Crack the Code: Unveiling the Hidden Factors Behind Job Search Struggles

When scrolling through my feed on different platforms, including LinkedIn, I can see many professionals often face numerous challenges when searching for job opportunities. Whether it's struggling with landing desired positions, let alone finding their dream job that fulfills all their criteria and not only provides professional fulfillment and financial security but also brings a sense of meaning and enjoyment in what they do. And it gets even more frustrating when they moved abroad for some reasons - not only they may be feeling lost in a new country and have to start from scratch, but also, they face such a challenge with finding a job that lasts way too long. Despite investing valuable time and money in career coaches, CV improvements, and countless interviews, job offers continue to elude them.

As I always say, being an intuitive coach, I am always intrigued by looking at different situations from the perspective of internal processes and underlying, non-obvious reasons for what is happening, observing from a more multidimensional perception of the world.

This article was inspired by a post in one of the Swiss women's communities on Facebook, where predominantly expats interact. In the post, a woman shared her experience of being rejected after a series of 5 (!!!) interviews. It wouldn't have been a big deal, except she had been job searching for several years, and the same pattern repeated itself - rejection after rejection. She was not alone - the comment section was flooded with similar stories of individuals with impressive backgrounds, extensive experience, and multiple degrees struggling to secure employment.

Yes, undoubtedly, as many commenters pointed out, it may be more challenging for an expat to find a job in Switzerland if you are not in a certain "in-demand" industry. However, there is another fact to consider - thousands of people are finding jobs there in various industries.

Just like some of my clients. One of them relocated to Switzerland with her husband due to his job offer, and she found a job in her field (procurement management) within the first few months without any challenges. Moreover, as she later shared with me, she was unaware that this could be challenging and was surprised when she heard such stories from her acquaintances.

But this issue does not lie solely within Switzerland - based on what I have witnessed, people face similar difficulties in UAE, Singapore, Australia, Russia, the US, the UK, and many other places. And here, I want to explore the topic of job searching from different perspectives, regardless of either it's abroad or at your place.

The Underlying Causes

I won't talk about resumes, professionalism, or the ability to sell yourself in an interview - those factors matter, but they don't reflect the entire picture. Instead, I suggest taking a comprehensive view and touching on aspects that are not usually given such focused attention.

Mindset

First and foremost, let's start with the most crucial factor - your mindset.

As we know, we literally create our reality based on where our attention is focused. The Reticular Activating System (RAS) of our brain acts as a filter - it allows into our conscious perception only what we have tuned it to, and it doesn't focus on anything beyond that filter. You've probably noticed that if you wanted to buy a certain car or travel to a specific country, suddenly you start seeing that car everywhere, in the exact color you desire - on the streets, in magazines, on billboards. The name of that country starts popping up more frequently in your life than ever before. It feels like all of a sudden, everyone decided to buy that same car and you're the only one who hasn't visited that country yet.

RAS is like an embedded ads targeting in our brain :)

And the RAS works that way with everything. You will constantly find evidence to support what you believe and what you're convinced of. So, the first question is:

Are you tuned in to success or are you convinced that difficulties and failure are undoubtedly waiting for you?

What beliefs do you hold about your goals?

What is your internal ad targeting focused on?

Self-worth and self-confidence

The same applies to your self-perception and self-confidence - not only in terms of being qualified for the role and capable of handling professional tasks, but also in terms of self-worth and believing that you deserve the position and success you aspire to. These factors also influence the outcome and ease of achieving your goal.

This played a crucial role in why my client was able to easily find a job right after moving to Switzerland. She knew what she wanted, believed in her value as a professional, and didn't have any limiting beliefs about potential problems.

Self-discovery and self-honesty

However, there is a deeper aspect that needs attention when you've been struggling to find a job for a long time, despite trying everything imaginable, rewriting your resume and cover letters countless times, seeking expert help, and going through numerous interviews with different companies, honing your self-presentation skills.

And that's where my client's story takes a turn. Despite having previously experienced smooth job transitions after moving to a new country and city, everything came to a halt. By the time she came to me, she had been searching for a job for almost two years - even her remote work in her field suddenly stopped. She was frustrated, feeling completely lost, unsure of what was happening and what to do next in order to make a breakthrough and finally find employment.

As a life transformation consultant, who has the ability to see a broader and deeper perspective of life events, I can confidently say that challenges don't happen in our lives by coincidence. They serve as opportunities for us to explore new aspects of ourselves, to grow, and to transition to a new level of life.

However, in order to make this transition, it's necessary to shift our focus from external problems to introspection and reassess our lives, including our career path.

That's the direction we started looking at, and during our work together, a breakthrough occurred. She realized that she couldn't and didn't want to continue working in the same format. She desired more freedom, financial independence, and joy in her life and in what she does. She wanted to wake up every morning with a sense of purpose and meaning in her activities. Eventually, we uncovered her true desires, her true calling, and she went through the necessary training to pursue her newfound path. We developed a structured system of her new career path and she went on her journey, immediately attracting her first clients. Soon, her husband will also undertake a similar process, as he is also considering leaving his senior corporate position.

In other words, such challenges in job searching are a direct signal that it's time to look within, to unleash your potential, to listen to the voice of your inner Genius, and to explore new horizons and open yourself to new possibilities. But not solely driven by rationality or logic, rather guided by your internal compass and the fire within you.

What ignites your passion?

What do you truly want to contribute to this world?

What do you genuinely want to engage in if you are completely honest with yourself?

Find the intersection of your values, interests, aspirations, desires, and expertise, and explore how you can transform it into a successful endeavor that truly excites you and aligns with the lifestyle you genuinely desire.

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Do you need help with pursuing your dream career?

Book a consultation or a coaching program with Elvira - https://calendly.com/laviextatique/claritytransformcoach