Last night my wife was talking to me about the Hero’s Journey. I remember hearing about it in high school English class. It is something of a formula that well-written stories (movies, etc.) follow…
As I was meditating this morning I thought about you, my favorite job seeker. Yes indeed, I often think about who I was almost 6 years ago, and how I relate to YOU. I’m guessing you are probably quietly suffering in your job search, as I was.
Before I tell you where the connection is between the Hero’s Journey and YOU, in your job search, let me share the steps (from wikipedia):
Call to adventure- Supernatural aid
- Threshold guardians
- Beginning of transformation (enter helper and mentor)
- You have many challenges and temptations here… and then
- The ABYSS (death and rebirth) directly relates to REVELATION
- Tranformation
- Atonement
- Return (Gift of the Godess)…
- and then it all starts again… it is a cycle…
Many of you, in your job search, are going through this. The Hero doesn’t realize she is, or will become, the hero. They just know that thye have challenges and temptations, and it SUCKS. It is LONELY. It is DEPRESSING.
When they are going through the rebirth, and they get some kind of revelation, they don’t think “oh goody, now I’m going to become the hero.”
No. It is painful. The vision of what will be isn’t necessarily clear. But the Hero seems to fight for what they know to be right and true.
They keep fighting.
And that is what YOU must do.
For me, the time leading up to my unemployment was full of challenges and discouragement and loneliness. The “Revelation” came when I conceptualized and caught the vision of JibberJobber. It was indeed a reawakening, and gave me purpose in life.
There was fighting and working and believing and all that, but at that time I was holding onto a hope that inpired me to make it through one more day. I didn’t know what it would become, but working through each day led me to where I am today.
I want you to insert yourself into the Hero’s Journey, even if you don’t feel heroic. You might not be able to see what you are, who you are, what you can become, but if you can somehow believe that after THIS, the challenges and temptations, and working through the rebirth (which isn’t painless), you will emerge the victor, with those challenges behind you, enjoying the reward of winning…
I believe that you can make it through. Fight – like Harry Potter, or Thor, or Captain America, or Percy Jackson, or Marty McFly, or Luke Skywalker, or Frodo Baggins, or Simba, or {insert your favorite hero here}…
Whether you believe it or not, you are in the heart of the Hero’s Journey!
The other important point to the Hero’s Journey is in the job interviews you do. People remember stories better than just facts and the best way to frame a story is to use the Hero’s Journey.
In the interview, you can answer “tell me about a time” question with the hero’s journey — how you were thrust into the situation, the actions you took to overcome obstacles (and obstacles and obstacles…), and the business results from your work.
By using the hero’s journey framework, you show context, actions and results — all critically important AND easily remembered — to the hiring manager.
Great post! I agree that the job search can be challenging. But, if you’re able to set measurable goals and reflect on what works and what doesn’t, you will surely make progress.
Scott and Heather, thanks for your comments. In addition to your tactical tips, I want the job seeker to know that even though it seems like the world is falling apart on them, there is something much bigger in store, and they just have to get through the hard part(s) of the cycle 🙂