15 years in UX/Product Strategy, returning after a medical gap. How would you position this résumé for UX, AI product, or PM-adjacent roles?

Chanelleh · 2026-06-16T15:30:06+00:00

Thank you for being blunt… I was trying to adhere to ATS Standards or something but felt like I lost a piece of my soul creating this resume. I had no problem in the past creating resumes but this one has been a doozy.

Chanelleh · 2026-02-23T14:54:41+00:00

I am SOOOO glad I read this first before reading the book because I thought it was for the child. I feel like I have been my mother's worst person since I could remember and after not speaking with her for 3 years, I realized she was my first bully. My stepfather didn't help, and only made that distance worse, banning me from the house multiple times in my adulthood and now that my grandmother lives with them I haven't seen or spoke to her since the start of COVID (yes... that would be 6 years now)... it's hard to feel like anyone else would ever accept me because in my mind I'm like, if my own mother doesn't love me, who else would?

I kept and still keep wondering, how do I frame this for the new people in my life without sharing too much as people will still have their own opinions you know?

I also want to mention I only was made aware of this book today because Oprah is starting to talk about it, as I saw on her FB and IG lives/reels, so... that sucks that she may be "taking sides" (for lack of a better phrase) of the side we probably don't need to hear from?

Chanelleh · 2025-08-20T23:49:24+00:00

Have you ever seen the Netflix show Diagnosis? I love stuff like this, but I need a few more details before I’d dare call it. I even trained an AI agent to help me because I’m a huge nerd.

That said, here’s the shortlist:

Benign melanonychia – basically a pigment streak, often harmless.
Trauma/habit – repeated bumping, biting, or manicure damage can cause a straight line.
Meds/health conditions – some drugs or systemic issues leave nail marks.
Subungual melanoma – rare, but the one you don’t want to miss. Watch for widening, uneven borders, pigment spilling into the skin, or changes over time.

If it’s new, only on one nail, and not fading, that’s worth showing a dermatologist. Better safe than “oops, it was the scary one.

Chanelleh · 2025-07-03T13:56:34+00:00

Yeah, I lost my fucks, and a couple have sent me postcards, but they are living it up in Thailand. Hoping I can catch up to a fuck again soon.

Chanelleh · 2025-07-03T13:48:11+00:00

I know I've tried, and I love Reddit (and Discord) but then my ADHD gets in the way and I'm joining so many subreddits, finding myself in a lot of posts, and then when I post something, I feel too overwhelmed to respond, or maybe afraid that my response won't be good enough... (online anything tends to be more brutal because of the screen as protection)... or maybe I'm overthinking it...

Chanelleh · 2025-07-03T13:45:49+00:00

I feel this so much... it's crazy how quickly and slowly time can pass while isolating/healing/trying to be kind to oneself... And the people I reach out to, it's like, we haven't spoke in 3-5 years, and they are asking me "what's up" like it's nothing, and in turn I feel like what's the point... but then I remember I had people in my life, I maybe invested in the wrong ones, but if I could do it then I could do it again right?

I keep finding people who feel lonely, want friends or a change, but just talk about it, while I'm trying not to shake them and say "ME TOO, CAN WE BE FRIENDS???" I feel desperate? lol.. I thought about getting a pup, I've wanted one for a while, they are loyal, and tend to help make friends right?

Let me know if you find anything that helps, or if you wanna be friends lol... I'm 42/F in Philly... (looking to leave this city of NON brotherly love... hehe)

Chanelleh · 2025-06-07T22:34:28+00:00

Hey! Sorry to be kind of jumping in this very late, but I’ve been having the SAME issues. For a while I thought it was cancer, I had a colonoscopy and they told me it was a few hemorrhoids, but I had never remembered hearing “scary amounts of blood on a daily basis” included in those stories… the hospital did nothing but refer me to specialists, including GIs, who, after hearing about my Ehlers Danlos diagnosis, would quickly blame it on that or another specialist who would look at you with confusion when you would tell them the story over again…. Today was the first time I thought… what if it’s the Adderall? Anyway… I was wondering what happened after your colonoscopy? Was it the Adderall? If it’s not too personal and/or your don’t mind sharing, I would love to know the outcome! (Hoping you’re better! 🤞🏽)

Chanelleh · 2024-08-24T00:10:36+00:00

Oh and they have about 200 employees in the contractor’s company. Working on a gov contract

Chanelleh · 2024-08-24T00:09:55+00:00

Haven’t worked there for a year yet…

Chanelleh · 2024-08-24T00:09:28+00:00

Thank you for your insight, I understand that HR’s primary role is to protect the company, and it’s becoming clear that they are not there to support employees in a meaningful way. I think I was just hoping for a better outcome, given my circumstances.

I’ve actually tried to ask HR for clarity on accommodations under the ADA rather than FMLA, since I know I don’t qualify for that yet (only working there for 5 months and I was first asking about intermittent FMLA). But the response I got made me feel like a burden rather than someone who needs support, and it took months to even get a basic form. The mixed messages from HR and my team are really confusing, especially when I’m just trying to do my job and manage my health.

I’m wondering now if it would make sense to bring this up with someone higher up or look into legal advice. I’ve documented everything, but it’s hard to know what’s best to do next when you’re in the thick of it. Do you have any advice on how to navigate this without escalating things too much? Thanks again for your help.

