WHY?
what every job seeker ought to know
But WHY?
It gets tedious when toddlers repeat this question. And more so when they are teens asking over and over again. Asking “why” feels like a challenge or obstinance. And no one likes to hear “because” as an answer!
(Photo by Dewang Gupta on Unsplash)
Without understanding your why - in big and small ways - it’s incredibly difficult to end up where you want to be - whether related to health, geography or career.
Why do I push “send” on this letter every week?
Why do I offer career consulting for job seekers?
Here’s why:
To align your career with your gifts and goals. Career coaches and resume writers and people pontificating about the “secret” to job hunting success are as plentiful as sneezes at a pepper lover’s convention. I’m not one of them. Sure, I have the certification and I have more than a decade spent in a recruiter’s role in many industries. AND that helps me help you. AND I want you to know that without diving deeper and understanding YOUR values, your dreams, your goals and your own past challenges and fears, you may well land a job, and find yourself miserable again. I don’t want that for you. I write this newsletter and provide one-to-one coaching because I know there’s more to you than your resume and LinkedIn profile. I can help you with both of those once you do the work to align with your values and visions of a better life.
To help you define wealth, success and happiness on your own terms. My definition of wealth and success are vastly different from you. And that’s the point. Everything from my upbringing to my lived experience contributes to my current desires and goals and values. It’s not my job to define these things for you, it is my promise that when you read this newsletter or work with me, you will begin to unpack your definitions, and re-write and re-wire them to help you aim in the direction that feeds your soul and heart.
To figure out the meaning of life. At the end of it all, what was the point? Were we really incarnated, born and raised to live a mediocre life of commuting to a soul-sucking job? We spend approximately 90,000 hours of our life at work (that’s 1/3 for those who like fractions) (source: Andrew Naber, Gettysburg College. Gettysburg.edu/news/stories). Spending 1/3 of my lifetime doing anything seems to indicate that it should provide some meaning - doesn’t it? I’m not confusing this with a “life purpose” per se, and I’m still saying that my work in the world ought to reflect the purpose I intend to exude on the planet. If my purpose is to hold space for others to heal and tell their stories - to grow and embrace their value on the planet, while holding that same space for myself - what work reflects that?
To encourage creativity, love, kindness and calculated risk. Moving from where you are to where you want to be calls for all of these - it’s scary to leave a comfy pay-check in pursuit of work that aligns with your why. The human experience requires a creative bent, love over fear and kindness for others traveling alongside us. Risk, when calculated, often pays off - even if at first it seems like failure - the key is to keep moving! Updating your LinkedIn profile can feel risky, and I’m here to help you with that.
To renew childlike wonder. Ask a kid (whose parents are not in earshot) what they want to do when they grow up and they have brilliant answers. A recent conversation with a young person I love resulted in this “a scientist, fairy friend, race-car driver doctor, who works with bugs.” PERFECT. Aren’t there a lot of clues to the wonder of the world in this one answer? Ask an adult what they want to do and they narrow themselves into one box. We are mutli-faceted beings! We have all kinds of dreams and goals and gifts - I’m here to help you unpack them.
To remind you of your value. While I’m a pragmatic person by nature…my feet, after all, are almost always firmly planted on earth, I’m a believer in magic and kismet and forces outside of myself as well. I’ll always show you practical thru-lines in your life and work stories and help you map a plan to move you to the joy and value you deserve in your career. Mostly I’m here to remind you that you are not alone and I’m always in your corner - no matter your career goal!
Do me a favor and share a story of what you wanted to be when you grew up in the comments.
(Photo by Tyler Quiring on Unsplash)
Until next week - fill the bird feeder, clean out the bird bath and listen to the crows sending messages.
Peggie