Episode 29: Flipping the Script on Your L&D Career
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Think you need a fancy job title to land your dream L&D role? Think again. In this episode of L&D Must Change, Jess sits down with Sarah Cannistra, L&D career coach, author of Land Your Next L&D Role, and passionate advocate for breaking out of the "one and done" career mindset. Together, they unravel why L&D professionals often don't apply their own learning philosophies to their own career growth and how to change that. If you’re an L&D pro ready to rethink your path and future-proof your career, this conversation is your new roadmap.
Sarah and Jess Discuss
How L&D professionals tend to approach our career development with a "one-and-done" mindset, contradicting how we view learning for others.
Expanding our career journey from chasing job titles (title vision) to identifying impact.
Using your own L&D "niche" as a north star for career decisions.
How to find and define your L&D niche.
Viewing your resume as a marketing document vs. a laundry list of activities.
How to use your resume to stand out from the crowd.
Using a Boolean search to find relevant roles beyond job titles.
About Sarah Cannistra
Sarah Cannistra is a passionate Learning and Development (L&D) leader and career coach dedicated to helping others grow. She began her career in sales, where she thrived in understanding clients’ needs and guiding them to their perfect homes. As she moved into management, Sarah discovered an even greater passion, coaching and developing people. She built training programs, shadowing opportunities, and learning resources for her team, finding deep fulfillment in their growth. Her career path shifted entirely when she attended a leadership development session and realized that facilitating learning was the work she was meant to do.
That moment led to her first role in L&D—offered to her on the spot—despite having no formal background in the field. Less than two years later, Sarah became the Director of Corporate Training for an organization of over 2,500 employees. Since then, she has led the learning function at five organizations, created hundreds of training programs, hired over 100 L&D practitioners, and served more than 20,000 learners. Since 2020, through coaching, courses, and communities, she has helped over 1,000 people transition into L&D careers, guiding them to find, land, and grow in roles they love. Sarah is also the host of The L&D Career Club Podcast, a top 200 career podcast dedicated to helping professionals break into and thrive in the L&D field.
Find and Connect with Sarah Cannistra
Website: www.theovernighttrainer.com
Book: Land Your Next L&D Role: Creating a Career that Works for You
Podcast: The L&D Career Club
Additional Links from the Show
Coming Soon!
Jess's book, L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner will be published by ATD Press on September 2, 2025. To be the first to get behind-the-scenes updates, early sneak peeks, and join the virtual launch party, join Jess's email list! You'll get the L&D Must Change newsletter delivered to your inbox weekly as well as special updates on the book when available. Click here to join!
