Finding Purpose in the Job Search Journey

Job searching isn't just about getting hired. It's about finding your place. Most candidates rush into interviews with a reactive mindset: - Respond to recruiter messages  - Apply to trendy companies - Accept the first decent offer Then they wonder why they're miserable 6 months later. In a recent Supra Insider episode with Troy Sultan (CEO of Guide.co), we uncovered a better approach: 1/ Start with honest self-reflection ↳ Stack-rank what truly matters to you (comp, growth, flexibility, culture) ↳ Run thought experiments: "Would I take 20% less pay for 2x growth potential?" ↳ Calculate your financial runway to know how selective you can be ↳ Build a job search strategy before executing your search ↳ Create a "criteria scorecard" to evaluate potential employers 2/ Treat your job search like a full-time job ↳ Budget your time upfront—know exactly how much time you can invest ↳ Understand what "interviewing within your means" looks like for your situation ↳ Create interview questions that directly address your top criteria ↳ Remember: Getting a job is a job 3/ Look for signals of a quality recruiting experience ↳ Notice the level of proactivity vs. reactivity in communication ↳ Check if they provide clear expectations about the entire interview process upfront ↳ See if they offer prep materials or calls before important interviews ↳ Assess whether they value transparency or dodge difficult questions 4/ Intentionally test company culture ↳ Manufacture small conflicts in interviews to see how they respond ↳ Ask direct questions about why previous team members left ↳ Give constructive feedback to your interviewer and observe their reaction ↳ Request specific examples of how they've handled situations similar to your concerns 5/ Practice the art of discovery throughout the process ↳ Balance answering their questions with asking your own ↳ Slip in key questions throughout—don't save everything for the end ↳ Ask "do you have any reservations about me?" to surface concerns early ↳ View each interaction as an opportunity to evaluate fit, not just to impress 6/ Show up authentically ↳ The more you "perform" in interviews, the more you'll need to keep performing at work ↳ If they reject the real you, that's valuable data (and saved time) ↳ Great companies want candidates who thoughtfully challenge them ↳ Share personal priorities openly (like Troy's friend mentioning Coachella) Here's the key mindset shift: You're not just trying to get ANY job. You're selecting a place to invest years of your life. As Troy shared: "The worst outcome isn't not getting a job—it's getting the wrong one." What other strategies have you found helpful for being intentional in your job search?

"Job searching doesn't just test your patience. It tests your confidence." Let me be real: Last week, a senior executive sat in my office - MBA, 15+ years of experience, consistent promotions. Yet there she was, voice shaking, wondering if she'd lost her edge after 2 months of searching. **Here's the truth about job search confidence:** It's not just you. It's not your qualifications. It's the process - and I'm about to hand you your confidence toolkit. **5 Practical Confidence Builders That Actually Work:** 1. **Create Your Wins Folder** 📁 - Save every "thank you" email - Screenshot LinkedIn endorsements - Document project victories - Review it before every interview 2. **Reframe Rejection Like a Pro** 💪 - Each "no" means you're actively in the game - Every interview = valuable market intel - Track patterns in feedback, not individual "nos" 3. **Build Your Confidence Squad** 🤝 - 1 mentor who's been there - 2 peers in the same journey - 3 cheerleaders who know your worth - Weekly check-ins, no sugar coating 4. **Master the Mental Game** 🧠 - Morning power routine (5 min visualization) - End-of-day wins journal - "Yet" mindset: "I haven't found the right role... yet" 5. **Take Strategic Action Breaks** ⏸ - 2-hour LinkedIn limit per day - 1 full day off per week - Replace job search time with skill-building Remember: Your employability isn't measured by the length of your search. Your value isn't determined by your application status. 🔄 Action Step: Choose ONE confidence builder from above and commit to it for one week. Drop a ✨ below if you're in - let's rebuild that confidence together. #JobSearch #CareerConfidence #CareerGrowth #JobSeeker

