#10. Confessions of a Job Seeker – Oct. 2012
This series is based on a design journal that I kept between 09/12 – 02/13. New? Start here.

In a moment of job search despair, I went to my advisor and confessed to him that I was completely and utterly lost. He passed on some valuable advice and said “Stop trying to figure out where you belong. Be the solution to someone’s problem rather than the problem searching for a solution.” This simple shift in perspective completely changed my approach to meeting with people.

I now focus my conversations on understanding what keeps someone up at night, what inspires them, what milestones they want to hit, and in what ways I could potentially be of service. I take note of what I learn, and when there are ways to help, I try and do so. This subtle shift in my approach has enabled me to begin to build a number of authentic relationships with some really fantastic people. Focusing on what I can give has taken me in a direction that’s both rewarding and fun.