Owning Your Job Search Mindset with Jenna Mulherin
Ep. 83 on the All Figured Out Podcast
Feeling stuck in your career after becoming a parent? You’re not alone.
Whether it's the pressure to keep climbing, the guilt of slowing down, or the overwhelm of trying to start something new—many parents hit a moment where the old path no longer fits. In this episode of All Figured Out, I sat down with Jenna Mulherin to talk about what it really looks like to navigate career change with clarity, confidence, and compassion for the season you’re in.
Jenna's story is one that many parents will recognize: pivoting without a traditional background, taking pay cuts to gain new experience, building a business on mat leave, and walking away when it no longer fit. Her path wasn’t linear, but it was always aligned.
Why This Conversation Matters for Working Parents
The job search process can feel daunting—especially when you're balancing nap schedules, demanding jobs, and the mental load of raising a family. Add in a desire for more meaningful work or a complete pivot, and it's easy to feel stuck before you even begin.
Jenna reminds us that career change doesn’t have to be dramatic to be transformative. It just has to be intentional.
Biggest Themes from Our Conversation
Why career pivots aren’t always linear—and why that’s the point:
– How to break into a new industry without “the right” credentials
– Why taking a pay cut can sometimes be the most strategic move
– What it's really like to start (and pause) a business during mat leave
– Navigating the push and pull between ambition and parenthood
– What happens when you trust your gut and take the next right step
– Letting go of timelines and building a career that fits your life now
Key Takeaways for Parents Navigating Career Change
Your life isn't off track—it's evolving.
If your ambition looks different after having kids, it doesn’t mean you’ve lost it. It means you’re paying attention.
Experience matters more than titles.
You don’t need a formal HR certificate or a perfect resume to make a change. You need to know your strengths and how to speak to them.
Confidence comes from doing, not waiting.
Jenna shares how she kept moving forward—even when the next step felt murky or risky.
It’s okay to outgrow what once felt like the dream.
Whether it's a corporate job or a business you built yourself, it’s allowed to no longer fit. You can pivot again.
Build a career that makes sense for your season.
Success doesn’t have to mean sacrifice. It can look like more presence, more clarity, and more alignment.
Resources Mentioned
The Resume Shop by Andrea Barr
5 Steps to Career Clarity Free Download
About the Guest
Jenna Mulherin is an HR leader and the former founder of Own the Interview, a business that helped job seekers build confidence and clarity in the job search process. With 15+ years in recruitment, people development, and leadership, she brings a grounded, honest approach to professional growth.
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out
Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time.
Connect with Andrea via Instagram here.
