CareerVive’s Post

The classic illusion. Do you see an old lady facing forward or the young lady looking away? Here is another illusion you can look at today. The mirror. Do you see yourself looking forward or looking away? The mirror is a powerful way to determine how we are currently feeling about ourselves and I often tell my clients to look in the mirror and see if they can tell themselves, truthfully and convincingly, I love you and I am proud of you. If you cannot confidently do this as convincingly as you would like, then an illusion is playing... because EVERYBODY has a reason to love themselves and be proud, they just haven't had a chance to discover it yet or have reason to believe it recently. I encourage you to sit down in a quiet space and think about: - A time in your life / career where you were proud of yourself - Write a sentence down that summarises what you were proud of - Now think deeper and think about why you were proud, what did you do to resonate so closely with your inner self? Why did it matter to you specifically? - Once you have doe the above, do this step again until you have 3 or 4 times when you were proud Tomorrow, I want you to read these moments out loud to yourself in the mirror. The day after tomorrow, I want you to read them again. And again and again. Do it for the whole of February. The illusion will be gone and you will look forward to the mirror in March. We cover story telling in our career workshop as we think it is extremely valuable to lean in to who we are and what makes us proud, it helps set yourself apart when looking for a new role and you no longer have to present an illusion in your interviews... because you proudly go in as yourself! This is one surefire way to rid of imposter syndrome! Sign up link: https://lnkd.in/eHq2f6gB #opentowork #jobseekers #impostersyndrome

In my corporate days, when I was seriously looking for a job, it felt like I was constantly running a marathon. Except I didn’t know where the finish line was. And that’s the thing about job searching—it’s exhausting. The longer it goes on, the harder it can be to stay motivated, and the stress? It can feel relentless. I remember days where it felt like I was doing everything "right"—sending out resumes, networking, preparing for interviews—and still, the silence on the other end was deafening. It felt like no matter how hard I tried, nothing was moving forward. That’s when the burnout started creeping in. But here’s the lesson I learned: If you don’t take care of yourself during the job search, it doesn’t matter how many resumes you send or interviews you prepare for—you’ll eventually hit a wall. What helped me turn it around? I started treating my job search like a 9-5. After certain hours, I stopped refreshing my inbox, and I gave myself time to recharge. Did I get a reply? That’s progress. Did I network with someone new? That’s a win. These little victories kept me moving forward. Job hunting is tough on your mental health. I made time for exercise, hobbies, and connecting with friends. It gave me the energy I needed to keep going. I started viewing each rejection as a step closer to the right opportunity instead of a failure. It was a mindset shift that helped me stay resilient. If you’re in the middle of your own search right now, and you’re feeling the weight of stress, remember this: Your well-being is just as important as finding the right role. Burnout doesn’t serve anyone, especially not you. Take care of yourself, because when the right opportunity comes, you’ll want to be ready for it. Instead of asking for advice today, let’s do something different. If you’re job searching right now, I want you to take a moment for yourself. Go for a walk. Call a friend. Put the job search on pause for just a bit. Because taking care of yourself is part of the process too. #jobsearch #careergrowth #mentalhealth #resilience __________________________ Discover how I can help you grow.🌱  Hit the bell to stay updated on my posts. 🔔 Repost for the benefit of others who might appreciate it. 🙏

Last week, I decided that I would stop applying to jobs and take a mental break from it all. "What are you going to do?" and "What will you be doing instead with your time?" were two questions I was frequently asked when I started telling people about my plan. And the honest answer? Nothing at all! I'm taking a break, reading a book, and calling it a day. Here is what I learned... 1. You will still receive rejection emails (and that's okay!).  2. Hobbies are important and often the first thing to be sacrificed in the job hunt. Prioritize yourself as much as you do finding your dream job. 3. When you're well rested, interviews can be quite enjoyable! Now I'm back and feeling recharged. I'm no longer consumed with this pressure to be applying to jobs daily. Instead, I'm excited for the interviews ahead of me and for the remaining time spent with my team! If you haven't already, consider taking off a few days for yourself. A little break can do wonders for your perspective, attitude, and overall wellbeing.

