All Job Searches Begin Within...

Get out of a soul-less job search and start looking where it really matters--inside you! I've had many students, graduates, and seekers from all walks of life come to me confused about how to achieve that elusive dream career. "There are no good jobs out there!" they may say, or "Why can't I find the right company to hire me?" Even freedom-loving freelancers feel anxious about how and whether they will find their next project or contract.

My type of career solutionism asks people to focus on one thing they can use to help guide their search when all else seems unclear and uncertain: the inside search. I believe the most important discovery is to acquire an understanding of who they are and what they can contribute to the field or industry that interests them. Often, I will hear a frustrated job-seeker bemoan the lack of opportunities in a tough job market but when pressed about what special knowledge, skill, and talent they might bring to an organization, they are unable to name anything meaningful.

I get it. It can be a demoralizing, scary process to be unsuccessful in finding meaningful work, after prolonged periods of time--not to mention, trying to make a career dream come to life. The constant rejection chips away at your self-esteem. Bills don't pay themselves. And over time, you may genuinely doubt any special skills you might have ever thought even existed.

A good career counselor will help you understand that thoughtlessly searching job boards is the kind of outside search that usually leads to more frustration and bad feelings. I love helping people find out what they really love to do and connecting them with those opportunities. But many are surprised to learn that this rarely comes about solely as a result of finding them multitudes of job leads. Or desperately applying to any job that remotely sounds acceptable. In any successful career development effort, the search must first begin within by asking foundational questions that sometimes get lost in all the frenzied "outside" activity. Questions such as: What do they do well or that others tell them they do well? What particular characteristics do they possess that make them uniquely qualified for certain roles? What have they the aptitude for and would enjoy the opportunity to learn? What industries interest them?

I can usually tell when this necessary introspective work has been neglected. It is reflected in poorly written resumes that sound like nothing more than a list of job descriptions rather than a portrait of accomplishments. Sometimes, the person I am working with might struggle to compose a compelling cover letter. I might point to dry, uninspired profiles that reveal nothing but a surface view of an individual's work history as well.

Conversely, I can spot when someone has put the emphasis where it truly belongs and at its most basic level. For example, this person can clearly articulate how their keen eye for design drives the powerful marketing campaigns they can launch. Or perhaps they can easily illustrate how an extreme detail orientation gives them that extra edge in a tech support role. You may have seen them, too. They rarely seem to be unemployed for long and when they are, they still appear to remain connected with work that means something to them in life. Once they find their next career move, the vitality they bring with them comes from having good awareness of their value and being energized by what they do.

So, take the time to conduct that all-important search within yourself, especially if you find your career goals being strangely stalled. Tirelessly searching job postings won't get you there without doing that search first. And I recommend you re-consider the answers to the questions noted above if some time has passed in between searches. Just like the person on the outside changes your reflection in the mirror, so might your answers lead you to new and exciting career changes you might not have anticipated.