Is It Time To Take A Risk In Your Job Search?

What Have I Been Up To?

As you have noticed, I haven’t written much in the past month and a half. I have lots of irons in the fire that I’ve been trying to juggle and that’s not something you want to do haphazardly!

I have a few drafts of blog entries lined up, I’ve been researching and polling for a new day and time for my BlogTalkRadio show, and have several shows scripted and ready to go. I’ve also been querying for various freelance proofreading, editing and writing gigs and I re-wrote a resume and coached a man, Joseph, so he was able to attain his dream job!

Being Open To Learning

Joseph has been at his new job for a month now and is loving it. He was great to work with: had a targeted position and company in mind, answered all of my questions so I could bring out his best in his resume (and himself), listened and took my advice on how to handle an introduction, how to approach the task of getting an interview, how to interview successfully, how to prepare references, and how to follow up on the interview. He truly put his best foot, no, feet…forward and nabbed that job! He was courteous, determined, patient, persistent, and willing to learn. I’m very proud of him for a job well done and couldn’t be happier for him!

He is now working with people he admires in a climate of cooperation and beauty (his office has a huge window overlooking a courtyard w/a fountain) and he is receiving a better and steadier paycheck. Where he works now is a very different environment than where he was and he knew he was taking a risk in applying for this job.

Job Search Risks

What were Joseph’s risks? The entire process was out of his comfort zone, especially after years of being worn down in his previous job. However, during the resume writing process, he rediscovered his strengths and his confidence grew. I could hear it in his voice each time I spoke with him. Joseph was also taking a risk that he might succeed and would then really have to prove himself to a new employer and co-worker! Those thoughts can be intimidating.

At the same time, he was also risking rejection. He might not be chosen for this job. Then what would he do? He chose to take the risk, and once he realized that he could, indeed, be hired for this position; that he really DID have a very good chance in getting this job, his excitement grew. He chose to learn new skills so he could meet his possible manager and begin a dialogue with her even before the job was formally posted. He began to recognize the depth of his own knowledge and skills, and he chose to learn how to handle himself at the interview successfully. Joseph chose to arm himself with common courtesy, confidence, knowledge, persistence, and professionalism and it paid off!

Is it time you chose to take a risk? To invest some time, effort and, yes, some money to achieve your goal(s)?

I have to admit. I’ve been doing just that these past few months. I’ve been taking risks querying editors and website owners with examples of my proofreading, editing and writing skills. Some respond, some don’t, some are very grateful and some even ask for rates. I’m putting myself out there and I know I have to be persistent. As in any job search, you have to take some risks.

Creative Risks

Since my resume writing and job coaching business has slowed, I’ve also decided to take another risk on a more tangible creative endeavor. Thinking outside of my comfort zone, outside of “the norm”, I chose to pick up sewing again. It’s been years since I’ve sewn. I have always had a blast with my son’s costumes over the years but have never sewn ‘real’ clothes. I’ve sewn sheets and pillowcases, hemmed jeans, slacks, skirts, dresses, karate uniforms, and the like. I must say there was always a sense of satisfaction when a project was completed. I could see and feel (that all-important touch sensation), the results of my time and effort.

I know this satisfaction is what my husband feels as a carpenter when he builds customized file cabinets, entertainment centers, trims out a house from top to bottom, demolishes a kitchen and installs new cabinets and tile flooring, paints the walls and puts up trim work. He can stand back each day, look at his work and feel a sense of pride.

In the writing world, it’s a little more difficult to get that tactile sensation of seeing and touching your finished project. When you begin your work, you have a piece of paper in your hands, when you complete your work, you have a piece of paper in your hands. There is no difference in the tactile sensation from start to finish. I’m sure that’s why so many writers love to have a book published. The pieces of paper have been transformed into a very tactile book that you can hold in your hands and say, “Look what I’ve created!” As humans, I think we need this ‘hands-on’ sensation to go with the visual sensation in order to feel a sense of satisfaction and pride in our work. In the job search, you don’t get that, do you?

My Own Creative Risk

In the hope of inspiring you to take a risk of a different nature in order to boost your self-esteem and confidence during your long and arduous job hunt, I want to share with you my own creative endeavor. I hope to create some more place mats for the Autumn/Thanksgiving and even Christmas table. It is a bit challenging depending upon the fabric I use, I’m using my math skills and motor skills in a different manner. And…I’m having fun and gaining that sense of pride on a job well done while handling my finished product!

Halloween placemats

Reversable Placemats: Holiday Print & Navy Fine-Wale Corduroy

Navy Corduroy Side

Direction

Take a few moments to think about something creative you’ve always been interested in or curious about; whether it’s a new interest or an old one long forgotten. Invest some time, effort and a little bit of money into the endeavor (you don’t want to break the bank on this). The experience will free your mind, give you some much-needed confidence along with a boost of joy and pride.

Ask yourself: What can I do that’s creative and totally unrelated to my job search? What would be fun to spend a little time on each day or on the weekends? What can I do that will bring me a sense of satisfaction and pride while I look for a steady job? What brings me joy?

I want you to take a walk or sit outside and exhale your worries into the wind. Bring a pad of paper and a pen and jot down ideas. At the very least, this exercise will give you that burst of enthusiasm you may need right now, and it could even lead to producing some income or direct you into an entirely new direction in your job search! Either way, it will be a positive experience and give you a sense of purpose. Just don’t put any pressure on yourself for anything to happen other than learning and experiencing something new and fun.

Ready…Set…Go for it!

Are you ready to take a risk? I did and I’ve received only positive responses from my family and my neighbors, and I discovered how much fun sewing is in the process! Tell me your interests, tell me your successes with this ~ I’d love to hear about them. Your stories will encourage others to take a risk too.

