Freedom From Jobs You Hate

Happy Independence Month! Let’s talk about the ultimate freedom: a job you love that doesn’t feel like a prison sentence.

In April, job openings fell to their lowest level since February 2021, showing signs that the post-government lockdown labor boom is cooling off. But don’t let this number dishearten you. There are many open jobs out there, and companies are eager for good talent.

As a recruiter for many years, I am here to help connect you with companies in need of your exact brand of talent. I can coach you on the job search, provide the right introductions, set up interviews, and help negotiate the terms of your employment.

While it’s part of my job to pay attention to employment trends, I don’t pay too much mind to these numbers, which always go up and down. At the end of the day, finding the right person for the right job takes experience and skill, not employment trends.

Keep reading to find out how you can give yourself an advantage in the job market by being prepared and having the right mindset.

Check in on your goals

Now that we’ve rounded the corner into the second half of the year, take a second to reflect: Where do you stand on goals you set for yourself in early January?

𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒊𝒛𝒛𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕!

Just like with any project, a milestone check can help you adjust deadlines and expectations. Perhaps you wanted to get a new job this year, but you’ve made zero progress on that front. It’s definitely not too late. Perhaps you start by setting yourself a deadline to revamp your resume and update your LinkedIn profile?

Just knowing where to start can be the trick for a lot of people.

If finding a new role is on your to-do list for the year, one great place to start is with a recruiter. I have been working with job-seeking professionals for many years, and I can help you launch into action.

Don't mock the mock interview

Mock interviews sometimes get mocked. After all, any professional worth their salt should be able to perform flawlessly under pressure, right? Still, I often encourage the use of mock interviews to properly prepare job applicants for the real deal. Such practice sessions can instill confidence, help you hone your interviewing skills and prepare you for facetime with an intimidating future boss or hiring manager.

How to do it? Find a friend, mentor, colleague, former colleague or even a recruiter like me to give you feedback, either in person or on screen. Choosing someone with industry knowledge is important, so they can ask the right questions in the right ways but also understand how your response might measure up in a real interview.

Treat mock interviews as seriously as you might a real interview. The effort will pay off if you land the job.

Landing the bespoke life

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵.”

— Author Sharon Hull

Work-life balance is the unattainable dream for a lot of people, who feel like they have to choose between being upwardly mobile and successful, or having time to actually relax and be present with friends and family.

But as a recruiter for many years, I see that old, bifurcated paradigm beginning to shift. Today’s hiring managers and company leaders understand the importance of work-life balance and hire people with this in mind.

If your current employer is not of the mindset that great employees are those with enough breathing room, it may be time to look for a new job.

Reach out today to start your search.