GradBay’s Post

I’m nearing the end of a 2-week trip with my husband and kids to where I grew up in Minnesota. The first weekend was filled with camping with the extended family and we just got back from a trip to the cabin with another side of the family. But for the first half of last week, we’re kept things quiet at my in-law’s house and it’s EXACTLY what we need. If we didn’t have that downtime, we wouldn’t have be able to enjoy the second adventure-filled stop on our trip. And depending on where you’re at in your career journey, a little downtime may be just what you need. If you’re burned out after working a high stress job, moving on to another high stress position—even if it is more prestigious—may not be what your mind and body crave. This doesn’t mean that you need to stop working entirely. But there’s no shame in working nine to five in a position that is relatively easy to do. And if money is tight or your unemployment is running out, taking this type of job can significantly reduce your stress level. Lower stress means you’ll have more energy for networking and job hunting. When you do get an interview (and you will), you’ll feel less pressure and will come across as more confident. On top of that, you never know what connections you’ll make at work or what new skills you’ll gain that you can pack into your “skillset suitcase.” It's time to hush the voice in your head that says these jobs are below you and instead, see them as temporary breaks in a busy itinerary. You have great things ahead of you, but you may need to catch your breath first. If you’re struggling with where to look, possible fields include: • Retail (bonus points if it’s somewhere you shop anyways) • Childcare • Administrative • Seasonal Work I’ve worked in all of these fields at some point in my life and grew from those opportunities. What "breaks" have you taken in your career journey that ended up helping you? Image Description: Blazing campfire in a fire ring with a hand holding a stick in the lower left side of the image.

"Job Hunt: The Unseen Impact of Stress" Searching for a job can be an exhilarating journey, but it often comes with a silent companion - job hunt stress. 🕵️♂️💼 🤯 Let's take a moment to acknowledge that the process of finding a job can have profound effects on an individual's well-being. Here are some key points to consider: 1️⃣ **Mental Health**: The uncertainty of the job market, countless applications, and rejections can take a toll on mental health. It's common to feel anxiety and self-doubt during this process. Remember, it's okay to seek support. 2️⃣ **Financial Pressure**: Job hunts can sometimes be lengthy, leading to financial stress. Bills don't take a break, and this added pressure can be overwhelming. 3️⃣ **Self-Esteem**: Rejections can erode self-esteem. It's essential to remember that a job rejection is not a reflection of your worth. Each 'no' brings you closer to the 'yes' you're seeking. 4️⃣ **Social Isolation**: The job hunt often involves long hours spent online, which can lead to feelings of isolation. Maintaining social connections is vital to counterbalance this. 5️⃣ **Impacts on Health**: Stress can affect physical health as well. Poor sleep, unhealthy eating habits, and neglecting exercise can become part of the job hunt package. 6️⃣ **Future Outlook**: The stress of job hunting can make it difficult to envision a positive future. However, remember that each step you take brings you closer to your career goals. Let's break the silence surrounding job hunt stress. Sharing experiences and support can make a significant difference. Reach out to friends, family, or professionals if needed. You are not alone on this journey! 🌟💪 Employers, too, have a role to play. Creating transparent and respectful recruitment processes can help reduce the stress candidates experience. #JobHuntStress #MentalHealth #CareerJourney #SupportEachOther #JobSearchTips #jobseekerssupport #jobseekerscanada #toronto #ontario

