Leland+ for Career Coaching

How to Work With Me - Personal Read Me Guide Example

This 'How to' guide is my favorite tool to set and communicating boundaries at work while acting as a great collaborator. I wrote this note when I was Group PM at LinkedIn in their Sunnyvale (CA) HQ. I shared it with new collaborators every time I changed scope or team and started working with new partners (which happened a lot!). Many colleagues told me they really appreciated my transparent approach to collaboration and the example I set in communicating my boundaries. Some even created their own version and thanked me for it. Feel free to copy it and create your own version. Make sure to adapt it to your personal style and needs, as well as your organisation’s work culture.

Resume Template

Use this template to tailor your resume to the job you are applying to. Make sure to read the entire resume as some lines are examples and some lines explain what to write. You will need a PDF editor to use this template. If you don't have one, reach out to me and I will help you!

How to Build a Resume That Gets Interviews

"The bullet point framework completely changed how I write my resume!" Writing a resume isn’t just about listing responsibilities. It’s about telling a clear story of impact. During this 45-minute resume workshop, I share practical, real-world strategies for turning everyday experience into compelling, results-driven resumes. Drawing from my experience at Google and supporting 1,300+ professionals with resume writing, I break down proven frameworks like the XYZ formula (Accomplished X by doing Y, resulting in Z) and show how to transform generic statements into powerful career narratives. This session walks through how to write stronger bullet points, avoid common resume mistakes, and follow the 3 pillars of tailoring your resume to the job description so it actually gets noticed. Attendees also see live examples of how AI tools can help rewrite experience, identify key skills from job postings, and structure resumes more strategically. This workshop is designed for students and professionals who want to present their experience with clarity, highlight measurable impact, and position themselves competitively in today’s job market. Across universities and organizations, it has become one of my most requested sessions, with many attendees saying the frameworks and examples immediately changed how they approach resume writing.

CPT to FTE: Building Your Career Pipeline During Your U.S. Studies

Turning a CPT opportunity into a full-time role requires early planning and a clear strategy. In this session, we’ll break down how students can use internships, part-time roles, and on-campus opportunities to build a strong pipeline toward full-time employment in the U.S. You’ll learn how to choose roles that maximize conversion potential, build relationships with managers and recruiters, and position your experience for return offers or future sponsorship. Whether you’re just starting your studies or already on CPT, this session will help you take intentional steps toward a successful FTE outcome.

Land Your Job or Study in ... Denmark

Denmark does not make much noise. It does not need to. Novo Nordisk alone accounts for roughly 4% of the entire Danish GDP. Vestas leads the world in wind energy. Danfoss sets the standard in industrial automation. These are not household names to most non-EU professionals, and that is precisely the point: the competition for roles here is lower than the quality of the companies would suggest. The labour market is tight and the skills shortage is real, which works in your favour. English is the default language in most professional environments. The workforce is genuinely multicultural, and Danish workplace culture is notably flat: titles matter less than contribution. This session covers both paths in: studying at world-class institutions like Copenhagen Business School and the Technical University of Denmark, and entering the job market directly. We go through visa options, the Danish approach to work-life integration, living costs, and what international candidates consistently get wrong in their applications. Two real cases show what a successful move to Denmark actually looks like. Denmark is smaller than its neighbours and more selective. This Thursday, we show you exactly how to qualify. New episodes in this series cover a different European country every Thursday.

Decoding Cultural Friction Before It Hits the Slack Channel

Are you ready to master the art of cross-cultural communication and prevent misunderstandings before they escalate? Join me, Caolan, for an insightful session on "Decoding Cultural Friction Before It Hits the Slack Channel." With extensive experience leading international teams and guiding executives to communicate with precision and authority, I will share practical techniques to enhance your conflict-resolution, negotiation, and active listening skills. I specialize in helping leaders thrive across cultures through strategic communication and storytelling. My background includes delivering talks at top universities and transforming brand narratives across continents. Whether you're working in a multicultural environment or communicating in a second language, this session will equip you with the tools to speak with presence and influence. Spaces are limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot and turn everyday interactions into opportunities for impact!

Challenging Boss? The Unwritten Rules of Managing Up

Navigating the complexities of managing up can be challenging, especially when dealing with a difficult boss. Join me, for an insightful session on "The Unwritten Rules of Managing Up," where we'll explore essential leadership development and communication skills to help you thrive in your role. Topics: Understanding Your Boss's Perspective Creating Credibility Prompting Your Boss (BossGPT) Dealing with challenging bosses (Micromanagers, Absentee Bosses, The Chaos Creator) Plus - Q&A time to cover any specific challenges About Jeff Sigel: With over two decades of experience in marketing and leadership, including serving as Vice President at Cracker Barrel and Ahold Delhaize, I bring a wealth of knowledge to this session. As author of "The Middle Matters: A Toolkit for Middle Managers," I specialize in empowering middle to senior level leaders to build trust and drive success. My coaching approach is tailored to help you become a more effective and impactful leader.

