Reflection Part 2 Final Part: Key Takeaways from The Free Job Strategy Coaching Sessions

To give back, last week I offered free job strategy coaching sessions from September 23rd to 26th. Thank you to everyone who shared my post and those who signed up! It was a fantastic week filled with valuable discussions.

As I reflected on the sessions, a few recurring themes emerged that I shared last week in part 1 of the article. For those who missed it, you can read Part 1 ???? Here .

This article is part 2 and the final installment for that week's sessions. Here are a few more of those recurring themes below:

Passion/Hobby Pursuit:

It’s perfectly okay to be passionate about something and want to pursue it. Sometimes passions are more of a hobby than what you’d want to do for a career—this is for you to decide. For example, while I have a passion for cooking, I choose not to pursue it professionally. It’s important to recognize that having a hobby and wanting to keep it separate from your career is completely fine.

However, if you decide to pursue your passion (whether it started as a hobby or not) as a career, it’s essential to conduct thorough preliminary research and preparation. Remember, passion and hobby can be interchangeable but aren’t necessarily the same. You can be passionate about your work without it being a hobby, and vice versa.

Here are some fundamental questions to consider:

1. Defining Your Passion

• Is this passion something I want to turn into a career, or is it more of a hobby?
• Do I want to work for an employer, be a freelancer, collaborate in a partnership, operate as a solopreneur (someone who operates their business independently, without employees. They handle all aspects of the business themselves), or be an entrepreneur (typically someone who starts and runs a business, often with the intention of growing it, scaling it, and bringing on employees to create a larger enterprise)?
• Am I open to exploring other options?

2. Market Considerations

• Is there a market for this passion? How saturated is it? (If there isn’t one, that could be an opportunity for innovation)
• What are the trends in this field? Is it growing, stable, or declining?
• Am I creating something entirely new? If so, how does this idea fit into current or future market needs and changes?

3. Preparation and Foundation

• Do I have a solid foundation in place to support this pursuit?
• What challenges might I face, and how can I prepare for them?
• Who can I reach out to for mentorship or support in this journey?
• What skills or knowledge do I need to develop further?
• Am I financially stable enough to support this journey? What budget or financial plan do I need to consider?

4. Logistical Planning

• What are the logistical steps involved in getting started?
• What resources (time, money, tools) will I need?

5. Growth and Scalability

• Am I prepared to scale if demand increases?
• What strategies can I implement to ensure sustainable growth?

So, if you have a hobby you’re passionate about and want to turn it into a career, be sure to evaluate that decision carefully. The key is to ensure you remain passionate about what you do, whether it’s a hobby, a career, or both.

Prayer, Interviews, and Rejections:

During one of the coaching calls, a jobseeker mentioned prayer and facing interview rejections. For those who lean on God, remember that you want His Will to be done. If you’ve prayed for a good job and continue to face setbacks, remember to pray for His Will for you. God is preparing the right opportunity for you; it's all about timing. Trust that He knows what you need and be prepared for when it happens. It reminds me of the scripture, "...for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." Matthew 6:32 (KJV)

If you’re consistently getting interviews but not landing the job, analyze the situation. Look for patterns in the feedback you receive. While some feedback may be generic and, in some cases, you might not receive any, try to determine what you can control.

Sometimes rejections have absolutely nothing to do with you. Consider these examples:

• Shifting company priorities: The organization may have decided to move in another direction with the role.
• Internal hiring: They might choose to promote someone from within the company who is already familiar with their processes.
• Specific candidate profiles: A hiring manager might have a specific background or skill set in mind that doesn’t align with your experience, even if you’re highly qualified.
• Closing of the role: I remember when we had a role that they ended up closing because there wasn’t anyone in place for the more senior leadership position. Since the new hire would report directly to the leader, it didn’t make sense to fill that role without first having the leader in place. They decided to close it until they could hire a leader for the more senior role, and that leader could determine the true needs of the function area and whether a different skill set would be required. (????I could say a lot around this, but that’s a whole other article)

In this jobseeker's example, they faced rejections due to not having an existing sales network and kept losing out to the competition, even though they consistently delivered in all of their sales roles. While having an established network can be advantageous, remember that skills and the ability to build relationships matter too. Many successful sales professionals have proven they can enter new markets and cultivate valuable connections from scratch while exceeding the company's sales goals. There will be an employer who sees this value.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, focus on what you bring to the table: your ability to drive results, like successfully launching a product to the top of the market. This shows that while you may not have a vast network now, you continuously demonstrate the skills to create one and achieve outstanding results. The opportunity prepared for you will come right on time!

Fear of Asking for What You Want:

Use your voice. Imagine being passed over for a role you really wanted at your job because you never spoke up about wanting the opportunity. Or think about joining a new company and wishing for a tool or resource that could help you be more effective, but not asking for it because you feared the company would say no. Meanwhile, someone else on the team asks for the same tool, and the manager responds, “Sure, of course. Anything you need, just ask.”

This hesitation isn’t just about the workplace; it extends to personal relationships too. The ability to ask for what you want can make a significant difference. There’s a saying: “Closed mouths don’t get fed.” So, don’t just open your mouth—let actual words flow from it with confidence.

Remember:

Your journey may be filled with challenges (and lots of GOOD), but each experience is an opportunity for growth. Whether you're facing rejection in the job market, grappling with the fear of asking for what you want, or contemplating how to turn a passion into a career, trust in your abilities and the timing of your journey.

Embrace the uncertainties, lean on your support network, and most importantly, don’t hesitate to voice your desires. The right opportunities will come your way, and with perseverance and faith, you'll find your place in a world that values your unique contributions. Keep pushing forward. Rooting for YOUR SUCCESS!

Each week, I’ll be highlighting 1-3 individuals to showcase the incredible things they’ve accomplished. Whether you’re crushing it at work, starting a new company, looking for your next role, finished #1 in a very competitive competition, or maybe you’ve even been named Mom or Dad of the Month at your child’s school for undertaking a huge commitment that benefited the school and kids. Whatever it is, we want to hear about it!

What I’ll need from you:

• Optional: A Picture (I can use your LinkedIn photo if you prefer); if you don't want to use a pic, it'll be labeled camera shy
• Brief description/story/highlight
• Additionally, in 1-2 sentences, share one piece of advice that you want to share with people to motivate or inspire them (it could be humorous, a life lesson, or anything you want to share)
• Optional: Link to your social media (it can be LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, or whichever platform you'd like people to either follow or connect with you)

Email me at [email protected] with the above information or DM me right here on LinkedIn. I’d love to spotlight your achievements so we can celebrate you together!