“I’m applying for everything, but nothing is landing. No one returns my emails. What’s the point of trying.” Sound familiar? This was a recurring theme for me early in my career journal entries. I remember feeling frustrated and disheartened by the constant rejections. My mentor at the time advised me to journal it, reflect on it, then move on. I honestly thought it was a waste of time when I should focus on landing a job. Little did I know, this practice of journaling helped me rediscover my strengths, values, and how they aligned with my career goals.

During a recent chat with a fellow workforce community partner, this common frustration emerged again with their job seekers. It reminded me of my early career days and the invaluable exercise my mentor shared. Do I still have a journal until this day? Absolutely! As workforce professionals, we constantly seek tools and strategies to support deeper levels of career development.

Now what if workforce professionals collaborated with job seekers in a structured journaling process? Could job seekers be better equipped to navigate rejections, build resilience, and find peace of mind along the way?

Presenting the Journaling Idea to Job Seekers

Journaling is a tough sell. Presenting the idea of journaling instead of assigning as a task to job seekers is the best way to get their buy-in. Explain how this collaborative journal can help them uncover their strengths, align their career goals, and build resilience. Take time to emphasize that this isn’t just another task, it’s a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

Choosing the Right Accessible Platform

It starts with collaboration! If prompted, job seekers will likely select a platform that suits everyone’s needs. Ideally, you’ll both choose a free platform with an easy learning curve. Here are a few options:

  • Digital Platforms: Slack, Google Workspace, or MS Teams. These platforms facilitate real-time feedback and resource sharing.
  • Physical Journals: For those with limited access to technology, a shared physical notebook can be just as effective. Regular check-ins and in-person meetings can augment the physical journal. Offer a pocket sized vs. Travel bag size journal.

Deciding on the Timeline Together

Work together to decide on a timeline that feels manageable. We all have busy lives, so it’s important to customize a timeline that is attainable. While the framework is designed for 20 days, it’s important to be flexible. The goal is to kick-start the process of self-reflection, career alignment, and resilience building, knowing that consistent practice is key for long-term success. Let’s take a dive into a sample journal used between a job seeker and workforce specialist.

Days 1-5: Taking an Identity Dive: Identify your top 3-5 educational or professional achievements so far and personal activities you enjoy.

  • Day 1-2: The job seeker creates a mind map[AG1] of achievements and enjoyable activities.
  • Day 3: The workforce specialist and job seeker discuss the mind map to identify common themes.
  • Day 4-5: Reflect on these themes and how they relate to personal strengths and values. This will act as the building blocks and foundation for the rest of the journaling project.

Days 6-10: Professional Narrative: Reflect on how past experiences shape your career goals and identify what unique qualities you’ll bring to your desired role.

  • Day 6-7: The job seeker writes a draft/ brain dump of their personal narrative.
  • Day 8: The workforce specialist provides positive feedback first, then offers suggestions.
  • Day 9-10: The job seeker refines their narrative based on feedback. Rinse and repeat.

Days 11-15: Career Alignment: Explore some industries that excite you and match your skills to job descriptions.

  • Day 11-12: The job seeker researches industries and lists job descriptions they believe align with their current skillset.
  • Day 13: The workforce specialist and job seeker discuss the findings and identify potential career paths.
  • Day 14-15: The job seeker creates a plan to align their career path with these fields.

Days 16-20: Resilience Building: Consider lessons learned from past rejections and strategies for staying motivated.

  • Day 16-17: The job seeker reflects on past rejections and lessons learned.
  • Day 18: The workforce specialist and job seeker discuss strategies for resilience and staying motivated.
  • Day 19-20: The job seeker creates a personal resilience plan.

Additional Tips

  • Post 20-day check-in: Have a brief check-in to discuss progress and any challenges, or if the project was useful.
  • Creative Expression: Encourage the job seeker to use creative methods in their journal like drawing to express their thoughts and feelings.

Building Deep Connections and Trust

At the heart of this journaling framework is the collaboration between job seekers and their supportive workforce families. Each journal entry is an opportunity to establish deep connections and build trust. As a workforce professional, consider sharing your own stories of rejection and resilience in the job market. This transparency can create a safe space for job seekers to open up about their experiences and challenges.

By sharing your journey, you demonstrate empathy and understanding, showing hopeful job seekers that setbacks are a natural part of the career path! This mutual exchange of stories should foster a supportive environment where job seekers feel valued and encouraged. It’s not just about providing feedback; it’s about walking alongside them, celebrating their progress, and helping them navigate the ups and downs of their career journey. We’ve all been there!

  • Offer clarity: Suggest how to frame strengths for specific roles.
  • Offer confidence: Reframe their negative experiences as learning opportunities.
  • Offer resources: Share networking events, articles, and tools to support targeted goals.

Why not start the discussion of career journaling with your job seekers so they will collaboratively choose an outlet that works? What collaborative tools have you found success within your experience?