The job market — always on my mind. 💭

But seriously, my eyes and ears are always on the job market because I am consistently searching for:

• The perfect career fit

• The ways that society is changing with the job market

• The ways that society is not changing with the job market

• Job requirements

• Education requirements

• Experience requirements

• Turnover rates,

• and so on.

I’m just genuinely curious about the job market, and more so since the economy has taken another big plummet and the cost of living has skyrocketed. I won’t go into a spiel about how it’s difficult to survive with lower pay and higher cost of everything but I will say that I’m always looking for a single job that could handle it all for me. I mean there’s got to be a job that pays enough and isn’t miserable so that I can simply pay my bills, mind my business, and occasionally travel with family and friends! That’s not asking for too much is it? I didn’t work hard to gain all these skills, degrees and experience for nothing.

Compared To What I Normally Do, 40 Is Nothing!

Now, I normally apply for jobs like crazy. Again, in this economy and with the power trips that a lot of weirdos go on, I need options, opportunities and versatility when it comes to work. If I’m going to have to work for someone then I at least want them to be worthy of their role — many people are not, so I’m always on the job hunt.

If I don’t have a supervisor/boss that I can look up to and learn from, then I’m looking for another job every. single. time.

So again, 40 jobs this year is nothing.

Then, why am I looking for a job now? Because I’ve always downplayed my education and experiences, my skills and strengths, etc. because there was always some arbitrary reason (in my mind) that I couldn’t take the “big girl job” that I truly deserved. Now I’m in a space where I don’t want to chase financial freedom in 5 different jobs. I want one lucrative job that will pay well enough to, at least, pay rent and car insurance. I mean that can’t be asking for too much with the work that I’ve put in!

I emphasize my work ethic because I see what’s out there. That’s a post for a different day, however.

Past Jobs, Skills, and Experience — Who Cares!?

It’s often important to understand what you truly bring to any given table beyond the generic boilerplate options that we rattle off in every interview [while having possession of zero of those skills mind you]. These just doesn’t cut it for me. We all say that we’re team players, hard workers, and proficient with the Microsoft Suite and so on!

But what about our true problem-solving abilities? Our communication styles in high-stress moments? What about our actual work ethic and not just the work ethic that we show when someone is watching us? What about the quality and difficulty of our work? What about our ability to create innovative and efficient responses and solutions to age-old [and new] issues?

All of the above moments teach us one thing or another when it comes to the workforce and I love that I’ve gained enough skill and experience to understand what these things translate to within the workforce for me. These are all lessons that anyone can simply gloss over. They can pass them off as “someone else’s problem”! But, for those who take these things on head-on, we’re taking away lessons (if we’re smart)!

All of this stuff matters. All of these things matter. And no, employers don’t see these stepping stones within an interview, but they do see it within the office if they decide to take a chance on you.

So, What’s Holding Bree Back?

My biggest issue, however, is that I somehow expect people to know the skills and experiences that I’ve gained because I hate the thought of vying for attention or understanding. In my antiquated view, you’ll learn enough about me from my resume and my cover letter — both of which I’ve put work into to tell the story of my experiences over the years.

In addition to this, when it comes to job applications, I always punch way below where I should. I have no clue why there’s something within me that says that “all of the skills, education, and experience that I have doesn’t equal enough to earn a living at a job that I’ll enjoy” but it does. There’s absolutely no harm in my choice to now apply for the jobs that I should have, so I’m finally starting to do that. There’s no logical reason for companies to hire someone without the skills and experiences over someone who has it but I just see the world as “the lucky and the unlucky” with myself within the latter category. Truth is, however, I’m also tired of living as an “unlucky” so I’ve got to punch at my weight or better.

I’ve seen, over the years, what punching below does for me and my life and I don’t want that existence anymore. No one that means something to me within this life makes me feel as though I don’t deserve everything that I work for so I need to believe it too and put these things into action!

It’s A Me-Post So I Can’t Help But To Refer To A Book

Malcolm Gladwell was the topic of my Prime Day Deals this year because I certainly used the opportunity to pick up a couple of his books.

His book “Outliers” was referred to me by a former client of mine years ago but I was so turned off by the constant rattling-on about hockey that I didn’t give it a real chance. Years later, I pick it up again and it’s my favorite thing to read! It’s funny how growth happens, huh?

Anywho! One of my favorite sections of this book is on Langan and Oppenheimer and the stories behind their successes and failures. Both men were geniunses by any standards — worlds above their peers. Both were hardworking and willing to put in the necessary hours and yet only one went on to truly become noteworthy. The other lives a simple life on a farm.

So, what went wrong?

One had luck, opportunity, and was surrounded by other inspiring or driven individuals who believed in him. The other was met with adversity, poverty, bad luck and a huge lack of opportunity, especially from those around him who did not believe in him.

There were so many messages within this section of the book about luck being important to success; opportunity being important to success; and who you’re surrounded by being important to success and timing being hugely important to success.

These aren’t these that we don’t already know. But, in the ever-present climate of ‘forever trying to beat the system’ we loose sight of the true keys to success. I like that this book was a reminder for me, even though it includes things that I can’t change (like luck and my timing).

I’ve Said Enough!

You’ve heard enough from me on this, but I’d love to hear your thoughts! What jobs are you applying for? What have you noticed about the job market? And, are you hopeful about it all?

Best [of luck],
Bree