🎯 "You've Become a Professional Job Seeker, and That's Your Problem"

Just had a coaching call that I HAD to share with you all because I see this pattern with so many high-achievers.

My client - let's call her A - has interviews lined up with DoorDash and NVIDIA. Amazing progress, right? But her energy was all wrong, and I could see her spiraling into what I call "the job seeker trap."

🚨 The Problem: When Job Searching Becomes Your Identity

Here's what was happening:

Job searching had become her full-time job
She was obsessing over LinkedIn tracking and pipeline metrics
Every rejection sent her into analysis mode
She was operating from pure scarcity: "I need more opportunities"
She'd gotten emotionally attached to specific companies (LinkedIn rejection hit her hard)

Sound familiar?

🔄 The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

I told her straight up:

"Stop thinking like someone who needs a job. Start thinking like someone who already has one."

From: "I need more pipeline" To: "My job is already here"

From: "I'm building opportunities" To: "I'm wrapping up my search"

From: Endless seeking mode To: "June 30th - DONE."

⏰ The 30-Day Rule

Here's what I'm making her do (and what you should do too):

Set a hard deadline. Give yourself 30 days max. Then evaluate and reset if needed.

Why? Because work expands with time. Goals expand with time. Give yourself all the time in the world, and it'll take all the time in the world.

Your approach should never be casual or endless.

🧠 The Interview Intel Strategy

While we're talking mindset, here's the tactical strategy I gave her for DoorDash prep.

Before every interview, reach out to 5-10 current employees:

"Hey [Name], I have a potential opportunity I'm looking at with [Company]. I was wondering about your experience there. If you're willing to speak for a few minutes, please let me know."

Also post on Blind: "Any DoorDash employees here who can guide me with interview prep?"

What you'll learn that ChatGPT can't tell you:

What the company ACTUALLY values
Real interview structure and expectations
Company culture insights
Recent changes or challenges
Insider tips on what interviewers look for

This puts you ahead of 95% of candidates.

💪 The Character Building Reframe

Here's what I told her about her "extended" job search:

"The delay isn't to break you. It's to build you."

Look at what you're actually learning:

How to manage emotions under pressure
How to communicate with different personality types
How to be resourceful and solve complex problems
How to go above and beyond to achieve goals
How to find people, research, and identify key stakeholders

These become your interview stories.

For 5 years at your last job, you were stuck in a corner. Now you're putting yourself out in the world, developing skills they'll want in an employee.

This isn't happening TO you - it's happening FOR you.

🎭 Show Up Like You Already Have the Job

The energy shift I want from all of you:

❌ Stop chasing jobs

❌ Stop seeking approval

❌ Stop trying to impress people

✅ Show up confidently

✅ Go through the motions with deep certainty

✅ Let your skills speak for themselves

You're not desperate. You're evaluating whether THEY'RE a good fit for YOU.

🤔 Questions for the Community

Have you fallen into the "professional job seeker" trap? What did it look like for you?
What's your current job search deadline? If you don't have one, set it right now in the comments.
What character-building skills have you developed during your job search that you didn't expect?
Have you tried the employee outreach strategy? What was your experience?
What mindset shift do you need to make to show up more confidently?

💡 Your Action Items This Week

Set your job search end date (I recommend 30 days from today)
Identify 5-10 employees at your target companies to reach out to
Write down 3 character-building skills you've developed during this process
Practice showing up like someone who already has the job

Remember: You're not looking for jobs. Jobs are looking for you.

Drop a 🔥 if you're ready to make this mindset shift!

What's your biggest takeaway from this post? Let's discuss in the comments 👇

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