Over the last 6 months, I have been concentrating on working with young professionals and graduates to better prepare them for early career development. Then a crisis the size of a huge meteor hit the planet and we were all catapulted into a period of uncertainty and chaos.
This has been the biggest challenge for my clients over the last few months. They are struggling with staying motivated during a time of uncertainty. As a business coach for early career development, what can you do for them?
What I have found is that career coaches give advice on how to find a job during an economic downturn. They rewrite your resume and cover letter to give you a better chance at the job. And they give you tips and strategies on how to navigate the job boards and apply to as many jobs as possible.
Even though all these tactics work and I suggest you utilize some of them in your job search activities. It is not enough!
The graduating class of 2020 is joining millions of Americans in their job search this summer. Hiring activities will be very high and many people will get jobs as we recover. The question is, do you want to settle for any job or do you want to give yourself the opportunity to get a job you will enjoy?
In order to do that I work with my clients and ask them to embrace uncertainty and make that an action item on their to-do list. I work with them so they recognize their least productive time and harness that energy and use it to learn.
On the other hand, use the time when you have high energy and assign tasks during that time. For example: if you are feeling blue and want to hang out in PJs all day. There is nothing wrong with that, do that, by all means, but use that time wisely. Use that day to watch a few tutorial videos about interviewing or just meditate that day to quiet your mind and reflect.
The high energy days, the days you feel awesome, use that day to schedule interviews and networking calls. If you are in productive mode and you show up that way people will remember you. You can’t teach someone to have positive energy but you can show them how to discover it and nurture it.
Only then will the results be move favorable.
The key is planning!
Plan ahead and have action items for high energy days and low energy days. This is the powerful work I do with my clients.
First, I help them recognize this concept and have them try it. Then we design the next steps and action items which bring them closer to their goal.
Lastly, I keep them accountable and on track so that they define their career path.