I’m back from a week away in Turkey, deciding to travel with just hand luggage and with a miserly 5kg allowance I needed to travel light, so no laptop and no work, and it was good.
With technology it can be so easy to be ‘always on’ but I chose to only check emails once a day and deleted without reading 95% of them – they would all be on my PC for me to read on my return. Instead I swam, read books, walked in the sunshine and chatted to people.
I’d been considering taking my notes for a work project and to do some work each day but then decided it would be better to take a break. Of course I couldn’t stop thoughts coming into my head, especially when lounging on turtle beach, (Dalyan) and I did take a few notes but mainly I let thoughts wash over me.
I also took a break from eating healthy. I’ve been trying to lose the weight I’d gained, but I’d lose a few pounds and then regain them. Emma, my personal trainer told me to forget about my diet whilst away, to eat and drink whatever I wanted. Rather than to feel guilt drinking cocktails, eating chips and magnums. I relished every mouthful.
So back to work 10 days later and I’ve so excited about new ideas, I’ll be sending on more details soon.
My first project is aimed at everyone who wants help in working out what type of career path to aim for. I’ve taken the Career Discovery Programme, added in additional exercises and made it much more helpful – introductory videos, and audio guidance. It’s the perfect preparation for working one to one with a career coach.
I’ve also now worked out what my next book will be about. I’d been asked to create a third addition of How To Get A Job In A Recession but it wasn’t exciting me as there was very little to change. So I’m taking a fresh look at this topic, but one thing at a time, and I’m finishing the Career Discovery work first.

STOP THE STRUGGLE

Are you completely confused about what you want to do? Take a break.

Take at least a couple of weeks where you stop trying to work it out.
Instead just observe

  • Notice anything that attracts your attention
  • Notice when you are doing something you really enjoy

And make a note of any ideas that come into your head.

Are you fed up with never getting shortlisted?

Treat your job search like a house sale, and take it off the market. Take your CV down from every job site and stop looking at job ads.
Instead stop looking but get absolute clarity on the job you want – the job title, industry, location.
Now you can review your CV and LinkedIn profile and make it absolutely focused on this job. You can also review and revise what you say to other people.
Then in 2 weeks time you can re upload your CV and restart your job search campaign.
As always, I’d love to hear your comments and you can make a note on my blog.

Published On: May 13th, 2013 / Categories: Career Discovery, Job Search /

4 Comments

  1. Denise Taylor May 13, 2013 at 4:36 pm

    From A.
    Welcome back Denise. Good ideas as ever

  2. Denise Taylor May 14, 2013 at 9:33 am

    From M.
    Thanks Denise I enjoy reading your news and it was so refreshing to hear what you did on your holiday. I too tend to keep working whilst away so you have provided a platform for freedom. I also love Magnums !! Have a great week

  3. Denise Taylor May 14, 2013 at 9:39 am

    Dear Denise,
    I’m so happy for you! Holiday is always good to recharge the batteries and appreciate the world around us. I loved my hols in Turkey a few years ago too.
    You are so right about everything you have written in this post. I think that I need a break and definitely need to get rid of this ‘fog’ that has been surrounding me for almost a year. I’ve lost direction and my self confidence has never been lower. I need to bounce back, no doubt.
    All the best and thank you for sharing your thoughts.
    B

  4. Denise Taylor May 20, 2013 at 9:32 pm

    Dear Denise,
    I really enjoyed your recent post, the one below – it rings a bell!
    Thank you so much for put in words so well some of the thoughts I was not able to express myself.
    All the very best.
    Kind regards,
    Hanna

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