Patience, Persistence, and Positivity
When I help students and clients with a career transition, there's always energy in the beginning. People are excited to share their background, frustrations, insecurities, hopes, and dreams. We take time to reflect on where they are, what direction they want to go, and implement a strategy for achieving their goals. We provide them with a refreshed, polished, professional resume and a customized, foundational cover letter. Then comes the job search phase. I tell all of my students and clients to always remember the three P's: Patience, Persistence, and Positivity.
Patience is essential because the job search is not an easy process. It takes time. We don't know when that next offer will come, and that lack of control drives people crazy.
Persistence is necessary because you must consistently network, build relationships, gain professional experiences in your desired direction, and apply to openings.
Positivity matters because rejection is hard. When we invest everything into an application and later an interview, only to learn we didn't receive the job, it hurts. That's only natural. We need to allow ourselves time to process these feelings, and sometimes we need to take a break from the job search. But then, it's important to jump back to it.
How do we stand back up?
By trying to replace negative thoughts that often accompany rejection with positive ones.
Remember: you don't know if the company already had an internal hire in mind and only posted the position and interviewed others out of obligation. Or perhaps during the interview process, they implemented a hiring freeze (an unfortunately likely situation in today's market). If you didn't get the position, it wasn't meant to be. This proves true time after time. There is something better waiting for you. And if not? Well—you're better off believing in a positive future and being wrong than doubting yourself and being right. Or, as Ivy Ejam says in her book "Minding Her Business"—"I would rather believe in achieving greatness and be wrong, than doubt the possibility and be right."
Anyone who has participated in the job search process knows it's tedious and time-consuming.
So, how can we make it slightly easier?
Making the Process More Manageable
First, make sure to break big goals into small, achievable steps. Every time you accomplish one of those steps, take a moment to honor your success.
As Tamara Levitt says: "By honoring the small victories, we help reinforce positive choices. And as momentum builds, it's easier to pick up and dust off when we fall off course. If we can find a sense of daily achievement in the small things, we're not only more likely to stay on track toward our goal, we get more enjoyment from the process of getting there."
Second, if you haven't yet, it's time to start embracing AI. Let's explore two simple ways to use this technology to enhance your job search:
1) Resume and Cover Letter Optimization
Each application needs to be customized for that particular job. You need to ensure that all skills and experiences aligned with the job posting are clearly emphasized. The resume can usually be revised with a few minor tweaks in most cases. Regardless, it must be free of typos. AI tools are incredibly helpful for reviewing your resume for grammatical edits, restructuring sentences, and other improvements.
The cover letter can also be time-consuming. One of my favorite AI tools right now is Claude. Draft your cover letter, input it into Claude, and ask for grammatical edits or revisions. This can save you considerable time. As long as you wrote your initial draft and are crafting the final version, this approach remains ethical. If your cover letter authentically represents you—why not use tools to help you work smarter, not harder?
2) Streamlining Research
Most job searches include substantial questioning, reflection, and research. AI tools like Claude can save you significant time and effort. For example, I have my students take the 16Personalities test. If a student's personality results indicate they're an INFJ, they can ask Claude: "List some career options in the sustainable tourism industry for an INFJ," and immediately receive eight promising options with descriptions of each. If you're wondering which job boards to explore or which professional associations might benefit you, for example, AI is an excellent tool to support your research and exploration.
Remember: The Journey Is Worth It
Ultimately, the career transition journey, though challenging, offers invaluable opportunities for growth and self-discovery. By embracing the three P's—Patience, Persistence, and Positivity—and leveraging modern tools like AI, you can navigate this journey more effectively. Each application, interview, and even rejection brings you closer to finding not just any job, but the right fit for your skills, personality, and aspirations. Keep breaking down those big goals into manageable steps, celebrate your small victories along the way, and trust that your dedication will lead you to a fulfilling career path.
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