Compounding Career Options

I have a client who is pursuing their next major career move. 

They’re in a comfortable position at work but have clear ambitions for where they want their career to go. 

This clarity has given them the luxury to be selective in their job search, and they’ve declined several opportunities that didn’t align with their goals.

But since their job search has taken a while, something fascinating has started happening. 

More and more career options are becoming available to them as a direct result of the connections they’ve made through prior job applications where they were unsuccessful or chose to decline. 

When most professionals embark on a job search, they view each application in isolation. 

They think that applying for one job won’t impact their chances of getting the next job. 

But what actually happens is that more doors will open for your career BECAUSE other doors were closed. 

The more people who know about you and the value you offer, the better equipped they are to recommend you for other opportunities that they know about and you don’t. 

Remember the client I mentioned before?

They were recently invited to a private meeting with a Managing Director because they were recommended by someone involved in the fulfilment of a previous role they declined!

There’s two points here that I’m trying to make. 

1. You’re not starting from scratch with every job application. Each application grows your network, creating ripple effects that can lead to future opportunities.

2. Your career can advance in wonderful ways by virtue of the network you have. The more people who know about you and what you can do, the more opportunities will come to you - often ones you didn’t even know were out there!

Look, I know that applying for jobs can feel like a grind. 

And I know that if you’re in a good place with your career, you’re probably not interested in exploring other career opportunities right now. 

But it’s helpful to appreciate that maintaining a proactive approach to your career development compounds your future opportunities.

And don’t be discouraged if a door closes on you, because it might lead you toward a better one.

Thanks for reading to the end of this article!

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2. Get the job you want

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4. Set yourself up for future success

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