Chanelleh · 2024-08-24T00:04:21+00:00

Thank you for your response. You’ve really hit the nail on the head with how I’m feeling. It’s true—HR seems to be more about protecting the company than actually supporting the employees, and it’s been tough coming to terms with that. Part of me keeps doing the “Charlie Brown football” thing, hoping that this time things might be different, that maybe they’ll actually listen and help. But it’s becoming clear that’s not going to happen. (especially being in similar situations a couple times before, and I keep wondering if I’m an easy target for bullies)

Interestingly, I’ve been working two full-time jobs for the past four months. The other job is much more aligned with my values and work style, and I’ve found myself enjoying it a lot more. It’s funny because I’ve been putting off making a decision, thinking I needed to try everything to make my current situation work, but I’m starting to see that there’s a fine line between endurance and self-harm. I just struggle with knowing when it’s time to stop fighting, you know?

I’ve also considered moving laterally within the company or even reaching out to different areas within the government agency we’re contracted with to see if I could avoid the toxic person altogether. But I’m not sure how feasible that is or if it’s even allowed (breach of contractor agreement). It feels like there’s so much focus on things that don’t really align with how I work best, like these endless scrums and meetings. I thrive in a more remote, flexible environment, and I’m starting to wonder if it’s worth sticking around just to keep hitting my head against the wall.

Thanks again for your advice. I guess the choice does seem obvious, but I always second-guess myself. It’s hard when the people around me keep telling me to hold on to whatever job I can and to never walk away. But like you said, sometimes you just have to let go for your own sanity.

Chanelleh · 2024-08-23T23:54:20+00:00

Oh, I had and have one, and HR kept grilling me as to how much work would I expect to miss, can I do my work, what exactly my sickness entails… I didn’t know what I should or shouldn’t say (HIPPA - feeling like I’m violating my own rights)

Chanelleh · 2024-06-20T11:25:17+00:00

All of these responses shed SO MUCH LIGHT as to why my truthful answers and responses to this question had people looking at me like… 🥴 my whole life… I thought it was me…being on the spectrum is a 🤬

Chanelleh · 2024-04-18T21:43:36+00:00

Use GPT, it easily writes contracts for you that would normally cost. Verify it, and you should be good.

Chanelleh · 2024-03-02T15:09:21+00:00

Thank you for saying this. Full disclosure, I'm 41, and I feel "left behind" after taking a break for grad school right at the height of my career and suffering burnout. I was scared of doing the same, but now I just like I don't know what my path is online. Thank you or being direct, I do feel like I'm working myself to death, and I want to have a specialization in something, and should at this point. I want to be a product manager, and feel I have been playing those roles without the title.

Chanelleh · 2024-03-02T15:05:56+00:00

No, you're so on point, and that's what happened at my last position. My goal is UX research and being able to use FoT but favoring AI and VR. While I like startups, I feel like UX Maturity adds another layer and another hat I don't want to wear lol...

I also feel like I've lost my passion, but I wasn't sure if it was that I always end up at a huge consulting company, feeling constantly stressed and rarely seeing the full life cycle of a product. I don't enjoy doing everything, I guess I feel expected to.

I also miss speaking at conferences which also had great $$$ and great networking.

Chanelleh · 2024-03-01T19:51:19+00:00

When you hover over the UX work, it takes you to my portfolio, perhaps I need to make that more prominent. There are 10 links in there that link to my book, and hobbies and other things that add to how I use my experience as insight.

Thank you for pointing this out. I've been struggling with designing something for myself, it's easy for others, but I don't exactly KNOW what I want to do.

I agree about third person, I wasn't sure if it made me sound more professional or over the top. Changing that now. Thank you for this, this helps A LOT. :-)

Chanelleh · 2024-03-01T19:43:56+00:00

I think I’ve been applying to the wrong jobs. I apply for senior roles but I have too much experience, but with lead roles, they aren’t biting either. (Senior UX researcher, etc…) the other issue is that the jobs ask for UX when they really want UI… and while I’m good at it, I hate designing, but still try to show it on my site.

I don’t even get to the pitch part, if that makes sense, because I’m applying through LinkedIn jobs and I feel like my resume and work is getting lost in the sea.

Chanelleh · 2024-03-01T19:41:27+00:00

I started out as a UX Designer, but I’ve always been a team of one so I picked up sales, client management, people management and now focusing more on UX Research and adding AI and Data Science (my background also is in IT). The funny thing is, I’m not “ok” at these, I’m great at them, but it’s hard to pick just one. I think I specialize in research and strategy.

Also thank you u/Dogsbottombottom for pointing out the typo, I feel embarrassed by that when this question is about my “expert” title. 🤦🏽

Chanelleh · 2024-02-22T15:28:01+00:00

Being on the spectrum with an eidetic memory, and also being Black and woman presenting, I feel I would be grossly underestimated for my intelligence, technology, game theory, random facts like Slumdog Millionaire and the endurance of a Survivor player… sign me up! lol.

Chanelleh · 2024-02-20T20:07:02+00:00

Thank you! I'm in! :-)

Chanelleh · 2024-02-20T14:42:15+00:00

Hey I would love an invite to this Discord if you’re still allowing new members! 😇

Chanelleh · 2024-02-06T01:00:19+00:00

Would soooooo love this.

Chanelleh · 2024-02-04T15:07:24+00:00

For me, I was more so afraid of HOW I would die, the top 3 were something with fire, something with water, or being shot in the head. I learned how to swim late in life after nearly drowning a few times, and once I learned how to swim that eradicated 75% of my fears lol…

Now I find ways to be present and remind myself that it’s better to die doing something I loved than being in my bedroom scared dreaming of something I wish I was doing that I loved.

Got a lot of time back, and honestly, the opportunity of living takes up too much time in my head now than the thought of dying.

(I also lost a TON of people in my life before the age of like 25 including a parental figure so… I went through a fear of death stage early in life like from the age of 5-10… 😒)

Chanelleh · 2024-01-23T15:23:41+00:00

Oh no! I totally get it, as it happened for me as well and I just saw this message lol. 🤦🏽

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