Hire Sarah Johnston for your next speaking event.
Former corporate recruiter. Top-rated career strategist.
With over 10 years of career consulting, resume writing, and recruiting expertise, Sarah has advised hundreds of professionals across industries like nursing, marketing, nonprofit administration, operations, sales, construction, education, and retail in developing resumes and personalized career strategies that stand out in today’s market.
Sarah has real experience using the techniques she teaches. She’s lived in five states and through experience and successful networking has been able to break in to new communities and land jobs at top, competitive employers.
Sarah is available to speak at your upcoming keynote, panel, workshop, training or seminar.
Sarah is comfortable both on camera and live, and has presented to corporate, collegiate, nonprofit and association audiences.
“I am so beyond proud of the Launch Your Career Conference that Career Success is hosting this weekend for graduating seniors in The Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences We kicked off with an AMAZING keynote speech by Sarah Johnston, Job Search Expert and Founder of Briefcase Coach. Sarah shared how graduating seniors can alleviate their job search anxieties by strategizing and taking small action steps toward their career goals. Sarah expressed the importance of students being proactive in networking and taking ownership of their career. On behalf of the Planning Committee, I would like to send a HUGE thank you to Sarah for taking the time to invest in our students by sharing her expertise!”
— Doanise Thompson, Ohio State University Career Center
Speaking Topics
Don’t wait to start your job search.
College students, it’s never too early to start your job search. Practical tips and real life stories about the modern job search.
Leveraging LinkedIn for a job search.
Sarah has been teaching LinkedIn to businesses and individuals since 2007. As a former corporate recruiter and LinkedIn recruiter seat holder, Sarah knows all of the latest tips and tricks to get the most out of the site.
Navigating the hidden job market.
Are you applying for jobs online and feel like you are getting lost in the applicant tracking system (ATS) black hole? There really is a better way. 70-80% of all jobs are gotten through networking. Find out how to ditch the ATS and focus on relationships.
Informational interviews: your secret sauce in the job search.
The informational interview is the secret tool everyone should have in their back pocket. A hybrid of an amazing networking opportunity, an info-session, and a job interview. Learn how to find and target decision makers, what to say and how to make the most of these meetings.
Learn to love networking
”I hate networking” is a common complaint clients share during coaching calls. “It feels dirty—or like I am using people”, others say. But in today’s world, networking is a necessity. A mountain of research shows that professional networks lead to more business and job opportunities and better work relationships. This talk covers how to mentally prepare for events, make small talk, navigate the room and feel authentic during the process.
Interview Skills for Managers
Hiring can impact both the culture and the bottom line. As a former corporate recruiter and talent expert, Sarah teaches new managers how to conduct effective interviews.
How to write an ATS friendly resume
Sarah can teach your team how to write their own ATS-friendly resume using job descriptions as the guide. This interactive session can be customized to your group or industry. She’ll provide handouts, sample documents and the tools your group will need to write a perfect DIY-resume.
LinkedIn for Thought Leaders
Do you want to learn how to leverage content to become a thought leader in your industry? Learn from Sarah, “LinkedIn Top Voice” with over 700,000 followers, how to build a memorable brand using content marketing. You’ll learn algorithm basics, tips for maximizing engagement and how to write that speaks to your target audience. The strategies you’ll learn in this session will help you attract clients, land more opportunities and will help you stand out as a leader in your industry.
Sarah’s presentation to MassHire had the biggest webinar attendance in our history.
Bob McIntosh
“Sarah is a fresh and innovative voice in the career and personal branding space. She recently spoke at the Career Thought Leaders Professional Development Symposium in San Diego. Her presentation was selected as a “fan favorite” and presented a second time. The direct feedback that we received was that her “LinkedIn strategies session had excellent and actionable content, even for LinkedIn veterans!” It’s evident that she stays on top of the latest trends and research”
Marie Zimenoff, Career Thought Leaders