As I interviewed the author of a new book, Courting Your Career, for a piece on Yahoo! Hotjobs, I couldn’t help but wonder. As the book incorporates the metaphor of dating (i.e., how to identify your type, play the field/cast a wide net, present your very best self), it seems the resonating theme for success in any realm such as business or dating is communication and relationships.
While the author talked about relevant strategies such as “clubbing” at a job fair by exchanging phone numbers and meeting a relatively large number of people in a small amount of time, it’s interesting to recognize “the other half.”
Sometimes candidates hear the, “It’s not you, it’s me speech” and they’re thinking, “Then it’s definitely me!” In all honesty, sometimes a job rejection may not be a reflection of your candidacy. Sometimes job requirements change during the recruiting process. In other instances a position is filled internally. There could be a variety of reasons as to why it’s not meant to be.“It’s out there,” you reassuringly remind yourself during the comprehensive job search.
That’s just it. Sometimes it’s not necessarily a matter of meeting Mr. Right; rather, it could be meeting Mr. Right Now. Perhaps there’s a job which can get you from your current situation, Point A to Point B and you know you really want to end up in Point S for Spectacular.
By recognizing your short and long-term goals you’ll be able to see which positions will offer you the opportunity to at least meet your short-term goal in anticipation of a stepping stone to the long-term goal later on. It could fulfill your immediate need for advancement instead of holding out for the elusive “one.”
Plus, in the job search process, how’s this for empowerment? You have the ability to assess the situation, future colleagues and organization. It takes two to tango, and well you always have the opportunity to opt out of the dance.By asking the right questions/observing/being immersed in the courtship perhaps you’ll realize a particular company or job sizzles on paper and then disappoints in person. Hopefully this can be assessed prior to accepting a job and realizing it’s not a fit. And how about mentoring programs? Work/life balance? Benefits? Perks? The job exploration process incorporates intangible aspects as well.
The author, Shawn Graham, reminds us something which often gets lost in the shuffle. Identify your priority (essentially, what’s your type?) and remain steadfast in your journey. Sometimes it’s imperative to go back to basics, to not compromise, consistently review your list and just like dating, to have a whole lot of patience.