Endless interviews, ghosting and rejections, oh my! Job hunting right now is exhausting. If you are struggling with your job search you are not alone. I know what you are dealing with: ➙The emotional hit of instant rejections ➙The confusion of on again/off again messages ➙The disappointment of hours of preparation with zero results It's hard to keep going in the face of these barriers. 🌟But the job offers go to those who don't quit!🌟 Here are some strategies to help you keep going: 1️⃣ Reframe "Radio Silence" ↳ It has nothing to do with you ↳ They don't have systems and processes ✅ You don't want to work there 💡The truth: They're showing you who they are. ↳ HR is overwhelmed, understaffed, and disorganized ↳ Management doesn't have its act together 2️⃣ Change the KPIs ↳ Key Performance Indicators should be things YOU control ↳ Measure connections, conversations, applications & preparation ✅ Focus on your own growth 💡The truth: You can't control the job market or an employer. ↳ Your energy is best spent on becoming the best candidate ↳ Research, relationships and practice pay off 3️⃣ Self-Care First ↳ Stick to a daily routine ↳ Use time-blocking to avoid burnout ✅ Winners play the long game 💡The truth: Burnout and defeat show in an interview. ↳ Prioritizing mental and physical health gives you energy ↳ Another hour scrolling job boards is a poor use of time 4️⃣ Build A Support Team ↳ No one should be job hunting alone ↳ People who can be objective are best ✅ Asking for encouragement is smart. 💡The truth: Job hunting is lonely. ↳ Make a specific ask of family & friends ↳ A career coach or accountability buddy can also help 5️⃣ Use Multiple Tactics ↳ Don't rely on 1 or 2 strategies for your search ↳ Avoid getting comfortable and try something new ✅ Winning candidates use ALL the strategies 💡The truth: Shaking things up will keep you energized. ↳ The minimum: Job boards, target employers, connections & applications ↳ Stay on top of tactics by following career coaches on LinkedIn 6️⃣ Take Breaks ↳ Don't sit for more than 2 hours at a time. ↳ Take off 1-2 days a week ✅ Always make time for things you enjoy 💡The truth: Job hunting is NOT a full-time job ↳ You cannot sustain a serious job search without taking breaks ↳ Tell anyone who gets on your case you appreciate their concern Job hunting isn't easy. It's not even simple. Complaining and focusing on the negative won't change that. Remember: the only person who loses if you give up is you. ♻️ Repost to help other job seekers stay strong 🔔 Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more career resilience strategies 📌 Need help right now? DM me to get on my calendar.

Reminder: You are not the problem. If you’re applying online via job boards (LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, etc), feeling invisible, and tired of getting ghosted, it’s not because you’re not qualified. It’s because the game has changed, and you need a new playbook. The first thing that I coach clients on is their Mindset and Confidence. With how competitive the market is, many high performers are having a tough time finding a job. Many of them have not had to look before. They got referred in or better yet, recruited by their Former Manager. I hear " I don't know what is happening. This is not normal. I usually can get a job fairly quickly". Then I hear, "Now, I am questioning myself. My skills, abilities - maybe they weren't enough?" Or imposter syndrome is creeping in. 🛑 STOP doubting yourself. These are the things I want to encourage you to do to regain your confidence and improve your mindset. 1️⃣ Self Reflection - Better clarity: Identify and understand your current situation and limiting beliefs. Take the time to evaluate your career. Think about the job you loved the most and why. Think about what you don't want. Get crystal clear on the job you want - BEFORE you start applying. Recognize any negative thought patterns or beliefs that may be holding you back from pursuing your goals. 2️⃣ Adopt a growth mindset: Embrace setbacks and challenges as learning & growth opportunities. This builds confidence. Identify and develop the skills that you may be missing that can help you round out your experience or fill that gap on that job you want! (Remember, when you fail, you learn.) 3️⃣ Ensure you have a supportive environment: Surround yourself with positivity. Avoid negative people or demotivating influences. In fact, the other day I reached out to a former leader & manager of mine, sharing an idea and a fear I had. She said just "DO IT" - you will learn what works and doesn't work. Regularly reflect on the things you are grateful for - both personal and professional. Build positive habits that promote a positive mindset - journal, mindfulness, or spend time outside. (I talk about this a lot). 4️⃣ Set Goals and Actions: Define your SMART goals (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant and Time bound) that align with your SMART goals. Take Action - break down your goals into smaller, manageable steps and take consistent action towards achieving them. You will need to evaluate your progress and adjust goals and strategies as needed. 🌟 By consistently implementing these steps, you can cultivate a more positive and growth mindset which will lead to great career success. 👉 If you are struggling with your mindset and confidence level, download my Clarity Worksheet Guide in the comments. Feel free to schedule a 1-1 with me to review and set a very strategic plan for you. I am rooting for you! Coach Kat