VII.31.2019 - Knowing Yourself
Your professional brand is a combination of hard and soft skills, your educational background, work experience and your value proposition. I always stress the importance of outlining these major components concisely and clearly on your CV, cover letter and Linkedin profile. But, if you don’t have a clear understanding of who you are, this can be extremely frustrating, and for some, a major obstacle. This brings us to the question: are you ready to conduct an active search?
Leo Holdstock, M.C.(Psyc.) suggests going back to the basics in his excellent 2014 article, Mental Health in the Job Search. Holdstock discusses the importance of sleep, structure and self care – 3 critical elements that can easily get lost in the midst of a comprehensive job search. He says, “You are like a battery. To maintain optimal mental health you need to engage in as many (or more) mentally, physically, and emotionally recharging activities as you do draining activities.” When we are not rested, it can distort our self-perception and our perception of others. The lack of rest can also cloud your vision and negatively impact your motivation and that can lead to procrastination.
Everyone experiences road blocks from time to time but the contributing factors are unique to each individual. If uncertainty is more than a temporary episode, speak with your family physician to rule out a biological basis for what you are experiencing. Once the physical causes are eliminated, speaking with a psychiatrist, psychologist or registered therapist can help you address the root causes that have resulted in the experience of being “stuck.” Sometimes, consciously putting your search on hold while you engage in self-reflection can provide the clarity that you are seeking. The point is, it’s important to be emotionally and mentally in a “good place” before strategizing your next move. This will also make the task of writing your CV and cover letter much easier. Most people have a hard time writing about themselves at the best of times. So, if you’re having trouble describing who you are in authentic terms, it will be nearly impossible to articulate this to others verbally or in writing.
If you are still stuck and you have ruled out physical, emotional or mental dimensions, you can go back to basics and ask for feedback from a trusted source — friend, family, colleague. Another option is to speak with a Coach or Career Counselor. Engaging someone with an unbiased, objective opinion can help you accurately assess your situation and discuss options with you.
A 360° review can also be useful. This approach brings “upward” and “downward” data together to form a complete picture about how you are perceived by others. The data can be collected from colleagues, managers and direct reports. It’s not always easy reviewing the data. We are not always perceived in the way we think we are and, in some cases, the information collected can come as a shock or trigger negative emotions. This can, however, be highly effective when trying to figure out who you really are and that brings us back to the premise for this article. It’s important that you know what makes you you. This is an essential first piece before engaging in your job search. Then, the remaining pieces will fall into place quite easily. This is where the aphorism applies: you have to slow down to go faster.