My honest and unfiltered thoughts about career advice on LinkedIn: As a certified life and career coach, I'm fed up of the cookie-cutter career + wellness advice that's being pitched everywhere: “You can ONLY be happy if you're sipping margaritas in Hawaii or rolling in millions from your 3 hour side hustle.” (Have you ever seen such people spill the actual number of hours it took to get there? I haven't). 👏🏻 While this narrative favors people who have an eventful life. 👎🏻 It shuts out the majority of those who don't. And then? Another gullible person gets influenced and quits their job to chase 2-hr workdays & foreign trips. Only to end up regretting their decision because they actually loved what they were doing. (Or they really can’t afford to pay for their new lifestyle just hustling for 2hrs a day). I'm here to tell you: 👉🏾 There is no one-size-fits all HOW to career fulfillment. Because at the end of the day, there's only one you. And your story is unique. Your definition of fulfillment is unique. You can be fulfilled while working full-time, pursuing an intense career OR staying home to care for your children. I've seen it in my own life as a researcher focused on sickle cell disease. Yes, my work can be intense (sometimes), but it's deeply meaningful to me. There are a some weekends where I choose to put in extra hours (while my kids are in bed) to get a grant or paper out. Does that mean I'm not fulfilled or well? No. (I get to choose WHAT and HOW I work and that makes me fulfilled) Then there's someone who has a 9-5 job where he decides to stay late to lead a team of 50 people reach their goal. Does that mean he’s not happy? No. Career fulfillment is about: 📢 What we “willingly” choose to fight for, who we are and what we value. 📢 Finding your own path to happiness, not following someone else's. 📢 Having flexibility and autonomy over what you want to do and when you can do it. (Even if the work you do is intense) So let's stop selling the one-size-fits-all approach to career fulfillment. Cause there isn't one. Travelling in a foreign country might be what sets your soul on fire. But for someone else, it's studying in a dimly-lit library. And that's okay. You were born to make an impact in your own corner. Your career + well-being are totally YOURS to define. 💜 P.S. If you’re looking to design your OWN roadmap to career success & fulfillment, instead of following someone else’s, I've built a free VHS (values, habits and systems) blueprint that will help you do exactly that. Grab yours from my profile 💌 *** Hi, I’m Dr. Martha Kenney — A certified professional coach who is on a mission to help women in medicine and beyond, build successful & thriving careers that are authentic to who they are.✨ If the above tips resonate with you, follow and ring the 🔔 for more 🤝🏾

My 7-month job hunt taught me an important life lesson - the power of disconnecting. Job hunting is not the most mentally healthy situation to be in. And not many people speak openly about it. The 7 months that I spent job hunting, took a toll on me mentally. There was a lot of self-doubt, imposter syndrome and the feeling of being in a rut. The black holes my resume disappeared into, the acquaintances and strangers who never returned my texts were not exactly making me happy. The process was excruciating and it did not matter that I had family and friends who helped me. It was still a journey I had to take, alone. But what got me through was taking frequent breaks. Sundays were no job hunt days. Madrid has some amazing parks and every weekend, I would disconnect, take a stroll in a park and let my thoughts loose. Or I would go on a hike with a hiking group. Watching children dive into a pile of fallen leaves, dogs chasing each other and smelling the mountain air, helped me shift my focus. It was like an escape into a parallel universe. I would come back with fresh thoughts and strategies about my resume, LinkedIn and cold DMs that I could start implementing from Monday. I ended up connecting with people who helped me with referrals on hikes. Bonding over shared hobbies made connecting with people easier. I wouldn’t get this by being stuck within the confines of my house, surrounded by the same people and, the same thoughts, going in circles. Disconnecting and changing your environment can help spark new ideas and approaches that you hadn’t thought of before. So go for that walk, meet those friends. Don’t forget to live a life during the process. 🖖 ---------- Grab my FREE Notion job tracker from the link in the comments that I created after 100s of meetings with recruiters, hiring managers and career coaches. 💡 ---------- PS: Photo of me on one of those hikes, with a banana.🤷♂️

Looking for a new job is filled with constant emotional highs and lows. Fighting the fear of the unknown is enough to make anyone feel frustrated. Job hunting is an intense process that can seriously mess with one’s mood. Unemployment is very stressful, and looking for a job quickly becomes frustrating for many people. It is important not to let this anxiety and pessimism influence into your job search, however.   To overcome job search frustration, one should try to: Keep a schedule-treat your job search like it’s your job Set realistic goals that you can achieve-When you are planning your goals, be sure to set “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals. Take breaks to avoid burnout-Speed can come at the expense of quality, and committing to too much too fast can overwhelm you. Allowing for an hour to read a book, go for a walk, or otherwise de-stress is a great way to make sure you don’t wear yourself out. Stay healthy - make sure you exercise and eat healthy food-Don’t let your search for a job become an excuse to eat too much, stop exercising, and start neglecting your health. Spend time with people-A robust support network is an important asset to keeping yourself healthy and happy in a stressful situation. Attending networking events is a great way to improve your social life and make professional connections at the same time. Avoid overthinking-By focusing too much on the uncertain future and over-analyzing your circumstance and decisions, you may be causing your situation to seem worse than it really is.

