My sister shared a story about how in playing ping-pong with her grandson recently she was able to win matches. Her grandson was in the process of learning a new technique of spinning the ball, and while ultimately this new technique should give him the upper competitive hand, in the interim, the learning curve has been slowing him down.

I could sense her admiration for her grandson, as he focused in on a goal and was willing to lose a few matches in order to achieve a greater vision. His ability to embrace the discomfort of change was empowered by his confidence in the future.

Discomfort of Job Search

This immediately made me think of my careerist clients, many of whom have not experienced the discomfort of job search in a very long time–or perhaps ever. When preparing to change career course–whether prompted by a layoff or by an internal desire to jump ship for something newer and more challenging–unfamiliar, uncomfortable and vulnerable feelings often emerge.

Moreover, once they have made the decision (or are forced into the decision through being let go) to make a career move, careerists often want to move quickly. Their desire to take action and ensure their next-phase job goal materializes puts them in a sense of overdrive, often empowered by anxiety.

To ask them to slow down a bit and embrace the learning curve of depicting their value through an articulate series of story points and portfolio messaging feels uncomfortable and frustrating, and initially deflating!

Exhilaration of the Process

Shaping a new resume, while not a one-two punch, is in fact exhilarative to you and your career. Perhaps the most integral part of the job search begins (and ends) here, as a resume stimulates and drives the overall conversation, from piquing employer interest through to the interview exchange and on to salary negotiation phases.

The multifaceted introspective process involves digging into emotional and rational thought layers to enable gems to emerge. It may require you to lose a few initial interview opportunity matches to the other candidate while you up your game.

However, by doing so, you are empowered ultimately to surpass the competition, over the long haul, winning the job search game!