Why I Left National Geographic to Become a Full-Time Creator

When the pandemic halted film production, McGoff turned to TikTok to share career advice, starting with a simple formula for the common 'tell me about yourself' interview question. Despite initial hesitation about being labeled an influencer, she realized social media allowed her to bypass industry gatekeepers. By 2022, she committed to her own platform full-time, leveraging financial stability to build a business focused on coaching women aged 18 to 40.

Her content now addresses the friction between academic job market data and the lived experiences of her followers. She notes that today's hiring landscape is stalled by uncertainty and an influx of AI-generated applications. To navigate this, she advises candidates to treat AI literacy as a mandatory résumé skill, similar to word processing software in previous decades, and to prioritize an active LinkedIn presence to verify their professional identity. While she acknowledges the current 'doom loop' in hiring, she maintains that individual agency remains the most effective tool for career growth, particularly for mothers seeking flexible, remote work facilitated by new technology.