With Valentine’s Day at the center of this “beautiful” winter month, I couldn’t resist the urge to find some way to work the process of building a relationship into the career transition theme. Turns out, it wasn’t so hard. In fact, as I began to think about it, finding the perfect sweetheart isn’t a lot different then finding the perfect career. It’s not easy but, we all have to admit, it sure is worth it in the long run.

   While I’m not a big Valentine’s Day “buy a gift and give flowers” kind of guy, I do find myself getting a bit sentimental as February 14^th rolls around. I can’t help but reminisce about the whole falling in love and starting a relationship thing. Although it’s been awhile, I still recall the excitement, anticipation, and hope that came from meeting someone new. The forging ahead to not only get them to be interested in me but learning about them - so that I could be sure they were the “right one”.

   Finding a new career, it turns out, is pretty much the same.  It can be exciting, although a bit scary too, and involves a process of raising the interest of others, while simultaneously researching them to find those that match your skills and work values and who, in turn, are right for you.

   For some, finding the “perfect sweetheart” might also come about following a previous relationship. If this is the case, a person can expect to go through some common transition stages before being ready to look elsewhere. These might include experiencing feelings of anger, sadness, depression and even denial before being ready to move on and seriously look forward to a new relationship. Very similar to what some of you might have experienced as you progressed through the feelings associated with your recent job loss.

      In both the “sweetheart search” and career transition, once you are finally able to focus on the road ahead, rather then looking back at what was, it’s then probably a good idea to take a close look at yourself. What are you’re strengths? What do you have to offer? In both attracting a new employer and a new relationship partner, it’s going to be about selling yourself as the best choice. To do that, you’ll need to have a good handle on exactly who you are.

   In addition to this self-analysis, you’ll likely also find greater success by setting your sites on targets that match your particular values. After all, who wants a new job or a relationship that doesn’t meet their needs too?

   What I’m suggesting is that your job-search goal, much like a “new relationship” goal, should focus on finding the best opportunities with organizations (individuals) that have values that match yours. The primary objective being to form a long-term commitment with a partner that needs you, as much as you need them.

   While I’m not any kind of love guru, even I know that for any relationship to be successful both parties have to be happy in the long run. What it all comes down to; in both career transition and relationship building; is that it’s probably better to take proactive steps to uncover the best “leads” that fit you and your distinct personality and then to target them, then it is to take a haphazard approach with the hope that you’ll stumble upon the perfect match.

   Much like finding your “perfect sweetheart”, finding a new career isn’t easy or something that is best left to chance. It takes a good deal of hard work and persistence. Most of all, it takes a plan. Luckily, there are people and organization out there that are ready and willing to help you through the process. For those of you with access to an Outplacement agency and career management consultant – use them. They exist for that reason. For those who don’t have formal assistance available, visit your local community workforce assistance provider (once called the Unemployment Agency) – located by googling “workforce assistance, (your location). Normally, the state department of labor site will come up and you can find something more local from there.

   While we “experts” may not be able to offer any additional “sweetheart” search advice to those of you still looking, (we’ll leave that for Mr. Cupid) we can offer you this very sound career transition advice - assess your strengths and values; research and target employers that share your values and will appreciate your strengths; and then sell yourself as the best choice, using a solid resume and networking plan.

   If you choose to apply this career transition advice to other areas of your life, best of luck! I hope you experience the same amount of success that I did. Happy Valentine’s Day!