The Reboot Era
Layoffs. Burnout. Reinvention. Welcome to the messy middle of career change — and the community that's not afraid to talk about it.
Hosted by Dray Jankowski, a former tech program manager laid off in 2025, The Reboot Era is part unfiltered storytelling, part emotional support group, and part career comeback plan. Through weekly solo episodes and candid guest interviews, we explore what it really means to rebuild your life — professionally, emotionally, and financially.
We’re not here to sell you hope. We’re here to tell the truth — with humor, heart, and a little chaos.
Each episode dives into one of our seven pillars:
• Layoffs & Unemployment
• Motivation & Momentum
• Strategy & Income
• Redirection & Reinvention
• Mental Health & Renewal
• Closure & Reflection
• Identity & Calling
If you’ve ever screamed into a throw pillow after reading a rejection email — this is your place.
🎧 New episodes every week.
💬 Got a story of your own? Come tell it. This isn’t just my era — it’s ours!
The Reboot Era
Reboot 20 | SI3 - From Layoff to Offer: Authentic Answers that Win in 2025
This week on The Reboot Era:
HR insiders Laura Browne and Barbara Limmer show you how to stop guessing and start translating interviews—so your answers are authentic, on-target, and memorable. Perfect for anyone in a career reboot, navigating layoffs, or gearing up for a high-stakes loop.
You’ll learn:
- Why most candidates think they “nailed it” (and why interviewers disagree).
- The question behind the question—how to tailor without memorized scripts.
- The STAR method the Reboot Era way (convert vague prompts into real wins).
- Deconstructing job descriptions fast—especially for next-day interviews.
- The 15-minute post-interview self-eval to improve without spiraling.
- Layoff storytelling: the negative-sandwich answer that shows momentum.
- Conversations > applications: building the network that builds offers.
- Extrovert and introvert paths to “positive and prepared.”
- The Amazon “folders” prep story—and how to adapt it for your next loop.
Links & mentions:
- Book: Interview Speak (Publisher: Manning) — 45% off with code TRElimmer
- Laura Browne LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurabrowne/
- Barbara Limmer LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaralimmer/
- Laura’s site: CareerCoffeeBreak.com
💼 Partner: Jobhire.ai — Apply to jobs while you sleep. 30% off in Sept. 2025 with code DRAY30 → jobhire.ai/job-matcher/?imutm=dray (you must use that link)
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🎧 All links: https://linktr.ee/draycation
Thanks for supporting The Reboot Era — every follow, share, and tip helps me keep making content for anyone navigating layoffs, pivots, and everything in between.
Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.
