You are probably thinking to yourself…what could a dog possibly have to do with your job search strategy. Well, dogs are our best friend. They like to go out into the world exploring their options and seeking out new opportunities. Isn’t that the foundation of searching for a job? A well-trained (and well-exercised) dog is a happy being that thrives in their daily lives. If you think about it, humans do exactly the same things. We like to explore the world, assess our options, and constantly evolve from a learning perspective. When I was training my dog recently, I got to thinking about how she is a great resource for me to leverage when it comes to coaching my clients during their job search, resume writing, and LinkedIn profile writing. I have a Standard Poodle that is 2 years old and every day I train her because my goal is to have her become a therapy dog. Incase you are not familiar with therapy dogs, they have to go through extensive training and maintain a constant sense of calm and composure when they are “on duty” in public settings. “On duty” can be anything from visiting hospitals and nursing homes or serving as a companion during reading groups with children in schools or libraries. But in order for your dog to earn their therapy dog credentials, they have to go through extensive training and master behavioral skills. It takes a lot of practice, discipline, and dedication to reach the goal. The same can be said of employing a successful job search strategy. At times, it can be exhausting and overwhelming when you train a dog with positive results and then a distraction presents itself and poof–back to square one. Sometimes that can derail the training process momentarily, but ultimately the discipline and persistence kick in to yield positive results again. During job searches, the same thing can happen when you are applying to jobs and looking for viable opportunities. You might be going along like gangbusters and then you hit a wall like not hearing back from a company you applied to or not landing a second job interview. The distractions become something you can work through until you learn to look past them and continue toward reaching your goals. Since humans and dogs have similar needs in life, why not examine some of our dog’s behaviors and see how we can follow their “lead”.
Distractions…
If you look at how dogs thrive in training and work through the distractions, think about applying that to your job search. From a job search perspective, you have to be persistent and committed to doing whatever it takes to land another job. Things like researching the companies you want to apply to, tailoring your resume, updating your personal brand, or even sending out follow up letters does require a significant time investment. If you want to see results, you have to put in the work. It is just that simple for us. Same for dogs and their training. A lot of times, you feel like you are spinning your wheels or not getting results as quickly as you like. But that is all a part of the process, just like training your dog. You have days where you make a lot of progress and then there are days when you don’t see the forward progression. I usually advise my clients to take this time to evaluate where they stand right now and refocus their efforts until they move past the distractions. I do the same thing with my Standard. When she reacts to the squirrel that runs right across her path at lightening speed, I refocus my efforts and change up the training strategy a bit so that next time the outcome is more successful. With a job search, you can alter your strategy that you have been using and try something totally new. Did you ever think about sending a cold cover letter to a company where you tell them why you are a perfect fit to work for them? Did you ever think about entering the gig economy and learning a new skill set on a different career path? Did you ever think about trying to leverage your LinkedIn network to see if you have any connections that work for a company that you want to work for? How about embarking on a career change? Things like this help to re-energize your job search and tend to give you a more positive outlook, which reflects well when you go on a job interview.
All Tired Out…
As dedicated and committed as you are to applying for jobs and updating your resume and LinkedIn profile, there are always those days where you don’t feel like putting in the work. Much like your dog that is exhausted from all the training, you too feel exhausted from sending out all those resumes and researching job leads. When a dog gets tired, they take a brief respite until they recoup enough energy to jump up and run around all over again. You can do the same with your job search. Take a break and then come back to your job search with a fresh set of eyes and a refreshed perspective.
Play Time…
Play time for a dog involves their squeaky toys or chasing after and retrieving balls or frisbees that are launched their way. Their lives and overall happiness significantly increases every time they engage in play sessions. It is a dog’s time to chase their dreams and enjoy life in the moment. For us, this play time might include things like shopping, lunch with a friend, or a prime tee time on the golf course. If you get bogged down or overwhelmed in your job search, your play time becomes a welcome and much-needed break from the grind.
As you can see, we share a lot of similarities with dogs in terms of the way we approach life and our needs. When you are on the hunt for a new job, it can be very overwhelming and time consuming. But the best strategy for you is to focus on your goal while always keeping your target in close view. If you want to work for a Fortune 500 corporation, research the company, see what job openings they have, and look through your LinkedIn network to see if any of your connections can help. If you are looking to relocate to a specific area, research the job market in that geographic area and determine if the salaries in that region fit your lifestyle or salary requirements. Much like dogs, your goal is to keep your end game in mind, learn as much as you can, master your skills, and overcome distractions that will inevitably come across your path. In the end, you will take the “lead” and realize your best potential in your career!