One thing that makes a job search so frustrating is the lack of control.
You're a perfect match for the job description, you've tweaked your resume to align with all the must haves and skills, maybe you've even aced the interview. And still, you have zero control over whether you are hired.
You're putting in the work and doing all the things, but you don't have anything to show for it. Someone else is in control of your situation.
That can leave you feeling helpless, maybe even to the point of giving up. Why bother if someone else has all the power?
How can you counter that? How can you take back control?
Something I've found helpful to balance being at other people's whims is working on a project where I control everything. I decide what the project is. I determine the approach. I set the project velocity. And I define a successful outcome.
Over the past few weeks, I've spent time putting a raised garden bed in my yard. I've worked gradually, on weekends as the weather allows, to prep the area, construct the bed, and fill it with my special "dirt recipe."
Like any project, I've run into some challenges. An unexpected and inexplicable root system I discovered while removing the grass from the area where the bed is going. I could have left them; whatever tree they're from is long gone, but I chose to spend the time and energy to dig them out because I'm in control.
The raised bed I have can be configured in a variety of ways. I chose to build it shorter and larger because I'm in control.
This weekend, as I filled the finished bed with dirt, I felt satisfaction and pride in what I'd accomplished. And the fact that I'd controlled every aspect gave me an extra boost.
You probably don't have a raised bed to construct, but I'll bet you have other projects you can take control of. Maybe it's renovating a guest room, clearing out clothes you no longer wear, or cleaning the refrigerator (or maybe those are just more of MY projects).
Whatever it is, own it, do it, celebrate it. Take control.
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