Believe it or not, “clarity” is not the most important part of starting your job search.

I get that instinct to wait until you’re a little more certain about things.

But waiting for the perfect time, to feel 100% ready, and be totally clear…well, it just doesn’t happen that often!

And the good news is, those aren’t even the most important traits required to get started or to get traction in your job search.

Most people think they’re not ready to start their search because they aren’t yet clear or confident about what they want to do next.

But building clarity and confidence can – and should – be an ongoing part of the job search process – not a box we check off before we begin.

It is through the process of the job search that you will be able to effectively identify priorities and convey your value.

Tired of submitting your resume and hearing crickets? Let’s talk about how we help people generate interviews and interest by using their resume.

When you’re in the middle of a job search, it can feel like your whole purpose is to impress people.

It’s almost like you’re auditioning for your target roles.

There is some truth to that, of course. Ultimately, you do need to be selected.

But it’s also more complicated than that - because you also need to do the choosing!

Instead of focusing on auditioning or performing during the job search, I like to encourage our clients to look for resonance.

A lot of us come to the job search and we’re used to following rules.

Resume rules, cover letter rules, interview responses.

And it’s often through that lens of doing the right thing that we end up in jobs and organizations where we’re unhappy.

In other words, too many rules and not enough of you.

Here are 15 questions to help you prepare, reflect, and build clarity on your job search process and goals…

It’s been almost a year and a half since we’ve created a new service - so it’s pretty exciting that we’re bringing two new professional development services this month.

You probably know us for helping people land new jobs - which we’ve done for nearly 8 years.

Over the years, our job search clients have returned to us for a variety of other career-related challenges including things like exploring or applying to graduate school, transitioning to a portfolio career, taking on leadership roles, and launching their own business.

And given how people are thinking differently about work and careers right now, we thought it made good sense to open these services up publicly.

More than ever, professionals are curious about leaving their 9-5. Freelance life, contract work, and self-employment - which used to feel too risky for many of our clients - is increasingly an area that many want to explore.

As someone who made the leap out of my day job a few years ago, I thought I would share a few lessons learned from my own experience as a self-employed person and as a portfolio careerist.

If you’ll be dedicating more time and attention to your career change and growth this year, I have five of my favorite tools that will help you save money, time, and energy, as well as create new connections and opportunities for yourself!