Making Career Vows That Last

By Mary Ann Faremouth, CPC

June is popular in Western culture as a month to celebrate graduations and is also a favorite time for weddings. The tradition of the June bride actually began in ancient Roman times. The month is named for the Roman goddess Juno, wife of Jupiter, who was associated with feminine vitality, fertility, love, and marriage.

As I speak with many candidates graduating at this time of year, I often wonder, aren’t we all, in one way or another, “graduates of life”?

Let us reflect on a couple making vows to one another on their wedding day. They express how they intend to relate, navigate the path of life together, and define the meaning they want their marriage to have. These vows represent a promise to remain committed, no matter how challenging life may become.

What if, as “graduates of life,” we made our own vows to our career selves in this New Work World?

They might sound something like this: “To hold from this day forward, to love and to cherish, to grow with, and to move forward in our careers as our very best selves.”

What would that look like? How would making those vows to ourselves allow us to experience more joy and fulfillment in our careers, while embracing both challenge and opportunity?

Let’s take a look at these “Career Vows” through the lens of the Faremouth Method™.

1. Do a Self-Inventory

Inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi are the words: “Know Thyself.”

Dating experts often say that to find the right marriage partner, you must first know and value yourself. The same is true in a career. If you are not confident in your gifts and talents, and cannot articulate them in an interview, your chances of landing the job may be considerably diminished.

What if we vowed to throw out the negativity and the “I can’t” mindset and began reprogramming our thinking with “I can” and “I will”? What if we committed to a mental reset, embracing positive determination and a strong desire to find the right opportunity? Could these positive career vows produce a better “match”? Absolutely.

2. Cast a Wider Digital and In-Person Net

I’ve had friends tell me that dating sites can help produce meaningful matches by asking the right questions and screening carefully. In addition, many couples have met through mutual friends.

What if, beyond your online job search, you reached out to networking contacts who could increase your chances of landing interviews and uncovering new employment opportunities? Add to that career advisors who specialize in helping candidates secure jobs in their particular field.

Vow to yourself to expand your network and widen the scope of possible employment opportunities.

3. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

I remember watching the “Dr. Phil” show years ago when he explained to a guest struggling to meet dating prospects that, unfortunately, “Mr. Right is not going to come knocking on your door.”

The same principle applies in the career arena.

If the industry you have worked in for many years is not hiring, how can you transfer your skills into another one? Make a vow to yourself to take more career chances, explore unfamiliar territory, and remain open to new possibilities.

4. Take the Time to Do It Right

My Detroit roots remind me of the famous Motown song by the Supremes, “You Can’t Hurry Love,” when I think of this step in my method.

Just like finding the right marriage partner, we may have to kiss a lot of frogs before finding our prince or princess. In today’s New Work World, we may need to submit many résumés and attend several interviews before securing the right opportunity.

What if you made a vow to yourself not to become discouraged, but instead to trust the process and stay committed to your goal?

5. Be a Hunter

Finding Mr. or Ms. Right can feel like a treasure hunt, but many would say the effort is worth it.

Vow that even if you don’t land the “prize buck” on your first expedition, you will value the relationships and connections made along the way.

You never know. That HR professional who did not hire you for one position may remember you for another opportunity later on. Or perhaps they move to a new company where your industry experience and skill set are a stronger fit, and remember you because of the graciousness, positivity, and professionalism you demonstrated, including that important thank-you note.

This June, be determined to become a successful “graduate of life” and take your career to have and to hold, from this day forward, to a new and exciting level through a positive and determined mindset.

Remember Juno, the Roman goddess and wife of Jupiter, as you seek the right career “match” in the months ahead, and vow to make your career search one filled with growth, opportunity, and endless possibilities.

Mary Ann’s award-winning first book Revolutionary Recruiting has been listed by Book Authority as Number #1 Best 100 Recruiting Books; #1 Best Seller, Non-Fiction, Amazon (2019); Top 20 Recruiting books, Recruitics; Readers’ Choice finalist (2019), Houston Literary Awards; Best Non-Fiction (2018), Best Cover (2019), and Best Self-Help (2018), Authors Marketing Guild. This was followed by “Revolutionary Reinvention”, a workbook for job seekers giving advice on how to rediscover your skills and passions and reinvent your career. Her most recent book is “Revolutionary Results” , a collection of life lessons about relationships, integrity and contributing to the world.