By Gillian Seely

Last Thursday, I attended the Massachusetts Conference for Women in Boston. Aside from having a fantastic time networking with Boston’s finest, I was in complete awe that the organizers were able to gather 5,000 women in one massive venue and orchestrate a full day’s worth of events, talks, keynote speeches from an all-star lineup, meals, and career sessions with such ease. Sessions ran like clockwork, and the whole day was really a study in efficiency and energy.  It was a sight to behold. The conference was, by name, for the Massachusetts woman. Sessions dealt with everything from successfully funding startup businesses, to women’s health and sexuality. While the panels and sessions covered the full spectrum of woman-centric topics, the conference was undeniably geared towards female job-seekers. The afternoon featured career sessions where anyone could have their resume critiqued and network for good leads on new jobs…all very useful when looking for a job! The majority of people I chatted with were doing just that- trying to build their networks in the hopes of finding that dream job.

Finding the perfect job is like finding your soul mate. Why settle for less?

As I followed our CEO Kip Hollister to her various sessions, and listened to her speak about founding a staffing firm at the age of 26 that would go on to connect some unbelievable talent with some of Massachusetts’ best organizations, and as I witnessed thousands of people networking, something dawned on me.  Finding the perfect job is extremely difficult, especially as job seekers’ demands heighten.  Times have changed.  We are no longer happy to stay in a job that pays well simply because it pays well. We want to work for companies with values, that allow us to find balance in our busy lives, and we want to work for organizations that we love, doing jobs that fulfill us.  In this moment of clarity among these thousands of women, I likened the job-search to the quest for the perfect ‘marriage’.  Let’s face it- we are all after the perfect relationship, so why shouldn’t we be after the same perfect match in our professional lives?

Don’t give up on your dream job…even if you’re not sure what it is yet

Advocating a search for the perfect job might seem a little idealistic, particularly when thinking about the current financial upsets and crises millions of Americans are facing. Still, as I dwelled on this, I couldn’t help but think about my own career changes over the last few years, and how each time I left a position I felt something like a sense of relief, in spite of how badly it was going to impact my finances. Even something as drastic as being laid off can really be a freeing moment when you realize that you actually worked for the world’s most inefficient boss, didn’t agree with the culture of the company (or perhaps it didn’t even have one?), and weren’t given the autonomy to be yourself professionally (of course, none of these things have ever applied to my past jobs!). I was relieved after each job-change because I knew these had not been jobs that I wanted to invest my energy in long-term, and because I heard a little voice telling me to “Keep looking! It’s out there!”

You have the right to be picky

So as you continue your quest for the perfect job, I urge you to be picky with your long-term goals, even if it means taking a temporary job that you’re not crazy about in the interim.  It’s SO important to follow your heart. Doing what you’re passionate about might not always pay off in the short-term, and sometimes it’s necessary to tough it out while looking for the perfect job, but following your heart is the only way you’re ever really going to shine, and it’s a sure-fire way to propel yourself to the top of whatever profession you go for.  Don’t get stuck in an arranged ‘marriage’ that will only lead to misery and /or ‘divorce’. You can rest assured that your soul mate is out there somewhere…waiting for you!

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