✨ "You can have all the tools in the world but if you don't genuinely believe in yourself, it's useless." - Ken Jeong After countless interviews, I've realized something pivotal: It's not the doubts about my capabilities that hold me back—it's my failure to silence that inner critic that whispers I'm not enough. 🌟 Believing in yourself is more than a mantra; it's the cornerstone of success. This realization didn't come easy. With every interview, with every doubt, I learned to trust myself a little more. To trust in my abilities, to trust the process, and to trust in a higher power. Here's what I found: The voice of self-doubt may never fully disappear, but the voice of self-assurance grows stronger every time you choose to ignore the former and embrace the latter. So, I'm curious—how do you overcome your own doubts? Let's share and grow together. Your story could be the one that inspires someone to push through their barriers. 🔄 Feel free to share this post if it resonates with you, and perhaps, it might light the spark for someone else in need of a push in the right direction. #SelfBelief #CareerGrowth #Motivation #OpenToWork

Last week, I decided that I would stop applying to jobs and take a mental break from it all. "What are you going to do?" and "What will you be doing instead with your time?" were two questions I was frequently asked when I started telling people about my plan. And the honest answer? Nothing at all! I'm taking a break, reading a book, and calling it a day. Here is what I learned... 1. You will still receive rejection emails (and that's okay!).  2. Hobbies are important and often the first thing to be sacrificed in the job hunt. Prioritize yourself as much as you do finding your dream job. 3. When you're well rested, interviews can be quite enjoyable! Now I'm back and feeling recharged. I'm no longer consumed with this pressure to be applying to jobs daily. Instead, I'm excited for the interviews ahead of me and for the remaining time spent with my team! If you haven't already, consider taking off a few days for yourself. A little break can do wonders for your perspective, attitude, and overall wellbeing.

I love this question because it gets to the core of what will help the most in any given situation. Sometimes, our needs can be addressed immediately, and other times, we can take steps over time. The most important thing is to listen deeply to ourselves with self-compassion and take action when we can.⁠ ⁠ For your job search or work situation:⁠ ⁠ What is going well? I like to start with a base of what is working.⁠ ⁠ If you had a magic wand to tend to your situation, what would that look like?⁠ ⁠ In your magic wand scenario, which parts are fantastical (p.s. still important because they provide valuable information!), and which parts could be addressed in reality?⁠ ⁠ If you knew you would not be judged, what would you say are your top three needs right now?⁠ ⁠ What are your top three strengths that you feel very sure about? *It's okay if these don't seem directly related to a job search or work; for example, let's say you know you're a good friend, that counts, also.⁠ ⁠ Now, take your three strengths and think about how you can leverage them to help care for your current job search or work situation. For instance, let's say you chose 'being a good friend'; could you reach out to your friends who work in a field(s) of interest or who are super-connectors, or to grab a coffee for support? Could you think of new ways to craft your job search just as you would help a dear friend?⁠ ⁠ Whether your needs are big or small, what is one way that you can begin to meet one (or more) of your needs today or this week? Think creatively, and remember you do not have to do this alone! You can reach out to anyone in your Dream Team for support including a career coach, mentor, therapist, clergy, encouraging friend/partner/family member, or other resource.⁠ ⁠ Take a breath and feel the possibilities expand💫✨️💟⁠ ⁠ ~⁠ ⁠ Say hello! Connect with me on my website to learn more about how we can work together on career coaching and personal styling✨️⁠ ⁠ Steph⁠ www.workdotdot.com⁠ ⁠ #workdotdot #work #career #careertips #careercoach #jobsearch #jobsearching #resume #interview #dreamjob #resilience #mindfulness #selfcompassion #selfcare #confidence #motivation #inspiration

