The Job Hunt - A Work in Progress (Literally)

Job hunting has gotten to the point where it is a job in of itself. The current employment climate is fierce with competition. No one wants to see your carbon copy resume and cover letter. That trick might have worked 3 years ago, but a trick can turn into the norm in a split second. The ever changing and ever demanding recruiting system wants to see people that stand out, that are willing to go above and beyond and do whatever it takes to get the next job, that are the perfect fit.

So progress begins.

The job hunt becomes another job. You carve out time to pore through the job description, pick out keywords to add to your resume. Then you use those same keywords to craft your cover letter. You package it up into a nice format that you decided to create on Photoshop to show off your creative design skills (a subliminal way to show off another keyword). You send it to the employer, which is most likely an online job board that takes your full-time's worth of work into the void. Never to be seen.

So progress continues.

You try to network. Coaches say, "Networking puts you at the top of the food chain by 99%." So why am I at the bottom of that food chain? You reach out, you pick their brain, you learn some things from people who you genuinely want to get to know. It's a hit or miss -- you either get a nice response or a nice piece of nothing after your email request asking to do some brain picking. Still nothing, even after cultivating and growing your network, even after meeting people who have already made their claims to the stake, who already have something going for them. You're happy for them and you're glad you met them, but so are hundreds of others as they comment "Congrats" on their LinkedIn announcement. You start to wonder if the "networking trick" just turned into the norm.

So you go into progress again.

Job hunting is keeping your eyes on building your resume and not on the person who just got an offer for their dream job. But still you get deterred. Disappointed. You breakdown. You question your self worth. You stop applying to jobs because you don't want to take on another job that's just as worthless and disappointing as your day job. But as the monotonous days go by, you realize how shitty of a day job you have and how you have to desperately leave before you become too ingrained in the 9-6+ hustle, the draining work life that gives you no time to do the work you actually want to do. You feel the shackles chained to your wrists as you type away at your desk, the years you've worked at the same company like a life sentence in prison.

No, you're better than that. I'm better than that.

And so you progress.

Summer 2018: A Reflection

1. Your passion doesn't always need to be your day job.
2. Know what you love and what your values are. Your North Star will continue to guide you and remind you of who you are and why you're alive.
3. Intention, Attention, No tension -- Get clear on what you want, focus on what you want, and give it time and be ready to receive.
4. Your pace is your own pace. There is no rush. You are where you need to be.
5. Stress can break you down, but you can jump back to a routine with keystone habits.
6. Rebalancing takes time and energy. Be kind to yourself as you take this time for yourself.
7. "Just like a muscle – you start the day with 100% reserves. But as you go through the day your willpower naturally wanes through fatigue, but also because of decisions you have to make." Spend your willpower wisely and recharge when necessary.
8. Your ego will never stop talking. It's up to you to decide if you want to listen to it.
9. Without a self-care routine, I am nothing but a shell. Take time for yourself, whether that is to read, write, meditate, yoga.
10. A memorable summer does not have to always involve a long, fancy trip to another country or to another state. You can always find things to do from your own home. 
11. Remember that "this isn't your whole life. This is a season in your life."
12. "If you stumble, that's a great sign. It means you've found your edge. You tried something that didn't work and now you know."
13. If you internalize, you will end up externalizing, probably in the exploding kind of way. Vocalize to the right people.
14. Be open to connections, even if it is with people who are much older than you by years and years. You never know when you will find a friend.
15. Being vocal about seeking coaching and counseling is okay. We all need help.
16. When you find work that you love, it won't feel like you are suffering. You will be living and thriving.
17. Persist and visualize, no matter what. This is how we get what we want.
18. It's a cliche -- but this is the process. These are the moments where we are being planted. Growth will only happen from here on out.