#78: The Power of Looking Back: How Reflection Can ElevateYour Job Search

As the lazy days of summer wind down, many of us turn our minds to the second New Year of the year - September 1st! There is the anticipation of new classes and the start of welcoming events at the University, and from the career perspective, people start to think about what’s next for them. Most people don’t feel like job hunting or switching roles in the middle of the summer holidays and are embracing whatever fun activities they have planned with their friends and family. Employers also tend to post fewer jobs because they know candidates aren’t looking and often don’t have all their employees in place to support the hiring process. But as we roll into September, something shifts, and many people decide that it’s time for a change or if they are looking to kick off their career, they decide they better get serious about it. 

For me, it's a time of reflection. I think about my intentions for the year in January, but in September, I think about what I have accomplished so far and what is left to do. I think reflection is a critical part of growth and learning. I also believe it is a critical part of finding success in a job search. With each step you take in your job search, whether it be an application or a networking interaction, there is a chance to reflect on what worked, what is important to you now and what you might need to do differently in the future, especially if you are not getting the results you want.

In this episode, I discuss five reasons reflection is important to a job search and how you can incorporate this into your strategy today and get better results.

Here are the five benefits of reflection:

1. Self-awareness
2. Provide clarity to your career goals
3. Helps you identify skill gaps
4. Refine your process
5. Contribute to emotional resilience

Helpful Links for this Episode:

• Episode 8: The Importance of Making Connections
• Episode 69: Know Your Strengths and Empower Your Career Journey
• Join The HR Career Cafe on LinkedIn
• Get on the waitlist for The HR Career Accelerator
• Join The HR Mentor Fan Club and get instant access to my Courageous Conversations Audio Lesson.
• Sign up for the Newsletter to get notified of the HRCA Launch and remember your discount code HRMENTORPOD

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