Culture Code Cracked: Your Guide to Global Team Success

Unlock the secrets to thriving in global teams with our event, "Culture Code Cracked: Your Guide to Global Team Success." Join me, Caolan, an expert in cross-cultural communication and storytelling, as we delve into the art of effective communication across diverse cultures. With a rich background in leading international teams and delivering talks at top universities, I've guided executives and rising leaders to transform their communication skills. As work becomes ever more borderless, success depends not just on strategy, but on understanding. Discover how diagnostics and coaching can dissolve friction, deepen trust, and turn cultural differences into your team’s greatest advantage. From Seoul to Singapore, from global startups to local innovators, this session is designed for anyone building across borders. Be part of the conversation on how the next generation of global teams will work, learn, and thrive.

Land Your Job or Study in ... The Netherlands

The Netherlands punches well above its weight. A country of 18 million people hosts the European headquarters of companies like ASML, Shell, Philips, Booking.com, Heineken, and IKEA. Rotterdam is home to the largest port in Europe. Amsterdam ranks among the continent's top financial and tech hubs. For a non-EU professional, this combination of scale, innovation, and openness is rare. The language barrier that slows people down in other European countries simply does not exist here. The Dutch are among the most proficient English speakers in the world outside of native-speaking countries. Most professional environments operate entirely in English. That removes one of the biggest obstacles non-EU candidates face elsewhere. This session covers the study path and the direct job path side by side: visa options, living costs in Amsterdam and beyond, the multicultural workplace culture that makes integration genuinely easier, and how to position yourself in a market that spans logistics, tech, finance, agriculture, and life sciences. Two real cases show how international candidates turned Dutch openness into a concrete career move. The Netherlands is one of the most welcoming labour markets in Europe. This Thursday, we show you how to use that to your advantage. New episodes in this series cover a different European country every Thursday.

Sample Senior Software Engineer Resume

An example of a Senior Software Engineer's Resume

International Careers Office Hours - Ask Me Anything

Curious about launching an international career but don't know where to start? Wondering whether European, Asian, or other multinational companies offer better opportunities than traditional US corporations? Join me for bi-weekly office hours where no question is off limits. As someone who navigated from engineering graduate to CEO across three countries and 25 years of international business, I'm here to provide honest, practical guidance on everything from selecting your first international employer to preparing for overseas assignments to building the cultural intelligence that sets global leaders apart.

Home for Ambition #7 — Weekly Live Show [4/29/2026] (Recording)

Home for Ambition is a weekly live show, by Leland, for people trying to stay ahead as work, learning, and opportunity keep changing. Each episode tackles a handful of timely, high-signal topics across AI, careers, education, and the future of work. We expect thoughtful debate, unique perspectives, and practical takeaways you can actually use. It is not a typical interview show or a generic news recap. It is a live roundtable built to help ambitious people make sense of what is changing, understand what matters, and leave with a sharper point of view on how to navigate what comes next.

The Resume That Got Me Into Facebook As An IC6 PM

This is the exact resume that I submitted to Facebook, got me interviews and resulted in me being hired as an IC6 PM in 2017.

The Unwritten Rules of Job Search Networking

"Cheat Sheet" from webinar on The Unwritten Rules of Job Search Networking

3 AI Skills to Land Your Job in ... The Semiconductor Industry

Some people assume semiconductors are invisible: microscopic circuits, abstract specifications, products too small to see. In a sense, that is true. And yet the industry behind them is as physical as manufacturing gets. Cleanrooms where a single particle of dust is an unacceptable defect. Machines costing hundreds of millions of dollars, operated by teams with years of specialized training. Processes requiring a level of precision that makes most other industries look approximate. These are tangible products in the most demanding sense: you cannot hold a chip between your fingers the way you hold a seal or a grease, but the physical constraints that govern its production are absolute. I spent more than 10 years working with the semiconductor industry, familiar with its major players and their exacting requirements. There is something genuinely satisfying about contributing to miniaturization generation after generation: smartphones that fit in a pocket, supercomputers that keep accelerating, electronics that the modern world depends on without a second thought. You can be a substantial part of that evolution. This Tuesday session covers the semiconductor industry: one of the fastest-moving, most capital-intensive, and most precision-driven sectors on the planet. We will discuss three specific AI skills that are changing what hiring managers expect, and how you can demonstrate them before you walk into an interview. If you want a career where the tangible product you help create sets the pace for everything else, this session is for you.

Building Your Professional Brand

In this exercise, we will first do the work to define your brand and then create a plan to build your brand based on your definition of how you want to be perceived.

Creating an Elevator Pitch

This exercise will walk you through creating an elevator pitch, tagline, and about you statement for networking.

Brand Voice Workbook

Follow this workbook to develop your brand voice and achieve career success.

Building Your Resume

In this exercise, we will walk through the steps you can take to create a great, well-targeted resume. This exercise will take quite a bit of work, so set aside ample time – perhaps break the segments down into time blocks on your calendar.

Beyond Buzzwords: Leverage Your LinkedIn - Webinar

If you're looking for low key ways to use social media for your job search and career change, you'll want to attend this workshop. Whether you're pivoting careers or breaking into quant finance, I'll make it easy and walk you step-by-step how to optimize your LinkedIn profile, find roles quickly, and build your network in a new field. For over a decade, I've taught LinkedIn strategies for the job search - showing 5000+ career changers and students how to use it to get noticed in a new field - ranging from finance, tech, engineering, and consulting to marketing, education, and healthcare. This isn't a lecture. This is a walkthrough. You’ll leave with concrete tips, examples, and action steps you can implement right away.