Why I never had to apply for a job

I was a 23-year-old who decided to move to California with no job or residence lined up, who chose to live with a family member who I hadn't seen in 20 years. It was a favorite uncle who I remember putting me on the back of his motorcycle when I was in middle school.  

All I knew was that I really wanted to help people, and I wanted to live in California. 

Before I left the Land of Sunshine and Opportunity, I did several jobs. Eventually, I spent my last few years as Chief of Staff for an elected official in a district that had been ignored for over 20 years. 

I knew poverty from my upbringing, but this was my first experience learning how the systems designed to support the communities that needed it the most actually operated. They were dysfunctional. Sometimes they were even used by politicians to further their own agendas, making the systems riddled with bureaucracy and, in many cases, racism.   

My entire life had led me to this point. At that moment, I realized that making a change to these systems was part of my passion and purpose. Rather than dwell in the world of bureaucracy and systemic oppression, I needed to be among the leaders and innovators trying to break the systems that no longer served people. 

After my time there, I decided I wanted to work at the Chicago Housing Authority, which at the time was leading some of the nation's most transformative housing policies and practices. 

I wanted it. Nothing was going to stop me.

I reached out to all of my connections in Chicago, which resulted in 40 different informational interviews. At the end of every one, I'd ask them for a contact to the housing authority until I hit the jackpot. Finally, someone knew the housing authority HR director and offered to put me in touch. 

HR didn't have a specific job that they offered to interview me for, but they wanted me to meet with the Chicago Housing Authority Resident Council President. I was not going to miss this opportunity, no matter what. 

When it came down to making my purpose happen, I had to take bus after bus after bus to get there. I sat through more interviews until I broke through to them.

I explained to them why I wanted to work with them. I didn't answer interview questions or try to impress people. Instead, I let my passion and purpose radiate from within.

Even though they already knew that they would hire someone else for that specific position, they decided that they needed to find me something. They saw my passion, and they understood my purpose, and in that sense, they couldn't miss this opportunity either.

I got the job I wanted. 

I started the job with no staff, no money, no budget. Nada. A year later, I had six positions filled.  

Six years later, the department had 50 people with an 18-month process implemented for families. Thousands of dollars were dedicated to each family. There were people dedicated to helping families who were relocating find apartments, help pay the bills, and find job opportunities.  

By the time I moved, The department was worth half a billion dollars. 

There's a story to be told about the possibility you can create when you go forth with intention, letting your purpose drive you. 

It's not magic. It's confidence, and this confidence will support you: 

• Find dream organizations aligned to your purpose and passion. 
  

• Engage in intentional research and networking. Maybe there's a position that exists at your dream organization, or perhaps you know someone who works there. Either way, you can execute strategic networking activities to reach your job or career. 
  

• Convince others who feel your passion and purpose to hire you.
  

The reality: Many people don't think it is possible to go get the job you really want. Even I've thought back at times, and I can only sum it up with, "That's crazy." But I have repeated that process several times since then. 

But it does make sense when you think about it. Why not spend your time being strategic and letting your passions drive your search rather than relying on the pure luck of your social media feeds, search engines, and the random networks of your friends. Why not let your passion shine through in all of your job search interactions. Why not let people feel your passion and what you believe can be true in the world. 

I know it's not easy to figure out where you want to work, why, and who you need to talk to to make it happen. It takes confidence and clarity to search for the job that aligns with your purpose and how you want to live your life. It takes a deep dive to figure out what you truly want and how to get there strategically. 

Maybe you're grappling with what you're uniquely designed and want to do in this world. Perhaps you know where you want to work but lack the confidence that you can make it happen. But I bet there are some things you know you don't want to do anymore. For example, maybe you are tired of applying for something just because it is available. Perhaps you are sick of feeling like there is a limited number of jobs that you are 'qualified' for, or maybe you want to stop making your primary strategy reaching out to the few people you trust with, "I want to transition, what/who do you know that is out there?"

I'm here to illuminate the path in which you lead the way. That's the work I do as an Impact Leadership Coach at It's The Impact. 

It can be tough to see and accept what is possible for you — for you to honestly believe that you can make the exact career change you want — you don't have to do it alone. If you're a socially-driven leader who wants to make changes, let's schedule a chat to see what's possible for you.