Three More Clients Landed Jobs! (and one is still struggling)

Three more clients just landed jobs (and one is still struggling).

It took a while for me to finally land on a career that I’m passionate about - coaching people. I’ve been in a hiring capacity for most of my career, so it was a natural fit. I’ve interviewed hundreds of people, and I’ve coached others through the full job cycle process. I also offer resume writing as an added service to my career coaching.

I write resumes because I can, and people pay me for it. But, It’s the coaching part that appeals to me most. If I can teach a client to be confident in who they are and what they offer, then I consider it a job well done. The goal is for them to realize this for themselves, independent of me. I’m just the Sherpa guide helping them navigate the obstacles in their minds.

I can spot potential a mile away, and I can identify major weaknesses that need to be addressed in a single conversation. It isn’t rocket science; I just listen. 

Recently, a few of my previous clients contacted me to update their resumes and provide coaching services for fresh job searches. One person moved to a new city, another was an unfortunate victim to layoffs, a third wanted to transition to a new field, and a fourth is looking to switch companies to escape a toxic environment.

Clients 1, 2, and 3 owned it and all three found positions within relatively short timeframes (2-3 weeks). Two out of the three reported that they landed their “dream jobs.” How awesome is that?!?!

I know you’re wondering about my fourth client. He’s been looking (kinda) for a new job the past year, and he’s still looking (but not really). His biggest issue is “he can’t.” I’m not saying that; he says it. Emphatically. Everything is “I can’t,” and “it’s too hard.”

• I can’t find a job.

• I can’t apply for that job.

• It’s too hard to apply to jobs.

• I don’t have the time to find a job.

• I applied to some jobs, but I didn’t get responses.

Believe me when I tell you that this person possesses the knowledge and skills to advance in his career. He has years of experience. His mindset (especially his self-talk) is defeating him. We’ve had blunt, all cards on the table conversations about the self-fulfilling prophecy his language (and actions) create. 

As a coach, I can guide someone through a process, but I have no control over their dedication and completion of that process. Fear places a chokehold on us sometimes, and it’s hard to “trust the process.”

Out of the four clients, he was never seeking work due to unemployment. When we have a safety net our fear of the unknown can keep us in a situation (e.g., a toxic work environment) we say we want to escape. The three other clients were in a free fall, and had to find a solution before they hit the hard ground.

This newsletter is for all my job searchers who want to leave their current job, but fear (and the safety of the job they know) keeps them from taking action. 

Here are four lies I combat when coaching people searching for a job:

I can’t. This is a blanket lie that covers everything. It’s easy to rely on, and it fits any situation. 

I lack resources (skills, education, money, support, confidence, etc.), so I can’t ____ (get that promotion, transition to a new career, negotiate a higher salary, etc.). Same as above but infused with more emotion to solidify your inability to navigate a block.

It’s too hard, so why should I try? (can also arrive as, “It’s not possible.”)

“I need to . . . I have to . . . I should . . .”  I hear people say things like, “I need to stay in my current position (even though it’s toxic) instead of trying to get another job, because it’s too hard to find a job right now.”

All of these lies riff off “I can’t.”

My years of observing and listening to employees and clients has CAPITALIZED, bold-faced, and highlighted one overarching theme: People who are stressed out, burned out, and struggling to find the right fit in a job continue paddling in place because they are afraid. And, they’re afraid because they have next to no clue what they want out of life. They also are lost on how to overcome their blocks.

This isn’t career specific advice. If there is something you want in life but don’t know how to make it happen, I recommend you reframe the story you’re currently telling yourself.

Here’s how I teach reframing blocks:

“I can’t,” becomes, “I choose not to.”

“I lack” or “I don’t have,” becomes, “What are the ways I can?”

“It’s too hard,” becomes, “It feels hard because it’s challenging me. The challenge is ______.” 

EXAMPLE 1:

Instead of, “I can’t apply for that job, because I don’t have the skills.”

Say, “I choose not to apply for that job, because I currently don’t meet the qualifications. What are the ways I can acquire those skills so I can apply for the job?”

Why the tweak? You could apply for the job, but you choose not to apply. I hired people for years. I can’t tell you how many people applied to jobs for which they had next to zero qualifications. I’m not saying to apply for these jobs, I’m just teaching you to reframe it as a choice. 

If you really want that job but need certain skills, then reframe your self-talk to direct your actions toward acquiring those skills. Then, you can apply for a similar position in the future. 

[And, as a side note, I would also inform any superiors of my desire to land a similar position.]

EXAMPLE 2:

Instead of saying, “I lack (don’t have) the money or resources to (quit my job and go back to school, start a business).”

Say, “What are the ways I can get (earn, cut costs) money or resources to gain access to my dreams (quit my job and go back to school, start a business)?”

You create the narrative that directs your actions closer to (or farther away from) your goals, dreams, vision.

EXAMPLE 3:

Instead of, “It’s too hard to transition from my current field to a new one” . . .

Say, “Transitioning from my current career (e.g., teaching) to a new one (e.g., nursing) feels too hard, because it requires going back to school and getting a degree.”

Keep asking, “What’s too hard?” until you are clear on what is the true obstacle (fear). “Too hard” is an emotion. You change your emotional state in your thoughts. From here you can dive deeper into the “too hard” mindset. Identify the problem, then seek the solution.

Problem: Is it leaving your job to go back to school that feels too hard? Why? Do you fear losing the paycheck? 

Solution: Ask “What are the ways I can save or supplement my savings?”

Problem: Are you fearful of going back to school and being a student, again? Why? Is it confidence? Are you afraid you're not up to the challenge? 

Solution: Reflect on your past and identify times you have overcome challenges and accomplished difficult things

Problem: Are you scared about traversing the job market, again?
Solution: Ask, “What are the ways I can alleviate my fear?” Talk to nurses. Check current postings. Find out what affects the job market in nursing. Identify the various positions you can access with a nursing degree. Ask yourself if you’re willing to move for a nursing job once you graduate.

There are endless solutions to our perceived problems.

EXAMPLE 4:

Instead of saying, “I should apply to this position to advance my career,” or “I need to stay in my job until I can retire (twenty years from now),” or “I have to stay with my current company to gain tenure” . . .

Remind yourself: “I have choices.”

Too often I see people going after a promotion because it’s the “next logical step” in their career or because it pays more. But they’re miserable. 

Ask yourself, “What opportunities are being presented? What choices do I have? How do these opportunities and choices align to my values and the vision I have for my life?”

Live Life on Your Terms

My job is to teach clients to listen to themselves objectively and without judgment. Listen to yourself today. 

What obstacles are you up against? Which dreams, goals, and desires are in limbo, because you’re unclear how you can advance them? The story you tell yourself keeps you bound to the problem and blind to the solutions.

So tell yourself a different story.

Do You Need Help Tapping Into Your Potential?

Are you struggling to meet your goals and wish you had support? Have you ever considered working with a coach? You may not know what a coach does.

One-on-One Coaching:

• You and I develop an individualized plan targeting your specific goals

• You receive individualized support from me

• Answers to your specific questions

• Guidance on your specific issues and blocks

• Accessibility to me outside coaching sessions for added support (individual texts and emails to check in)

• Your plan leads to learning how your personal growth is in your control

Are you ready to take action but are at a loss on what step to take next? 

I can teach you how to get started and accelerate your growth by using repeatable methods. Need the tools? I’ve got them. The goal is always to make you independent. I should be working myself out of a job. Once you take off, you may want to have a session from time to time, especially if you are scaling your goals. A good coach teaches you how to stand on your own two feet. Contact me today. Are you ready to CONNECT?