Dear Sue,
I've made it through several rounds for a Director of Programming role with Favorite Organization in Cleveland. This is the job that I've wanted and pursued for 3 months now. I should hear next week whether I've made it to the next step, whether I'm still in this. I certainly hope so.
I also am in the running for a senior VP position in a not-for profit located in Houston. It would be a remote position. And I will hear about potential next steps, if any, next week as well. - Stan
Dear Stan,
Oh, my goodness! That’s a lot. Wonderful news! Please keep me posted! Sue
Dear Sue,
Thank you. I will. I'm really happy about my decision to go back to a strategic leadership role in a social justice organization. I just need to find a spot where I can work. [Emphasis added] - Stan
How Windows of Opportunity Open
Stan’s emails tells us almost everything we need to know about successful job seeking and finding. As you read, when he got clear, he got excited. We’re often taught that clarity is the right thought. But it’s a feeling - and it’s magnetic. Stan is feeling happy and committed. He’s out there networking like crazy so he could be found easily. He became “the needle” his preferred type of employers’ “magnets” are seeking. He was drawn into the selection processes in organizations where he can flourish. When the requests to interview came, he could maintain his integrity and enter the discussions whole-heartedly. And, when one became available, more than one became available.
There are three points I’d like you to consider.
#1, When you know what you really desire and communicate it clearly and with enthusiasm, your “needle,” is attracted to magnets. People not only find you, they pull you in – they want to get to know you better.
#2, We are attractable when our light shines through. We even call it magnetism! If we have inner work to do clarity is elusive, energy is dormant or tied up in other things, and we can’t get traction. Our light doesn’t shine.
#3, A window of opportunity opens when you have accomplished #1 and #2 and the community needs you. (A community is always grounded on land. For some people “the community” is national or global, so don’t get hung up on the wording. It’s the best I can figure to say right now.)
Timing of Opportunities
When these three things come together there will be openings. One of the interesting things is that “the community needs you” is most important for the timing of the openings. This is easy to see in the slowdown in hiring at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The community didn’t need a lot of new products or services. It also explains why there was a surge in hiring for a few roles, like drivers and nursing.
When we get excited about an opportunity and we get quite far in the hiring process, it’s very tempting to think we’ve got it; that it’s ours, it’s got our name on it, or that we should work harder to give ourselves the best chance. Yet, what I’ve watched over and over is that the more tightly a candidate holds on to a specific opening, the more likely it is that the deal will go away.
The analogy for this experience is transformative in a negative way. Sometimes a beautiful job seems to be truly in our hands. We hold it preciously, like a golden egg. But if we grasp the egg too tightly - work harder to deserve it - it turns to sand. Paradoxically, the tighter we grip sand, the faster it runs through our fingers.
Inner Work is Essential
You’ll notice that Stan did his inner work. He took care of whatever was in the way of him recognizing his heart’s desire and communicating it. His new clarity narrowed his focus to the type of work he loves to do. He became fearless, willing to say no to things that aren’t right for him - even though he
needs a job,
feels uncertain about where he will land, and
worries sometimes about how long it’s going to take to finally get an offer.
But his clarity and energy are compelling to the organizations which are put together and organized to serve the need he satisfies in the community.
If we keep driving toward only one job, we miss what the universe is presenting to us as the next step. This driving too hard delays our progress in the job search because our energy is going into warding off ideas and yearnings so we can stay focused on our singular goal – a job that is not ours to give ourselves.
It’s like driving
so fast we don’t see the street signs, notice a shortcut, or the sign for free ice cream where we run into an old friend who makes our day.
What we’re missing when we shield ourselves from ideas and yearning is strengthening and clarifying our inner game. Some people disagree that they need to do any inner work. They think I’m nuts and out of bounds. As you’ve heard me brag countless times, I’ve worked with over 4,000 candidates. That’s a lot of examples and over time patterns became easy to see. This is one you can bank on.
Inner work can be learning to rely on one’s instincts better; working through resentments and freeing up energy; finding a lost family member; finishing grieving the last job or something else; clarifying needs and wants and saying no to work that is inappropriate based on your preferences, saving energy. You needed to clean the basement or plant a rose garden and unemployment gave you time. Your mother was sick and you wanted to care for her. Or, you were just tired and needed to rest. All of these are what I mean by inner work.
Step Up!
Job offers elude us for many reasons and a candidate has no control over them. But a candidate can decide what his or her own actions will be. When you are getting “interest signals” you know you and the community are ready and a window is opening up for you to be in a place to contribute heartily. The signs of encouragement - like getting far along in selection processes – mean you will have more success hearing about opportunities out in the community than you did before.
Re-energize your commitment to networking! Now is not the time to develop tunnel vision, to say no to more opportunities coming your way. It’s time to reach out to all your favorite people, telling them
you’re ready,
what you really want,
what kind of organizations you want it with,
how excited you are that openings are appearing.
And ask for referrals to great leaders. Show your enthusiasm! It’s magnetic.
See if you can connect with enough people to land three offers. Then you will know your value, have more ideas when it’s time to negotiate, and know why you are choosing to accept this offer to join this organization.
You Have the Time You Need
Based on what I’ve seen, the universe gives us time. In over 25 years, I’ve never had a client’s worst fear come true - losing their home. The new role comes in time. We need time to collect the thinking that is missing in daily life. We can work with the knowledge that we are in a principled process and remember that fear is a deterrent to progress. Keeping track of what stage we are in and that we’re making progress means we are doing the right activities at the right time. If we get stuck or confused, coaching or counseling, or a good, friendly ear may be needed.
Stay in the Game!
Don’t quit right before your miracle! When you are in the running for a really good job, get out there! Ask around for more connections, more people to help, more insight into what needs doing. Reinforce your clarity, your commitment to solving your favorite problems with others of like mind. Receive encouragement! You’re expanding. A terrific new role will come to you. Just wait till you see all that is opening up for you!