Thoughts on the Adventure of Job Hunting

The Job Hunt.  It’s an adventure unlike any other.  All of a sudden I’m transported back to grade school.  The teacher asks the class a question. All the overly-eager kids shoot their arms into the air, flailing them about squealing, “ooh – oooh – ooooh!”  As if with each wiggle, their bodies scream, “Pick me!  Pick me!”  Half the little boogers didn’t even know the answer.  They just wanted a shot a guessing.  (At least, this was the case at my school.)

How similar it must be to potential employers!  They are faced with an entire sea of “Ooooh! Pick Me’s!!”  How does the employer find that one true fit?  And how does the one-true-fit stand out of the crowd?

MY DREAM JOB: 

 ”Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” –Steve Jobs

I’m in my late 30′s.  Oh who am I kidding?  I’m 39.  I’ve spent quite a few years in a job I love, and I have put in some years in a job that I felt sucked my soul away.

Life really is too short to be in a career where I’m not growing as a person, and consequently helping grow my employers business as well.  There is a magical synergy that happens when both the employer and its staff both enjoy their purpose and work toward a common goal.

Work is amazing when it doesn’t feel like “work”.  I believe in my heart that these careers exist for everyone.  I just wish the process didn’t feel like looking for a needle in a haystack.

THE RESUME:

“He held up a book then. “I’m going to read it to you for relax.”
“Does it have any sports in it?”
“Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True Love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest Ladies. Snakes. Spiders… Pain. Death. Brave men. Cowardly men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles.”
“Sounds okay,” I said and I kind of closed my eyes.”
― William Goldman, The Princess Bride

My whole life on a page.  All of me, reduced to two-word phrases and titles.  Does anyone have any idea how much I’m leaving out here?

Lots of people can make themselves look mighty good on one sheet of paper.  Here’s to hoping I chose all the right aspects about me that reinforces that I am a great candidate, and have that potential employer wanting to pick up that phone and set up an interview!

SO YOU WANT TO HIRE ME?

“Work, love and play are the great balance wheels of man’s being.” –Orison Swett Marden

Oh, by the way, I’ve put my career first my entire life.  And now, the universe has decided that I meet the guy of my dreams, get married, and want to start a family… oh… right about NOW.

It’s ironic to me that I chose the exact time during my former employment that I thought I was most secure to start this new chapter of my life, only to be laid off.  All the plans have been made.  The wedding dress purchased, the venue reserved, the caterer booked.

Now, not only do I need a new career, I feel like I’m coming into the market with “baggage.” I know that I can bring a lot of value-added to whomever gives me a chance, but will they even give me that chance knowing that I will need time off for my own life balance in the near future?

These are just a few questions that marinate in my mind every time I send out a resume. Trying not to over-think things, I just keep searching for that needle in the haystack.

I read articles online and magazines.  I’ve tried to figure out the color of my blasted parachute. My cheese has been moved so many times, it practically moves itself these days.  I think I have very effective habits too, all 7 or 8 or 99 of them.

In the end, I’m still back where I started.  But, I haven’t ventured out too many times yet. I’m still slowly looking for the needle in the haystack.