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Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career — Education
Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career

Thinking about becoming an Instructional Designer (ID) but have no idea how to get started? Instructional Design is a field that is high in demand, very flexible, highly lucrative, and provides you with a great work-life balance (say bye to being overworked and underpaid)! Join Jill Davidian, 21-year corporate Instructional Design veteran and host of Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career! Jill has worked in many different industries including finance, health care, oil and gas, manufacturing, and even with the United Nations. She has helped over 500 new Instructional Designers launch their ID careers with corporate giants like Google and Amazon, as well as smaller companies. Each week she brings real talk, advice and inspiration, and interviews to help budding IDs stand out from the crowd and get that first job. Whether you are trying to figure out if Instructional Design is right for you, or you are ready to create a portfolio and rework your resume, you are in the right place to jumpstart your Instructional Design career.

jumpstartyouridcareer.substack.com

Copyright: © 2023 Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career

Latest Episodes:

34: If Money and Time Have Held You Back From This Transition, Start Here Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Money and time are the two biggest things holding people back from starting their ID transition and I get it, it’s a frustrating catch-22. In this episode, I’m sharing exactly what you can do when both are working against you, including a budget-friendly, time-friendly tool that employers genuinely want to see on your portfolio.

Top reasons to listen to the entire episode:

* Discover why Rise is the budget-friendly, time-friendly alternative to Storyline that employers genuinely want to see

* Learn how to create a high-quality, professional sample within Rise’s 30-day free trial without falling into the “it’s easy so I’ll wing it” trap

Full Show Notes Here!

Resources and Links Mentioned:

* Sign up for the 30-Day Rise Sprint

* Read the Substack article on planning your Rise sample before your free trial starts

* Join the Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career Facebook Group

Connect with Jill

Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career Facebook Group

Thanks for joining us on the Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help us reach even more freedom seekers and aspiring instructional designers.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jumpstartyouridcareer.substack.com

33: Why Hiring Managers Reject Your Portfolio in 10 Seconds Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

You've put in the work on your portfolio, but are employers even making it past the first page? After reviewing portfolios from my community, I kept seeing the same mistakes come up over and over. In this episode, I'm sharing the top five things that cause hiring managers to close a portfolio within the first ten seconds so you can fix them before it costs you the job.

Top reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Find out the five most common portfolio mistakes that send hiring managers running, including the Storyline newbie mistake that immediately signals you're new to the software
Learn exactly which samples belong in a corporate ID portfolio and the five minimum pieces every portfolio needs
Discover why your portfolio is marketing, not just a collection of your work, and how that one shift changes everything about how you build it

Full Show Notes Here!

Resources and Links Mentioned:

Connect with Jill

Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career Facebook Group

Website
Thanks for joining us on the Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help us reach even more freedom seekers and aspiring instructional designers.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jumpstartyouridcareer.substack.com

32: The 9-Week Summer Portfolio Plan for Aspiring IDs Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Every summer, people say they're going to make progress on their instructional design transition, and then August comes and nothing happened. In this episode, I'm giving you the exact nine-week plan I would follow to learn Storyline and build a portfolio sample that actually impresses hiring managers. No more dabbling. No more overwhelm. Just a real plan.

Top reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Get the full nine-week breakdown for learning ID fundamentals, mastering Storyline basics and advanced features, and building a polished portfolio sample from scratch
Learn why scaffolding your learning, and getting feedback at two key checkpoints, is what separates a portfolio that wows from one that falls flat
Find out how to use AI as both a productivity tool and an accountability partner to stay on track all summer long

Full Show Notes Here!

Resources and Links Mentioned:

Connect with Jill

Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career Facebook Group

Website
Thanks for joining us on the Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help us reach even more freedom seekers and aspiring instructional designers.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jumpstartyouridcareer.substack.com

31: There's a Better Way to Prompt AI That Most People Aren't Talking About Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

If you've been staring at a blank screen trying to figure out what to create your portfolio sample on, this episode is for you. I'm sharing a simple AI hack that flips the script, instead of you feeding AI all the context, you let it ask YOU the questions. The result? Way better output, and a portfolio topic you're actually excited about.

Top reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Learn the simple AI prompting shift that helps you get unstuck and start your portfolio sample faster
Discover how to turn your hobbies and everyday interests into a real corporate training topic
Get the details on the Summer Instructional Design Roadmap masterclass and the Articulate Storyline license giveaway

Full Show Notes Here!

Resources and Links Mentioned:

Connect with Jill

Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career Facebook Group

Website
Thanks for joining us on the Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help us reach even more freedom seekers and aspiring instructional designers.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jumpstartyouridcareer.substack.com

30: The Hidden Reason 20+ Year IDs Are Struggling to Get Hired May 26, 2026

Show notes

You've seen the posts — experienced IDs saying they can't find work. But does that mean you don't have a chance as someone new to the field? I'm giving you the real story behind what's going on, and why new IDs are still getting hired every day.

