I recently had a client relent how frustrated they were in their job search. I get it. Changing jobs is one of the biggest challenges we voluntarily face in our lifetime. We’ve all been there and perhaps will be there again.
The beginning of a job search feels exciting and new and you are motivated to make a change. It’s all about the vision and you can really see the light at the end of the tunnel. Fantastic. Then sometimes things slow down. You may not hear back on many (or any) of the lengthy applications that you’d completed. Your network has gone radio silent and the recruiter you enlisted to help you keeps sending you duds. You start to feel as if your efforts are in vain.
Are you ready to face the scale? Take a client of mine I worked with several months ago. Here are a few snippets of her dialogue when she got frustrated with her job search.
“I want the dream but I don’t want to do the work. I can’t figure out how my skills are transferable, although we went through all of that, I no longer believe it. I don’t want to work at a desk, but I’ve always worked at a desk, but I don’t want to do that any more. I want big bucks but I’m not qualified for those jobs so I’m frustrated that I can’t have all that I want, but I deserve it. No one is calling me back and I’m ready to quit.”
This is no joke. This is also not an embellishment. While we may not always articulate our frustrations aloud, I am certain that we have all felt the same way a time or two. I know I have. Entering into the job search is like losing weight. It takes time and it takes work. You may not become a runway model overnight (but you can be one—if that is your goal). Still, when you get on the scale every morning the weight is not coming off fast enough and you’re hungry, tired, and ticked off that you have to go through this because “it isn’t fair that it’s so easy for everyone else.”
Are you aware of the road ahead? Sound familiar? I want to be clear that I am not on the other side of this conversation isolated from the very same frustration my clients are. Why? Because I have been there. And I will be there again and again with many of my big personal and professional goals. More importantly, I am personally vested in my clients’ success and I truly care about them. When they are frustrated, so am I.
But here’s the thing. I believe anything is possible if you want it badly enough. Deep down my clients believe the same way. And I know you do, too. I know my clients believe this for a fact because before I even take them on as a client, we have a heart-to-heart talk about how this process will be like a roller coaster with ups and downs. I remind them of the frustrations they will face and the truth. I also promise that I will be with them every step of the way. But I also remind them that it takes work. The harder you are willing to work and the more you are willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone the bigger the reward.
Are you willing to put in the work? There is something cathartic about having a coach to help you work through your frustrations when you get stuck. Still, may I gently remind you, the work that needs to be done is still up to you. There are no magic wands but I do know that when I am working with a client who is in the throws of a job search, inevitably they will start looking to me to fix their situation.
While our work together develops strategies that get major results, it doesn’t happen overnight and I simply cannot do the work for the client (imagine asking your coach to interview for you). Humor aside, this is a cold reality for those who want big results. Sometimes the dream is there but they don’t want to put in the work when the going gets tough.
Are you running from or running to? Yes, you can get a job tomorrow. But wouldn’t you rather have a calling? Wouldn’t you rather be on your way to your dream job, if not running to it sooner rather than later? Then don’t let the dream die. Don’t look beyond the tried and true methods with authentic relationship building at the core. There is no magic wand. And unless you are willing to go the distance in the marathon, without flagging down an Uber, you will not get the results you so deeply desire. This is the hardest part of being a coach—reminding clients that there are no shortcuts.
Now let me be clear. Most of my clients who come to me for help with their job search reach their goals within a few weeks. But it is because they are willing to go the distance, dream big, and work hard. May I remind you the average job search takes anywhere from six to twelve months, if done right. This is a fact that we have to keep in mind.
It’s also a fact that if you want to lose 20 pounds and do it right so that you keep the weight off, you will be on a plan that averages one pound loss a week. That’s around four months or so. This is why I use weight loss as a great example for the job search. It takes time.
Are you leveraging your unique gifts? Finally, let me deliver you some exciting news. When most individuals decide to embark on a job search they are not starting from ground zero. They have already developed a network of people who can help them shorten their timeline. Coupled with designing and enacting a results-infused plan and coaching, you will likely achieve your goals in a much shorter amount of time, if you don’t get in your own way.
Frustration, lack of confidence, avoiding the heavy lifting, “letting life take over,” etc. These are the reasons we don’t reach any goal that we set for ourselves. That is where coaching can really help you succeed. Step away from your frustrations and all the “Instagrammers” showing you how much better they have it than you.
Focus on your results and believe in your true potential. You are put here for a purpose and you are already positively impacting so many around you. You have incredible value that many organizations are hungry to pay good money for. You just need to get in their door and then sparkle and shine. That’s right. If you want more, it’s okay to go for more. If you want really, really big dreams, you can make them come true. Just don’t self-sabotage. Instead, stay true to your path and don’t cheat or skip the work that needs to be done. If you are truly committed to getting results and you believe in yourself, you can achieve anything you want. Trust me, I see it every day!
So what are you waiting for?
How To Be Career Happy? Stay Motivated In Your Job Search