Your Career Is a Relationship, Not a Rescue Mission: How to Date Your Next Job with Confidence

Let's talk about job searching the way nobody else does.

Because interviewing?

I always tell my clients it's like dating.

You're showing up curious and a little nervous, trying to see if there's chemistry or if you're about to spend eight hours a day with someone who thinks "circle back" is a personality trait.

Leaving a job?

That's a breakup.

Sometimes it's mutual. Sometimes it's messy. 

And severance? That's alimony… when you're lucky enough to get it.

Here's the part most people forget.

You are not applying to be chosen.

You are offering a solution.

Taking a job to take it is no different than staying in a relationship because society says you should. 

Comfortable? Maybe. Fulfilling? Rarely.

Don't chase. Attract.

If they only value you when you threaten to leave with a counteroffer, trust me, the respect was never there to begin with.

Confidence comes from clarity.

And yes, your worst critic lives rent-free in your head and ruins the vibe at every opportunity. Eviction notice encouraged.

Know what you desire.

Know what you deserve.

Know what you require.

If it doesn't align with your goals, your energy, or your future, it's just another pretty distraction wearing a good suit.

Look behind the curtain. Ask the real questions.

Like the Wizard of Oz, what seems intimidating on the surface often isn't once the mask drops.

Be clear on where you want this to go.

Ask to continue the conversation. You're allowed to explore instead of settling.

And the honeymoon phase?

That adorable 30/60/90-day fantasy?

First 30 days: Why am I here, and where's the bathroom again?

Next 30: Drinking from the firehose and questioning all life choices.

By 90: You feel like you've lived there since the prehistoric era.

You're not searching for any job.

You're choosing a relationship with your time, talent, and sanity.

So choose wisely.

Stay curious.

Stay grounded.

And for the love of growth, stay out of your own head. That place has terrible reviews.

You're not here to fit in.

You're here to align.