Career Change That Actually Works:

Why the Old Job‑Search Math Fails (and What to Do Instead)

Featuring Lara Azcona

Career Development SIG

April 27, 2026 | 5:30 - 6:30 PM CT | Virtual attendance only

Free for Chapter Members, $10 for Guests

Session Description

Most career‑change advice still assumes a traditional, linear job search where you stay in the same field—and that math breaks down fast when you are changing roles, industries, or both. In this kickoff session, you’ll learn why “just apply to more jobs” stops working, what’s really happening on the recruiter’s side of the desk, and how mid‑career professionals can stop competing in the wrong pile.

We will introduce the BETTER Transformations framework and show how mindset, clarity, branding, networking, and visibility fit together across a full career change—not just a résumé tweak. You will leave with a realistic view of the hidden job market, two different paths for planning your transition (Fast‑Start vs. In‑the‑Fire), and a simple decision roadmap for where to focus next over the rest of the series.

About the Speaker 

Lara Azcona - Career-Change Strategist

Lara Azcona, MBA, is a career‑change strategist and ATD Certified Coach who helps serious professionals move into new roles and industries faster and with far less guesswork. She has coached and reviewed résumés and LinkedIn profiles for hundreds of job seekers, served on the Career Solutions leadership and résumé review teams, and led multiple career‑transition programs for ATD chapters.

Through her company, Better Transformations, she uses structured packages that blend job‑target clarity, résumé and LinkedIn strategy, networking practice, and long‑term visibility planning so clients have a clear roadmap instead of trial‑and‑error applications. She brings the same evidence‑based tools she uses in large‑scale organizational change into individual careers, turning overwhelming transitions into a step‑by‑step process professionals can trust.

Connect with Lara on LinkedIn or at bettertransformations.com.

Meeting Agenda

5:25 pm - Log In

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm CT - Speaker Presentation + Q&A

All online reservations are OPEN the day of the meeting.

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How can this session help enhance your professional development?

This session will provide actionable insights from the Capability Model, showing you how to develop key skills and strategies, such as:

Personal: Lifelong Learning; Emotional Intelligence & Decision Making Professional: Career & Leadership Development; Evaluating Impact Organizational: Talent Strategy & Management