So You’ve Written your Career Manifesto….. What’s Next?

I am a millennial.

I want to be heard.

I want meaningful work.

I want to make a difference.

In Catapult’s previous post by Co-President, Siobhan Smith, she discussed the need for organizations to listen to their employees and create environments of trust and mutual benefit. Without these components, employees, like myself, will begin to look elsewhere (which I did before finding my way to Catapult). If there is any uncertainty about who you are or what you want, writing a career manifesto will surely provide insight into whether or not your current situation offers what you are really looking for in your life and career.

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, writing a career manifesto was an extremely valuable process to go through in my life. It is important to understand I did not miraculously stumble upon this career path by chance. I had to put a lot of time, effort and energy into writing my manifesto and accomplishing a more focused approach to my search. However, the real work started after the completion of my manifesto.

Writing your goals down and evaluating your abilities and strengths may make you realize what types of positions you’d be great at, but it doesn’t mean anyone else will know or care. You have to network! You need to talk to other people in the field, you need to research and reach out to companies you want to work for…

You need to share your story!

Luckily, I had someone to coach me through writing my manifesto. He challenged me to really dig deep and reflect. He was able to better understand my goals and “the real me.” I was advised on a path to continue developing my network. Because my interests were in HR and training, my networking began with introductions to HR and Training professionals, and then through these contacts and conversations, more introductions were made. This process allowed me to gain insight in the market and potential positions I may be interested in pursuing. I met many really great people who gave me tips on where I should be looking, how I could continue to educate myself and how to make myself more marketable. Unfortunately, at the time, no one seemed to have a position available, so these meetings and conversations continued for about 6 months. During this time, I continued to search and apply for positions.

Finally, a position became available that my current employer, Catapult, was conducting the search for. I did my research and submitted my application, and through this process was able to identify that my career manifesto “coach” knew the team at Catapult. Hooray! I had an in!

The interview process was challenging, effectively structured, and the team at Catapult kept me well informed throughout. Ultimately, I did not get this position, but for the first time the rejection didn’t hurt so much. Catapult was transparent. They gave me a clear understanding of why I was not moving forward, and how the other candidates’ qualifications better fit the position and organization. More importantly, through the process of writing my manifesto, I knew my value, impact and what I would offer my future employer someday. On to the next one, right!? I knew I’d be okay.

As I continued my search, I continued to meet new people and stayed in contact with many of great connections I had made along the way, which of course included Marsha and Siobhan at Catapult.

Finally after another 6 months of networking and searching, Marsha reached out to me because Catapult was looking to add another member to their team!

Why did they think of me you might ask?

In reflecting, I can conclude, writing my manifesto allowed me to more clearly communicate what I could bring to the table and networking gave me the opportunity to make these connections and build meaningful relationships.

They knew my story!

Through these processes and conversations, the team at Catapult knew my goals, strengths, and values could align with what they needed on their team.

Needless to say, the work doesn’t end after your career manifesto is complete; This is where the real work begins. It may take 6 months, it may take a year, but there is nothing more fulfilling than finding your purpose! And, I’m not done yet…

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