*My Painful Job Search Journey: A Story of Resilience* I'm sharing my story in hopes that it might resonate with others who are struggling. My job search journey has been a long and arduous one, filled with twists and turns that have tested my resolve and self-doubt. Months of applications, countless rejections, and silence from employers have taken a toll on my mental health and confidence. There have been times when I felt like giving up, like I wasn't good enough or that I'd never find a career that truly fulfills me. But despite the setbacks and disappointments, I've refused to lose hope. I've continued to push forward, to learn from each experience, and to grow as a person. I've realized that my worth and identity extend far beyond my job search. I am more than my resume, more than my cover letter, and more than my interview skills. If you're struggling like me, know that you're not alone. Keep going, even when it feels impossible. Keep pushing forward, even when the darkness feels overwhelming. Let's support each other through the ups and downs of this journey. Share your stories, your struggles, and your triumphs. Together, we can get through this. #jobsearch #careergoals #resilience #mentalhealthmatters #supporteachother #opentowork

My daughter is a very sensitive child. When she gets hurt or has a minor injury, she desperately asks not to be touched, not to look, not to treat it. She is scared. And I understand her. When we face pain — physical or emotional — often the first instinct is to hide, to shut down, not to let anyone near. The fear that a touch or attention could bring even more pain prevents us from letting someone help. People in the job search process behave in much the same way. Losing a job or failing an interview can hurt deeply, and in those moments, there is a desire to close off, not share experiences, not ask for support. But this is where the challenge lies: to recognize your resources, understand what else you can do on your own, and bring in external support. In my work, I often see two extremes: either striving to find a job at any cost or giving up on the idea of a new job altogether. Both strategies rely on chance, on luck. And miracles do happen. But I believe in helping those miracles happen. How? By creating a structured job search strategy, understanding your industry and the specifics of the country, and building a strong network. My role is to carefully and supportively guide you through this journey to a new offer. Remember, fear is a natural reaction, but don't let it stop you. It’s important to find the strength to open the door to support and take action. What is your strategy in job searching? #CareerCoaching #JobSearchStrategy #MindsetMatters #OvercomingFear #SupportAndGrowth #CareerDevelopment #JobSearchTips #EmotionalResilience #Networking #CareerTransition

We live in a world now where people share--- and sometimes overshare-- intimate details of their lives publicly on social media. We know who is taking a Disney World trip. We "like" home renovation before and after pictures We celebrate new babies and weddings We drool over our friend's food pictures from their meal on Friday night People now even publicly talk about the 3 things my Grandma told me I should never bring up in a crowd: religion, politics, and money Do you know what we don't talk about? Any guesses? Job searching. Indeed commissioned a study in nine countries to spotlight individuals' concerns about the job search process. They found that the desire for secrecy triggers strong emotions among those trying to change jobs. Two-thirds (64%) said they feel anxious when searching for a new job, half (50%) feel secretive, and a third (33%) even feel like they are leading a double life. Executives have compelling reasons to keep their job search secret. ✔️Public knowledge could undermine their authority and destabilize their current position. ✔️ It might also cause business partners to become wary, affecting ongoing negotiations. ✔️ A discreet search allows executives to explore opportunities without the pressure of making immediate commitments. This is a topic that is so private to some that 50% of people d͟o͟n͟'͟t͟ ͟e͟v͟e͟n͟ ͟t͟e͟l͟l͟ ͟t͟h͟e͟i͟r͟ ͟s͟p͟o͟u͟s͟e͟ ͟they are considering job searching or experiencing job search frustrations. Is it healthy to job search alone? 𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧. Whether a supportive spouse, friend, or coach--- great achievements often require help from a thought partner. Robin sees what Batman may overlook and provides empathy and support. Many believe Batman isn’t at his best without Robin. Your job search "Robin" should be able to provide: 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: A thought partner or friend can offer valuable perspectives and insights, helping to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities that the job seeker might overlook. 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Job searches can be stressful and emotionally taxing. Having someone to provide encouragement, empathy, and motivation can make the process more manageable and less isolating. 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: Friends and thought partners can introduce job seekers to new connections, provide referrals, and open doors to opportunities that might not be accessible otherwise. Friends don't let friends job search alone. Buddy up! Are you surprised by this information? Why do you think people are private about job searching?