A job seekers worse nightmare...

If you’re reading this, we’re freshly into 2025, and here’s where I’d be focused if I’m job searching or looking to pivot this year…

Let’s dive into it 👇🏼

1. Stressful planning to start the year

2. Questions for your last interview

3. #PrescribedByDx - Raw Thoughts

The biggest mistake job seekers make: obsessing over plans (when being bold works wonders)

This time is the time of the year when we are starting to dream big with a bit of stress behind it. What if I don’t make it through the year and hit the goal I’m thinking about right now?

Influencers selling calendars (I bought one 😉), coaches creating new planners, and you're blocking off weeks or hours to give yourself time to “prep" for the year.

While I always make sure there are a few hours to reflect alone and think about the future, one piece worked extremely well this year for me.

Go do cool shit and tell an epic story.

Everything I did was to, in hope, turn around at one point and tell an epic story. Whether it was the late nights on the laptop that turned into a breakthrough with a job seeker or interviewing with the Indonesian government as I got deported.

The goal: do cool shit.

So, for the worst nightmare—during this month, don’t think you have to have it all planned out in alignment with a system. I’m all for working hard as hell, but there’s no point in becoming a “prisoner of your citadel.”.

It’s one of the reasons I’m not a fan of elaborate systems to “10X your lifestyle.”

As you sit alone to think about 2024 or start plotting on 2025, think about quarter one.

• Who do you want to spend more time with?

• What projects do you want to work on?

• Who has the information that you need?

• Where do you feel on fire?

My only caveat, the cool moments you’re seeking are 10% of the game every single time. No one remembers the 90% of pain and sweat, hell—you may even be quick to forget it.

These are all questions I asked myself to find cool shit.

Relentlessly work at this, and come summer, it’ll be the start of an epic story.

But, remember, people are rooting for you 🤝

Questions for the last time you interviewed…

• What feedback do I need to wholeheartedly take?

• Who or what could I have researched more in advance?

• What was the moment I started to slip in telling my story?

Do this alone. You don’t need to provide reasons for each - spit out what you witnessed and experienced as if you were a 3rd party watching it.

You gain nothing from going easy on yourself.

#PrescribedByDx

30+ years, United States Postal Service. I’m honestly not sure how he did it. As my dad gets a bit closer to retirement, it’s been beautiful to reflect on his life and enjoy time together.

A different generation of people showed up to work every single day and never complained once about it.

Food for thought: Why do you what you do?

I do what I do so I can have more experiences with the people who sacrificed for me.

TL;DR

• Don’t over-plan to start the year

• Sit alone and answer difficult questions

• You’ll never regret blaming yourself professionally

Before you leave…

If you’ve enjoyed reading this, let me know via direct response. I’d love to know what hits home and where I should spend more time.

Have a solid week 🤝

Dominic

P.S. When you’re ready to tap back into your network, check out this new 5-day email series I launched to land $100K roles where ideas are heard, work is valued, and people advocate for you behind closed doors.

Join the conversation.

I teach the exact framework I use to help job seekers attract hiring teams and show up to a career that they enjoy.

Bonus: Ready to find more remote work roles? Run here.