Job Seekers Roadmap - Curb Your Enthusiasm is not just a sitcom

Today I want to share a couple of things coupled realities associated with the Job Seeker Lifecycle that illustrate the broad range of emotion along this path.? There are two experiences that have been shared with me in the past week that are from current Job Seekers that span the spectrum of emotion that is the reality of the situation.? I will not name them for privacy but feel their story or experience should be shared as many have nightmares that are the reality in the “lifecycle”.

The first being a colleague of mine that has been displaced from a role that spanned almost 20 years with a very large company.? This individual was part of a Reduction in Force, commonly known as RIF, and now a year later is still in search of that next career home.? A couple of months ago a role became available in this person’s former company in the same department which was in part designed and built by this person!!!!? A leadership role that by definition and history is seemingly a perfect fit and an application was submitted for the role.? Over the roughly four-to-five-week application, screening, and interview cycle which included multiple discussions HOPES were high and a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel was in sight.?

Well, in this case that light at the end of the tunnel was a TRAIN as the seeker received the dreaded “we thank you and you are awesome but” …letter!?? Needless to say, this Seeker was devastated beyond belief and the roller coaster ride of emotions while thrilling did not have the happy ending anticipated.? So the “why” as to my bringing up this delicate and not so happy experience is to say approach each opportunity with guarded enthusiasm.? In today’s cycle receiving an invitation to an interview itself can seem like a HUGE win so multiple invites can seem like you are a shoe in while the competitive landscape is huge.? While I am a thrill seeker loving roller coasters, zip lines, and other exhilarating activities this Job Seeker cycle likens to these activities from a thrill perspective.? It does not always end the way in which a zipline or a roller coaster does with that expected gratification of the thrill…. Sometimes like in this case you go head first into the tree or the coaster flies off the tracks…. Which is probably what it feels like mentally.? Here is where those amazing words or mantra can help, KEEP MOVING FORWARD.??

As hard as it seems at the time there are always lessons learned you can leverage for that next time up at bat with another interview opportunity.? Having a reminder of Keep Moving Forward is not a bad idea and one that can help you stay on track.

The second experience is from a Job Seeker that I will say is impressive on paper with an impressive financial degree and an MBA that has much like my first colleague had a great job history.? After moving around some looking for that forever home this seeker found themselves on the verge of homelessness.?? To make ends meet this seeker had a car which in today’s world is a ticket to a job at UBER or LYFT guaranteed (with a valid driver’s license and insurance) which became the primary way in which this seeker made ends meet.? Even with a great work history and highly educated the seeker cycle was much longer than expected.?? The situation became worse to the point where the seeker lived in the car which was the workplace as well but kept applying to roles, many of which were well below the attained career level in past years.? This experience shows the depth of some seekers decline from the comforts of employment to the brink of living on the streets.? Great news however, this seeker was offered a role in their career vertical and while the position is a couple rungs down the ladder this seeker is SUPER HAPPY and this tunnel’s light was the other side which is AWESOME and a success story that brought a smile to my face.

There are two different stories, both of which traveled the same path and one is still on that journey to that career home.? In my articles there are several key messages and tactics, one being as mentioned above “KEEP MOVING FORWARD” but also Attraction techniques, Resume Hacks, and the cautious utilization of AI!? So have a great day and if you have a story to share or need an ear to listen and possibly help drop me a line in a Direct Message!