing with perfectionism and procrastination 42:14 – Where to find Demir Bentley and Life Hack Method 44:24 – Final words: It’s not just you; it’s the system P.S. If you’ve found this episode helpful and want to support the podcast, buy me a coffee here! Your support helps me keep creating content that helps high-performing misfits find work that fits.
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    47 mins
  • Job Search Reset: Human Connection

    Job Search Reset: Human Connection
    Nov 18 2025

    We’ve covered clarity, employers, branding, impact, and storytelling. Now, in the final episode of the Job Search Reset series, we’re focusing on something many job seekers avoid: real human interaction.

    It’s easier to sit behind a screen and apply online — but the truth is, human connection is what helps you rise above a competitive job market.

    You’ll learn how to:

    • Reframe "networking" into authentic community building rooted in shared commonalities
    • Ask for help in a way that feels natural — and gets results
    • Pair online applications with thoughtful human outreach to get eyes on your resume
    • Build rapport in interviews by finding personal points of connection


    This isn’t about being transactional — it’s about belonging. When people like you, relate to you, and remember you, everything changes.

    Episode Timestamps
    00:00 – Welcome and series context
    01:03 – Why human-to-human interaction is harder (but necessary) in your jobsearch
    01:54 – Rethinking “networking” as community and relationship building
    04:49 – How shared commonalities create trust and familiarity
    06:02 – What to ask for (and what not to ask for) when seeking help
    08:25 – Why you should pair human connection with online applications
    10:18 – How a personal note can pull your resume out of the stack
    11:17 – Human connection in interviews: why likability matters from minute one
    14:16 – The KPIs of networking: Kids, Pets, Interests (credit: Emily Worden)
    14:43 – Final encouragement for high-performing misfits in a tough job market

    What’s next? This wraps up the Job Search Reset series — but I have so much more planned to help you find work that truly fits. If there’s a topic you want me to explore, send me a message on LinkedIn!

    P.S. If you’ve found this series helpful and want to support the podcast, buy me a coffee here! Your support helps me keep creating content that helps high-performing misfits find work that fits.
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    16 mins
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