Give up the job hunt. Go for a hike instead.

The metaphor of the job hunt is inherently dis-empowering.

It casts you as a hunter, stalking prey which is doing everything in its power to elude you. It requires you to camouflage yourself, to hide your true colors in order to capture something.

I don’t know about you, but this does not seem like a good way to envision developing one of the most important parts of your life. 

So how about creating a new, more empowering metaphor?  Here are a few some of my clients and I have created:

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The Job Hike

H is an avid hiker. She uses the trail metaphor to remind her that she needs to pace herself as she explores a new work life. This trail is a long one; she does not want or need to think about finishing the hike. The hike will keep evolving. She has a sense of where she’s heading, but also keeps an eye open for inviting paths along the way that might be overgrown and hard to spot.

Job Happy Hour

​This framing allows S to enjoy the process. She’s a social animal so this metaphor helps her relax and stay confident. Just like at happy hour, there’s always one more person to talk to, one more lead to follow. Whether leads “pan out” or not, she’s having fun meeting people, making connections and mixing things up. And when she does hit upon a promising lead, it’s a result of her being more herself so it feels easy.

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This is my metaphor for career management. I love putting different ideas and elements into the crock pot for a long, slow cook. When I first started imagining my post-HR life in 1996, I knew I wanted to use my voice, to support others in transforming their lives, to do something different every day and to work outside the corporate office environment. That's all I knew. Over time, these elements simmered and blended with my experience and actions to create my current work life.
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​What metaphor will inspire you to create the work life you most desire?

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