236: Hopefulness - A Necessary Ingredient in Your Job Search
I recently read “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown, and her section on Hope and Powerlessness really resonated with me. I wanted to translate her concepts to the job search and give my take on her concepts. Hey - I wanted to let you know that the next Land Your Dream Job group coaching program starts on September 13th and goes through November 1st. This is an opportunity for you to get the same great content I offer in 1:1 coaching sessions at a much more affordable price. Topics include: -Identifying your “non-negotiables” – the qualities you are looking for in your ideal next job and employer -Leveraging your existing network – no matter how small or niched you think it is – to get your foot in the door at your target employers -How to utilize my #1 strategy for making your online applications more effective -Building out a multi-pronged job search strategy customized to your career goals and timeline -Recognizing and addressing the negative thoughts that will hold you back from job search success There will be 8 weekly group coaching sessions You get all of this for just $795! And, if you bring a friend, the second registration is half off – just $395. If you would like to get your name on the waiting list to be notified when registration opens, here’s the link: https://landyourdreamjob.carrd.co/ (https://landyourdreamjob.carrd.co/) Getting back to Brené Brown and Hope, her research revealed that hope isn’t an emotion, but rather a way of thinking or a cognitive process. Hope, then, is a thought process made up of a trilogy of goals, pathways, and agency. Hope happens when: -We have the ability to set realistic goals -We are able to figure out how to achieve those goals, including the ability to stay flexible and develop alternative routes AND -We believe in ourselves. Here’s my translation: -We know what we want -We know how to get there AND -We believe we can do it. According to Brené, hope can be learned. Children most often learn hope from their parents. We may have learned hope from other significant role models in our lives, such as extended family, teachers, coaches, or clergy. Let’s translate all of this into the job search. If we think of Brené’s trilogy of hope, our job search will be successful if: -We set SMART goals – realistic, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-sensitive. In other words, we aren’t just out there REACTING to job boards – applying to jobs with the mindset of “that doesn’t sound bad,” or “I could do that.” We are being proactive with our job search. -We have a plan to achieve those goals – what will we do each day towards landing our dream job. At the same time, we are open to mid-course corrections as we gather data on what is – and isn’t – working for us. We are willing to be disappointed as many times as needed to get that great job. -We believe we are qualified for, and deserving of, a great job with great pay, benefits, and working conditions. We don’t downplay our qualifications and skill set, nor do we settle for “good enough.” Brené talks about children needing boundaries, consistency, and support to develop their hopefulness. As job seekers, we need the same things: -Boundaries – this is what I am willing to do/not do and what I am/am not willing to sacrifice for my job search. Further, boundaries need to be set around what is most important to us in our next employer and job – and be unwilling to compromise on those non-negotiables. -Consistency – job seekers who occasionally network,