#jobseekers, this is a reminder that you deserve self-care and nice things even during your job hunt journey. Navigating a job search, especially unexpectedly, can be a disruptive and anxiety-inducing experience. It's easy for feelings of isolation, imposter syndrome, and self-doubt to creep in, compounded by the stress of lost income. But don't forget, you still deserve: - Moments of self-kindness - Engaging in self-care routines - Spending time on activities that rejuvenate your spirit While the way you indulge in these may change, never feel guilty about taking time for yourself. A job search can take a toll on your mental, financial, and emotional well-being, so make sure to find moments of peace and joy wherever you can. #selfcare #jobsearchtips #bekindtoyourself #opentowork #hirethishuman #leaderscreateleaders

How much longer can you continue to convince yourself that you're happy in your career? You know what I'm talking about, right? That constant reassurance you give yourself. "It could be worse" "I just need to see out the next year then I'll do something about it" You see, I am connected with a lot of people from Retail. And I constantly speak to or see people that are clearly not happy in their careers. But they do nothing about it. Instead, they distract themselves with something. Either by buying or experiencing new things (as a reward for putting up with their careers). Like a new car, phone or holiday. Or they do something that feels like they are taking action. They apply for a few jobs every so often and convince themselves they are doing something serious about it. Or they reach out to someone like myself asking for support but then don't reply when I offer them a solution. The hard reality? That "quick" happiness fix... ...the feeling of buying something new or doing the odd thing about changing careers. That big jolt of happiness brain chemicals. They quickly die off. It feels great for a while, but that feeling fades. The new car doesn't feel so new... The holiday is a long distant memory... You spend the majority of your life at work. And it doesn't have to be spent being unhappy. Or wondering if there could be more to your career than retail. But your first step needs to be serious intent. Not just thinking about changing careers. But DOING something different.

Are you happy? A friend of mine is making a million bucks but he is sad. I left my 6 figures corporate job in 2016 because I was unhappy. Yes, I left the job for the same reason, to pursue creative freedom. And now I am happier than before, maybe I have less money. Money is important. Money can buy happiness, but not always. However, if we are unable to use that money to buy happiness it is making us miserable. On the contrary, if we create happiness and then operate to work, somehow, somewhere, money takes care of itself. If money brings happiness, so does happiness bring money. Fortunately, being happy is an advantage no competitor could copy. It’s always a choice. Are you happy with your job? If not, what are you doing about it? #gogolstory #job #jobs

Happy Friday!!! I know its been a long week for job seekers and career pivoters alike..here are my week ending thoughts...the job search journey can be a rollercoaster of emotions, with its fair share of frustrations and setbacks. It's easy to feel disheartened, but remember, it's okay to take a pause for self-care. In those moments of frustration, take a step back, breathe, and treat yourself with kindness. Recharge, regroup, and return to your search with renewed energy and resilience. Self-care isn't selfish or a luxury; it's a necessary part of the journey to find the right opportunity. It's a vital practice that replenishes your spirit, restores your energy, and helps you face challenges with renewed vigor. It's a reminder that you are deserving of kindness and patience, especially during these trying times. By taking care of your well-being, you're not just addressing your current frustrations; you're investing in your long-term resilience and mental strength. You'll find yourself better equipped to tackle the challenges ahead. Have a Great Self Care weekend!!! #selfcare #opentowork #jobseekers

The GREEN banner? Is it really that controversial? *Warning: Passionate Topic Coming Your Way. 😩 All of this debate about whether or not you should use the green banner to indicate to others that you are "Open to Work". Is it a sign of weakness? Will others wonder why I'm open to work? Should I be ashamed that I lost my job? *Gasp* 😮 If this simple green banner is negatively impacting candidates in any way, shape, or form - that is what is wrong with the job search process. 𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙄 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨�� 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚. 😘 Please take one minute to consider what it would be like if you lost your job without notice. Do you have enough money saved up to support your family for 3 months, 6 months, a year? Do you hold the health insurance? Are you able to relocate to find comparable work? Now imagine you had to spend even 1 second considering if you should put up the green banner. Seems silly right? When I was laid off, I popped my green banner on almost immediately. I wanted others to know I was looking for something new and exciting. I didn't even consider the shame associated with job loss. As I approach 6 months of being #opentowork, I really hope this simple green banner is not looked at in a negative light. 💡 #jobsearch #empathy #leavingmygreenbanneron