Top reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Find out the real reasons experienced IDs are struggling — and the lesson it holds for you at any stage of your career
Learn why a portfolio and up-to-date tech skills are non-negotiable in today's job market, no matter how long you've been in the field
Discover why being new to the field might actually give you an unexpected advantage over seasoned IDs

Full Show Notes Here!

Resources and Links Mentioned:

Connect with Jill

Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career Facebook Group

Website
Thanks for joining us on the Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help us reach even more freedom seekers and aspiring instructional designers.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jumpstartyouridcareer.substack.com

28: I'm Back! An Update and What You Can Expect Moving Forward May 19, 2026

Show notes

After two and a half years away from the mic, I'm back — and this isn't just a podcast comeback. There's so much more coming, and this episode is where it all starts.

Top reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Find out where I've been, why the podcast had to pause, and what's coming next
Learn about the brand new Instructional Design Transition Knowledge Hub launching on Substack — and why you need to be there
Discover how to connect, get support, and never feel alone in this transition

Full Show Notes Here!

Resources and Links Mentioned:

Connect with Jill

Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career Facebook Group

Website
Thanks for joining us on the Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help us reach even more freedom seekers and aspiring instructional designers.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jumpstartyouridcareer.substack.com

29: Should You Be Worried About AI Taking ID Jobs? May 19, 2026

Show notes

Will AI Replace Instructional Designers?

It's the question I hear more than almost any other right now and I'm not going to give you a vague non-answer. I'm sharing my honest take on whether AI is going to replace instructional designers and what you actually need to be focused on right now.

Top reasons to listen to the entire episode:

My honest answer on whether AI will replace instructional designers in our working lifetime backed by real data from 60 job postings
Learn what core ID skills still matter most and exactly where AI fits in
Understand why the noise you're hearing about AI is not the full picture and what's actually happening in the field right now

Full Show Notes Here!

Episode Mentioned:

Episode 28: I'm Back! An Update and What You Can Expect Moving Forward

Resources and Links Mentioned:

Connect with Jill

Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career Facebook Group

Website
Thanks for joining us on the Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help us reach even more freedom seekers and aspiring instructional designers.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jumpstartyouridcareer.substack.com

27: What Needs To Be in Your ID Portfolio To Get Hired Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

You know you need to have a portfolio, but what the heck do you put in it? The truth is, if you're not already an experienced ID, you'll have to start from scratch.

Top reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Understand how to create a portfolio that speaks to the job you want
Learn exactly which deliverables you need in your portfolio to help you stand out with hiring managers

Full Show Notes Here!

Resources and Links Mentioned:

Listen to the episodes:

Download your free design document template

Connect with Jill

Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career Facebook Group

Website
Thanks for joining us on the Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help us reach even more freedom seekers and aspiring instructional designers.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jumpstartyouridcareer.substack.com

26: What Job Titles Should You Look For When You Apply Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

Have you started the hunt for a corporate instructional design position? Finding your first ID job can be overwhelming and confusing, especially with the various titles that pop up when searching online job platforms. In this episode, I'm discussing what to search for when looking for a job in corporate instructional design.

Top reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Understand how to successfully search for corporate instructional design jobs and what keywords you should be using
Explore the most common job titles and their primary differences
Learn how to interpret job titles and their descriptions to ensure you're applying for positions that align with your goals

Full Show Notes Here!

Resources and Links Mentioned:

Sign up for the Applied Instructional Design Academy

Listen to the episode, Articulate Storyline vs. Rise

Listen to the episode, How the Instructional Design Process is Like Building a House

Connect with Jill

Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career Facebook Group

Website
Thanks for joining us on the Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help us reach even more freedom seekers and aspiring instructional designers.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jumpstartyouridcareer.substack.com

25: Why Instructional Design is Recession-Proof May 30, 2023

Show notes

Is the current economy making you hesitant to start your career in instructional design? Despite the possibility of a recession, the eLearning industry is booming - and I'll tell you why.

In this episode, I'm shedding light on why the instructional design industry is recession-proof, so you can feel more at ease as you embark on or continue your journey in corporate instructional design.

Top reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Discover the unique advantages that instructional design has over other corporate careers
Understand how constant change actually ensures job security for designers
Explore the future of learning and its impact on the industry

Full Show Notes Here!

Connect with Jill

Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career Facebook Group

Website
Thanks for joining us on the Jumpstart Your Instructional Design Career podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help us reach even more freedom seekers and aspiring instructional designers.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jumpstartyouridcareer.substack.com

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