This is for those looking for work at the moment or to future-proof their careers.
In an increasingly chaotic and disrupted job market, how can you go beyond the traditional way of doing things - to increase your chances of getting something that feels aligned.
This is what we explore together in this episode. Summary and quotes are below. Enjoy!
Summary
In this episode of The Purpose Led Radio, we explore the idea of 'to find or not to find a job' in these times of transition - and why that might be the wrong question.
The real question being: How can I articulate the value I want to provide - and partner to create my own role?
Because whole sectors and industries are shape-shifting. The roles that used to exist may not anymore. So it is not just about applying for what is out there - it is about shifting your whole thinking about it.
From needing something, to offering something. From good student of what currently exists to inspiring partner of what will come next. From “How do I prove I am good enough?” to “Where can I add real value in a new way?”
At its core, it is about reframing how we approach work in a changing world. Your CV and cover letter still matter, but they are not enough. The people who are succeeding are proactively articulating their value - and demonstrating it meaningfully.
For example, one leader I supported created a full well thought out strategy for the company that he brought to the interview. That changed everything and he got the job. Another called each application a work of art - a way to express her unique contribution and leadership.
What we actually want to be focusing on is to create roles from scratch. And that is what is happening - even in traditional sectors - by listening for what really needs solving now.
It is about clarity: What is the value I want to provide? To whom? And how can I showcase it visibly, meaningfully and strategically? In a way that is not pitching, but inviting.
When you do that, you stop chasing what is disappearing - and start shaping what is emerging.
The truth is: the value system itself is shifting. What used to be valued may no longer be. But that doesn’t mean you have no value. What it does mean is that you get to help define what is valuable next.
Partnering to solve real problems creates opportunity - and opens unexpected doors. Networking becomes collaboration, not performance. You become known as someone who is a resource - who sees what matters and shows up to help.
That is how new roles get created. I have done this myself - and so have many of my clients. A good example of where this has worked is the sustainability field.
So don’t just focus on finding. Focus on articulating your value so clearly that others want to build with you.
You are not here to just fill a gap in what is falling away. You are here to shape what comes next and create your place in it.
And that starts with shifting from ‘to find or not to find’ — to ‘what is the value I want to provide, and how can I use that to co-create what is next? As the basis for creating a new role - that might not even exist yet.
Specific Quotes:
“It is this experience where it is not just you that is losing your role - there seems to be mass layoffs in a particular sector. That is because the whole world of work is going to be shape-shifting.”
“After enough rejections, you start to wonder, are you good enough?”
“The real question is: how are you actually approaching that job search - and how are you thinking about it?”
“Stop focusing on to find or not to find; start focusing on, can I actually create something here?”
“You are not selling yourself - you are reflecting together on problems that people have.”
“Someone will give you a job because they can see how you are going to be able to add the value they need.”
“We have to stop being rabbits in a headlight, just transfixed by the shrinking sector.”
“Each application can be like a work of art - artistry - that expresses your value.”
“You want to be perceived as a resource.”
“Where do I really want to add value, and what does that actually look like?”
“You need to be anchored in the value that you want to provide. What is the value you really want to provide — and to whom?”
“One client literally sat down and created a strategy for the organization - that is a completely different conversation.”
“You are not just listing past experience - you are showing how you can add the value that is actually needed now.”
“You want to be seen as a resource - someone who connects people to solutions and creates possibilities.”
“It’s a shift from the energy of needing something to being in a place of partnering to create something useful.”
“I listened to people about the actual problems they were trying to solve - not the ones I assumed they were solving.”
“Instead of ‘What role can I find?’ it’s: ‘How can I partner to create a role based on the value I want to provide?’”
“It’s not just about matching your CV - it’s about starting a new kind of conversation.”
“The people who are really succeeding are those who are showcasing their value meaningfully.”
“A lot of the roles that exist now didn’t exist a few years ago - they were created because people articulated a new kind of value.”
“You can influence getting jobs created for you when you really understand what others value - and connect that to what you would love to offer.”
“Every job I had after my career change was created for me - because I got really good at articulating my value.”
“Stop obsessing over the end of your old role - start asking: how does the value I bring fit into what is emerging now?”
“We are in a time where what has value and what we perceive has value is shifting — and we need to catch up with that in our minds. So the real question becomes: where is this value piece shape-shifting to — and how can I influence and contribute to that?
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