Looking for a job in 2024 is like starting a business — especially if you’re a generalist.

After building my coaching business for the last 18 months, I can tell you why this is painfully true (and what to do about it).

Picture this: It’s February 2023, and I’m doing that thing where you say you’re starting a business but really you’re just… thinking about starting a business. I got sick of waiting for "the perfect time" and started taking action a few months later.

After growing my business and working with over 100 generalists in transition, I can now see the parallels between the messy middle of the job search and the messy middle of starting a business.

Generalist job seekers are just like new entrepreneurs:

• Overthinking when to start, scared to make the wrong move
• Struggling to stick with 1 clear direction (shiny object syndrome)
• Have a hard time articulating their value proposition
• Blending into a sea of "more qualified" competitors
• Needing a repeatable strategy for consistent results
• Imposter syndrome leads to procrastination and doubt
• The emotional rollercoaster that comes with lots of “no”

After riding the wave of inconsistent results in my business for a year, I realized: I need a proven strategy. As a one-woman show, I could either pay with time to figure it out alone, or invest in accelerating my results. I chose to invest big into coaches and mentors, so I've packaged up my best lessons to share the wealth.

13 entrepreneurship lessons you can apply to your job search:

1. Riches are in the niches

Get targeted and specific about who you help and the problems you solve. You are the product. Show how you’ll solve key problems for your customer (the hiring manager) so they want to buy.

2. Know your unique value proposition

Stand out in a sea of sameness. Sell how you are different and lean into your X-factor angle vs. trying to blend into the crowd. The intersection of your experiences is your differentiator.

3. Craft your brand

Define how you want to be known. Don’t let others make up the narrative for you. Your assets (LinkedIn, Resume, Elevator Pitch, etc.) should tell a cohesive story.

4. Social proof wins

Collect “testimonials” about how you work. Share them shamelessly across your assets. Until you’re hired, you’re only as good as your marketing.

5. Fill your own pipeline

Generate “leads” via 1:1 (e.g. outreach) and 1:Many strategies (e.g. content) when inbound and referrals aren’t enough to fill your pipeline. Get creative about how to increase your visibility.

6. Messaging matters

A confused buyer never buys: clear and concise beats creative and confusing. Speak to both emotion (human connection) and logic (quantifiable outcomes) in your messaging.

7. Interviews = Sales Process

What happens pre-and-post “sales call” (aka interview) influences the sale in addition to what happens on the call itself. Slight tweaks to your language can make or break a decision to move forward.

8. It’s 80% energetics

Your energy & confidence in this process cannot be understated. People want to buy from someone who knows their value.

9. Follow up is key

Ghosting/ getting to “no” means “not now”, not “not ever”. The close happens in the follow up… and don’t take a no personally. Keep the door open for later.

10. Negotiation starts early on

The “negotiation” begins long before the offer is presented. The power goes to whoever is more willing to walk away. Knowing your numbers gives you power back.

11. Mindset is everything

A mindset shift is required to navigate rejection that’s required for success. Celebrate learning as progress and every micro-win along the way. How you see yourself matters.

12. Create your own momentum

Take radical personal responsibility for your results. When your strategy isn’t working, iterate. Take bolder, more courageous action to generate outsized returns.

13. Purpose carries you through

A strong why — your purpose — drives the actions you must take to maintain momentum even through the dips. Remind yourself of it often.

Here’s the reality: You need to learn and successfully apply job search skills to land your target role. You can pay to learn them over time through trial and error, or you can pay with money to save time and learn proven strategies that work. Every successful person you know has paid one way or another.

I learned this the hard way building my business. After months of throwing spaghetti at the wall, I invested in coaches and mentors to accelerate my growth. I wish I'd gotten help sooner. Now, I help generalist job seekers who are brave enough to make the same choice.

Ready to stop paying with time? Let’s explore how we can accelerate your transition to work you love so you can get results like these:

• Client R, who landed her #1 role in 6 weeks with a $15K compensation bump after 5 months of looking
• Client S, who accepted an exec offer that 2x'ed her previous salary 3 weeks after joining the program
• And all the others who are more empowered, confident, and excited about their career again

Growth results when you admit where you have gaps and decide to close them. Everything is figureoutable.

Let's win together,

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