Blog Post: Turning Frustrations into SOLUTIONS!

I have had the pleasure in connecting with some great job seekers in the past several months via our facebook fan page.  Never before has there been a forum for job seekers to engage with each other in this capacity.  I have been working to help the community recognize how to maximize this new way to network in the job search. 

Many job seekers have jumped right in and I want to give BIG KUDOS to them for doing so  The idea is to get engaged, stay engaged, and build your personal brand.  Our fan page is a resource to you.  Use it to share what's going on in your job search.  Keep it focused on THE SOLUTIONS.  It is very easy to get lost in the frustrations of it all, so I challenge each and every one of you to pause a minute and when the frustration comes up, change it to a solution.  For example: 

Frustration based thought:  "I can't get an interview and I have applied to a ton of jobs and I know I am qualified!"

Solution based thought:  "I am going to search LinkedIn and see if anyone I know is connected to someone at the companies I am applying to and ask for an introduction.  After that I am going to pick the top 5 jobs I am truly qualified for and send a hand written card"

The competition is fierce.  Here is a scenario I would like for you to visualize:

You are running in a race.  The finish line is the hiring line.  Whoever gets there first gets the job.  Every time you give energy to a frustrated thought you are putting the breaks on and allowing others to pass you. In a race that is already so difficult you are literally making it worse for yourself.

Would you ever in a real race just stop and let others pass you by?

Usually in a race the focused ones who are determined to win are in sync with each other and feeding off of each others drive.  They are typically neck and neck and look like they are running in a pack.  If you look behind them in the distance you will see the stragglers.  They are singled out, one here; one there.  They are not surrounded by anything or anyone to drive them.  They are not engaged.  They are just left behind.

So, where are you in the job search race?  I would imagine many of you are doing a dance where some days you are of the solution based thought and are part of the flow of focused driven runners and other days you might fall behind with the stragglers stuck in the frustration based thought.

Frustration leads to more frustration and gives your competitors a FREE push toward the hiring line.  Be part of the solution and push YOURSELF toward the hiring line.  Use our fan page to engage with each other.  Share solutions, ideas, thoughts, etc.  If you are stuck in the frustration, THAN SAY SO, except refrain from sharing the frustration specifically and instead say where you are and ask for support.  Solicit help from each other in finding a solution.  Engage in your co-job seekers and find out what is working for them.

If you are one who gets an interview, please TELL US!  This will give hope to others.  Keep us updated on the process so as a community we can learn and grow!

Now.....go....join the conversations....