Job Hunting

This is not a typical post for me, but I wanted to share because even in the ordinariness of life there is commonality.

Source

I'm job hunting and I'm totally ambivalent. For so long, approximately 5 years, I've had the flexibility of working from home as an E-Rate and Technology Consultant. I work for a small educational non-profit based in Northern California. Through this opportunity I have learned a lot, but I've reached a point where I'm ready to move on. To that end, I've put in serious work on my resume and have started sending out resumes.

We all know the key way to find your next opportunity is through networking, but when you are relatively new to an area networking is next to impossible. For the past 7 years while working and consulting, I've also tried to build a network.

Professionally, I'm not one of those people who has a straight line to the next opportunity.  Because I've done various things, sometimes I'm not even sure what my next opportunity would look like. So some times, I submit my resume, just because. I've learned that this is not a good strategy, because if you don't know where you are going any road will take you there.

I'm beginning to streamline my options and am getting calls that are more in line with my skill set and also a challenge for me.

Believe it or not, I'm having a crisis of confidence. Every time I express this thought the folks that know me are shocked, and then I'm shocked that they are shocked. But this is where I am.

Job hunting is challenging:

• You must believe in yourself
• You must always put your best foot forward
• You must prepare
• You must be able to say why you are a good fit for the position
• You have to want what you're going after
• You can't entirely be yourself (nerves are good)

There will be missteps along the way; you may have a bad interview, not connect with the interviewer or midway through the process realize this is not what you want. I have determined that I will use the missteps as opportunities for learning and not beat myself up too much.

In all of this, I rely on scripture. You know why? Because people mean well and have nice platitudes of encouragement. But I've found the best encouragement comes from scripture and may even be mirrored by well meaning friends. So I rely on scripture and talking to God.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Are you job hunting? What kept you going?