And remember, whether it’s taking a risk on shooting for that dream job or for a job in a new direction, or taking a risk on learning new skills and tools to help you attain a job, or even taking a risk on a positive, creative endeavor to bring some joy and fun into your life during your job search, I believe any of these risks are worth a shot. Even if you discover that job isn’t really for you or gardening just isn’t your thing, you will have learned something in the process…about yourself, your wants, your likes, and dislikes. And that will get you one step closer to finding the best job for you and finding the best creative outlet for you as well, balancing out your life. It’s a win-win situation, don’t you think?

Lisa

Copyright 2009 – All rights reserved.

Making The Shift

The Shift

Do you ever have one of those days when you can feel a shift in the breeze? You sniff the wind…even the smell of the air is different, and you feel a coolness that wasn’t there a second ago. The grass and trees suddenly take on an entirely different shade of green, almost neon-like. You can sense something is coming. But what? Do you have a feeling of dread and think, “Uh oh, Storm is brewing!” Or, do you relish the experience and think, “Wow! Beautiful! Feel that! Look at those colors!”

How you view the above picture could enlighten you on how you view your job search. Do you waken with a feeling of dread, ‘knowing’ that you’ll never find anything out there? “No one is hiring.” Or, do you waken with anticipation that today could be the day! “I could find a job today, I could meet a great contact today!”?

This reminds me of one of my all-time favorite movies, Angels in the Outfield, and the youngest boy, J.P. who, every night when no one has requested to adopt him tries to cheer up his older, more cynical roommate, Roger, by stating, “It could happen. It could happen tomorrow!”

My View, My Musings

When I look at this picture, I feel excited at the anticipation of what’s to come, knowing that Mother Nature is cooking up something special. You can feel the energy, the electricity in the air…all heightening your awareness of the power of our planet. The winds pick up as the sky darkens to night, heralding in a great clap of thunder and lightning…and then life-sustaining rain. I love Mother Nature. She reminds us of the power and the unpredictability of our world and that sometimes a storm must occur in order for life to thrive.

Oh, I can muse about this all day, caught up in the wind of inspiration and appreciation for everything surrounding us at any given point in time. I think sometimes most of us forget that; to appreciate the wonderment of the diversity of life here and the challenges it brings. We forget Mother Nature has many lessons to offer us, if we only open our eyes to see what is before us, and open our minds enough for unique insights to develop.

I know some of you may not want to hear this but, sometimes, we have to be laid off from our jobs in order to discover who we really are and what we really want to do with our lives. The trick is to catch the many insights within the storm itself, so we can be prepared to thrive after the storm has passed.

Different Perspectives

Right now, most of us on this planet are sharing in this experience of unemployment and underemployment just as we share the experience of a beautiful warm sunny day, or a relentless rain, or a darker-than-night thunderstorm. And in this sharing, we all deal with what we view, differently, don’t we?

Some people, young and old, will grab their children or pets during a storm and try to soothe each other by singing, or playing games, or perhaps reading a story, curled up in their nice warm beds feeling safe and secure. Some of us love thunderstorms (that’d be me!), anxiously yearning to hear the next rumble of thunder and crack of lightning, forever gazing out of the window if only to get one glimpse of the magnificence of a lightning bolt. We have to be told to “step away from the windows”.

Some people will curse the rain as they trudge off to the bus stop knowing their hair will be nothing but frizz and their clothes will be so damp that they’ll get chilled once they get inside their offices. Others will laugh and rejoice at the rain knowing that their gardens will thrive and blossom after a good rain; knowing that when the sun comes out the drops of water will glisten and sparkle on blades of grass, flowers, leaves, and yes, even concrete. They look forward to seeing that magical quality to their world, if only for a few minutes.

Reflection

So, I ask you again: What is your view? Do you see the picture above and think, “Whoa, here comes a storm!” and worry about taking cover and if you’ve brought in all the furniture from outside? Or do you think, “Look how beautiful the green is in those bushes and trees, and see the wind? Cool! A storm is coming!” with a feeling of anticipation and excitement?

Start noticing your thoughts about every day views (physical and mental), and if you notice you have a lot of worry attached to your views, see if you can make an adjustment. Acknowledge the worry, ask yourself these questions:

• Is there beauty in this view?
• Is there truth in this view?
• What can I learn from this view?
• Can I see this view in a different light?

And then see if you can let go of the worry, change your path and move on with a more positive view.

I want you to notice if you revel in the majesty of the view, or do you worry about the consequences of the view? Do you revel in the challenge of finding either the right job for now or the “right” job, seizing any and all opportunities for new ways to network, look for work, redo your resume and fine-tune your interviewing skills?

Or do you worry about what will happen if you don’t find a job, any job, much less even the “right” job, and find yourself being sucked down into that awful whirlpool of self-pity where you’re stuck going around and around and around getting nowhere? There’s a massive difference in those thoughts and the subsequent reactions, isn’t there? I know. I’ve been there, in both frames of mind.

Noticing The Shift

When you feel yourself getting tied up in a knot about what has yet to come or what you fear will come, take a deep breath and a step back. Look at your view again. Mother Nature will not fail you, you’ll hear what you need to hear, you’ll see what you need to see at the time you need to see it.

Be creative and start making connections; see if you can sense a shift in the breeze. I bet you’ll surprise yourself when you hear a solution or a different way of handling your job search just by changing your perspective. You will feel your energy change and you might even have an “ah-ha” moment; it may be subtle or it may be as loud as a lightning bolt. Just pay attention and listen for the insights and the lessons. Oh, and keep reminding yourself, “It could happen. It could happen tomorrow!”

Lisa

Copyright 2009 – All Rights Reserved.