El Camino de Job Hunting

As I continue the odyssey of my job search, my brother recently hiked El Camino de Santiago, the popular 500-mile trail in northern Spain, which is often a religious, spiritual, or personal pilgrimage. I've been reading his blog of the epic experience, and noticed some similarity to pursuing a new professional position. There are many analogous elements - positivity, mutual support, resoluteness - but I'll focus here on the duration.

This job hunt can feel like a constant slog, just like Pat's daily 15 to 20 miles, more or less. He generally started each day long before dawn and finished in the early afternoon. He'd then spend the rest of the day exploring the new town and hanging out with other pilgrims. I asked him why he didn't just add a few more hours to each day and complete the Camino sooner. His reply was threefold, each of which has a corresponding lesson for job hunting.

First, "adding appreciably more miles means not having time to do other things, such as journaling, doing laundry in time to line dry, exploring the towns, hanging out with other people, and simply relaxing. These are all important activities that are essential parts of the Camino, too." (English-speakers say "the Camino," rather than "el Camino.") Similarly, if you spend sixteen hours of every day looking for a job, you can burn out and have greatly diminishing returns. Even during a job search, work-life balance is vital, maybe even more than when employed, due to the added stress. Plus, other activities may, surprisingly, reveal a lead for that next career step, either through a new connection or an unexpected idea that pops into your head.

Second, and related, "you never really know where the accumulative tipping point will be where your body gives out on you. In the back of my mind, I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop with respect to my knees, ankles, hips, back and feet. For those that choose to up their daily mileage, there can be a steep price to pay." Building on the previous point, pacing yourself in the job search is important. Giving your mind regular breaks enables it to perform better. And, overdoing the effort can hurt your morale and confidence. Keep below the tipping point for your mind and heart.

Lastly, "there’s the question of what’s the rush? Enjoy the experience. For some, there may be an advantage to getting done sooner, perhaps a financial incentive to get back to work earlier or some other benefit. However, I would argue that the Camino doles out its lessons over time and that some experiences require an extended period for the rewards to gestate." Yes, we all want to get back to having a steady income as soon as possible. But, like walking the Camino, there are benefits and lessons learned during a job search. Every time I apply for a position, that's one more recruiter and hiring executive who learns about me. For many jobs, I'm able to ask a mutual friend to send a recommendation for me, which is another heightened bond. In each interview, I learn more about a company and my profession. As I continue to do research, I gain relevant knowledge.

So, I should have an attitude like my brother on the Camino, know that arriving happily at the destination is a given and the journey offers many valuable gifts, which are at least as important as the eventual arrival. Savoring each day of progress is worth more than finishing a short time earlier.

Admittedly, Pat knew how far away his destination was - in distance, if not in exact days - an advantage that I don't have, although I am confident that it is coming soon. Maybe a slightly more accurate analogy, therefore, is the daily hikes I had to do during the Army Special Forces Selection course. We had two hikes each day and never knew until the end of each how long they would be, anywhere from five to twenty-five miles, if I remember correctly. As miserable as it was in the moment - thanks to the 75 pounds I was required to carry - it was a terrific experience to look back on, with precious lessons, mostly about determination and resilience. Certainly, these are themes I find priceless today.

Pat ended up finishing his adventure one day early and with his body intact. I'll take that as a good metaphorical sign for my journey.