The reality of searching for a job in 2024 is unlike any experience I ever had before. But, to be fair, the job that I’m searching for is different than many of the jobs I’ve had before.
This last year working at the Chamber has allowed me to meet so many people, tell so many stories, share so many experiences, and both learn and teach so many lessons that I am searching for the next opportunity to do all of those things.
I see an opportunity to write about fantastic local businesses like Giuseppe’s and the Gymnastics Academy and I jump at the opportunity. I talk with people about telling their stories in a podcast format and that gets me excited at the prospect. I talk about formatting the work I did in leadership development, and I start iterating in PowerPoint on how to refine my lessons into a fun, interactive morning session, to see if the idea has legs to stand on its own. And I continue building my own website to showcase my work.
On the other hand, I am also sending out resumes electronically into the ether, optimizing for a machine and hoping a human takes a look at what I can do. I see websites where companies ask you to upload a resume, then fill out a form that asks for all the same information that is on the resume.
I crave the certainty of a paycheck on a regular basis, a workspace and office hours. But I’m also wary of losing out on the work that brings me energy, brightens my day and that of many others, and gives me pride in a service that I love providing.
I see fast applications with LinkedIn connections, and for the first time in a long time, I start asking people to contribute recommendations on a site that I’d left running in the background for years. Their words of kindness propel me and give me hope.
My gratefulness for the people who are sending me links to possible jobs, and who are making introductions on my behalf is unending. I am so thankful for the community that has embraced me for the work that I have done, and are eager to see me continue that work here in our community.
But in many ways, I am also impatient. And while that impatience drives me each day to get out into the spaces where work might be found, it also pushes me to consider things that may not quite be the best fit. And I must be careful of those temptations, but also consider how those opportunities might provide me some hidden chances to re-spark that sense of deep pride and satisfaction.
I am hopeful that the opportunity of a lifetime is just around the corner, but I must also muster the courage to make those opportunities for myself.
My friend, Kara Davis told me over lunch the other week that we are becoming the people we once looked up to.
If that’s the case, I hope I’m able to continue earning that admiration in whatever role comes next.
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