You need to write! Those were some of my father’s final words to me prior to his death. Write? What do I have to write about? “Tell stories”…he said. “Talk about the all the students and experiences that you have worked with over 20 years and become a storyteller...there are lots of people who need to hear the information that you know".
He’s gone now but his words ring on in my ears and his message is clear in my heart…After a lifetime of helping students and other clients, I know I have a lot of things to share. Just this morning I was coaching a client about what to say in a job interview….Be sure to tell your story I told her. Not long stories, but share with them what you’ve done and how those past experiences can help you do well in this new role. Be unique…be yourself! Let them see you shine and how it will benefit them if they select you! If it’s the right feel then they will select you as it is all about fitting the role, the culture and the company!
We hung up the phone and I could tell she was still rehearsing her words and organizing her thoughts. Be sure to remember that you’re interviewing them as well, I emphasized…Contrary to what you really think, you do not know that you want the position under after you’ve met with them. You are exchanging and sharing information to see if you’re a good fit for one another.
So much of life is about fit. People worry about forcing things and making them fit where we all just really need to realize that life actually has a natural rhythm. When you look back on your life you will see how it just automatically works out. Work instead on yourself. Focus on the unique and positive aspects that you bring to a work environment and be sure to convey those points to the employer.
I share philosophies with my clients like Dr. Dyer’s mantra about how “changing your thoughts will help change your reality”…Job seekers get stuck in their own head. They fret, worry, wonder and focus on things that will not benefit them any in their interview preparation. Getting out of your own head is important. It may be difficult for happily employed people to even relate to the desperation that a job hunter feels on a regular basis.
Dealing with feelings is a big part of the process. I often use the statement that “we stand in our own way”…and encourage clients to get out of their own way. A good coach will help a client re-frame their thoughts, process their actions and continue their search. A good coach will inspire, motivate and share the journey with a client. To quote one of my favorite sayings, “the journey is the goal”. Yes, you want to obtain the goal of landing a new job but take the time to examine what you’re learning throughout the journey. Even when unemployed you can still learn a lot about yourself. Every moment is an opportunity to learn.