Evan Almighty Recipe for Job Searching

Have you been waiting for months to get a new job? Did you already apply for hundreds of opportunities? Do you wonder why you did not get any feedback?

If your answer is yes for any of the above, then this article is right for you. 

In Evan Almighty, God (Morgan Freeman) told Joan, Evan’s wife (Lauren Graham):

Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous?

Very profound dialog, right? Indeed, it could be a key to resolve the age-old mystery of why you are not hearing back from employers. Although there are many obvious reasons, this dialog reveals a new context.

So what is the relationship between Morgan Freeman’s statement and your career? 

The need to look for a new job is a medium. A way God uses to give you an opportunity. An opportunity to evaluate yourself and to understand the current market needs. A chance to remain relevant. 

I was chatting with a friend when he shared his story: “I was in a good position, successful in what I was doing, and comfortable where I was. One day, I got a strong urge to consider leaving my job. I started looking for new opportunities. I was 100 % sure I will get a job in 90 days or less. But I was shocked by the lack of positive feedback. At first, I started to question the quality of my resume, then the quality of the recruiters that were working with me, then the competency of the employers’ recruiters and hiring managers. The cycle of the blame went on and on until an eye-opener opportunity broke it. Mysteriously I found myself obligated to take an IQ test immediately and without any preparation. The test indicated that my quantitive skills are not the same as they used to be because of the constant use of calculators. This test made me discover that I was in denial. I discovered that the market shifted and required skills different from the skills I had. I was also giving my education credentials weight more than I should. I had the illusion that previous successes will lead to new successes. All these facts made me realize it was time to act, and I did. I refreshed my skills and added a few more. I kept looking and applying for jobs. Eventually, I got a job that helped me practice the new skills that I acquired and made me competitive again in the marketplace“.   

My friend was going through the anger acceptance cycle. He would have remained blind if the opportunity was not given to him, or if he had failed to see it.

You are no different from him or anyone else. There are only two options available to deal with an unprogressing job search: either to take the easy way by blaming your luck and others. Or to seize the opportunity, identify your weaknesses, strengthen them, and keep applying for the right jobs. The former will slow down your career while the latter will land you a good job, and more importantly, you will stay relevant to the market.