SharpHR Career Coaching

You made it! It's the end of another challenging job search week. Stop. Take a breath. This Friday Focus is a reminder to shift your mindset from exhausted job seeker to strategic professional. The biggest mistake you can make right now is feeling guilty that you didn't do enough. The second biggest is immediately plunging into the weekend without closing out your week. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 1. 𝗟𝗼

The job search process often feels like a series of unspoken promises: I promise to apply to ten jobs today. I promise to network this week. I promise to follow up. The gap between making that promise and seeing the signed offer letter is closed by one essential word: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Our Word of the Week: Commitment is perfectly captured by a timeless quote from Abraham Lincoln: "Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality." For the job seeker, this isn't about

The job search grinds on. After months of sending out resumes, it’s easy to confuse the need for a paycheck with the need for passion. This week, our focus word is Motivation, and our anchor comes from Steve Jobs: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” For job seekers, this quote often feels like a cruel joke. How can you love what you do when you don't have a job? Meet David. David was chasing high-paying roles in finance simply because he felt he should. He

It’s Friday. You’ve successfully navigated another week, and now it’s time to shift your focus from wrapping up the present to planning your high-impact actions for the coming week. Use this moment to set yourself up for immediate success on Monday. Stop thinking about what you should do and commit to executing these five high-impact tasks. 𝟭. 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 Don't just apply blindly. Identify your top three "Dream Roles" and your top thre

The job search can often feel like being stuck in a rut, sending resumes into a void, waiting for replies that rarely come, and feeling like you’re doing the same things while expecting different results. This week, our focus is 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Think about Maya. She had been a successful Marketing Manager for a decade, but her industry was shrinking. She knew she needed a change, yet the idea of updating her skills and applying to new sectors felt paralyzing. Ev

It’s the end of the week, time to set yourself up for success! Our Friday Focus for job seekers is all about job search networking, follow-up and inner strength. Networking isn't just about handing out résumés; it’s about building genuine relationships. This weekend, take 30 minutes to: ☑️ 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸: Who did you connect with? ☑️ 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘂𝗽: Did you have an informational interview? Send a thoughtful email referen

A bold mural on a brick wall proclaims "Strength is for Everyone," surrounded by dynamic black lines and abstract shapes. The job search can feel like climbing a mountain. You send countless applications, face rejections, and sometimes, you just want to give up. This week's word is Strength, and our quote is from Rikki Rogers: "Strength does not come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't." Have you ever felt like Sarah, who fe

The job search and career change journeys are marathons, not sprints. This weekend, commit to one intentional act of grit, a small step forward when it would be easier to pause, build your grit muscle today. 𝑭𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔 𝑨𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑱𝒐𝒃 𝑺𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒆𝒓, 1. 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Did you get a "no" this week? Spend 15 minutes analyzing the feedback, not dwelling on the disappointment. Ask: Was it my resume, my skills, or a poor culture fit? Use i

The screen stared back, mocking them with an error message, the "𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱" error. Her heart hammered, echoing the frantic pace of her career change. She had poured years of nights and weekends into learning web development for her portfolio, her proof, her ticket to a new tech future. And now, the entire site was gone. Panic threatened. "You're not cut out for this. Go back to what you know," the easy corporate path beckoned

Let’s turn this week’s focus on Mindfulness in Motion putting Awareness to work, into small, practical steps that help you stay grounded while moving forward in your career. 🔹 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. - Before diving into tasks, take 2 minutes to breathe and set one clear intention for your day. 🔹 𝟮. 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. - When switching between tasks or meetings, pause and refocus, don’t carry the stres

Mindfulness isn’t about slowing down, it’s about tuning in. In a world that pushes us to move faster, Mindfulness in Motion reminds us that real progress starts when we become aware of what’s happening right now. Whether you’re in a job search, building a new career path, or learning to trust your next move, mindfulness helps you shift from reacting to responding. When you bring attention to your thoughts, energy, and choices in the present, you shape a future grounded in cla

It’s true, self-discipline is what separates a dream from a result. Whether you’re job searching, changing careers, or growing in your current role, Self-Discipline: The Bridge Between Goals and Accomplishment is your reminder that success isn’t built in one giant leap, it’s built in the quiet, consistent steps you take every day. This week’s Friday Focus is about practicing the small habits that build momentum and confidence. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲

When it comes to your career, self-discipline is the quiet force that turns intention into progress. It’s what helps you send one more application, finish that certification, or follow up after a networking event, even when you’re tired or discouraged. Self-discipline doesn’t mean working nonstop; it means following through on what matters most, even in small ways. Each consistent step builds confidence and moves you closer to your goals. For job seekers and career changers,

Friday Focus: Strengthen Your Integrity Muscle: Let’s turn integrity into action this week through the power of self-belief: 1. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 - even if it’s just to yourself. 2. 𝗕𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 - authenticity stands out. 3. 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁: Where can I align my actions more closely with my values? Integrity grows with practice. Start small, stay consistent, and watch how trust, and oppor

It’s easy to lose confidence when you are job searching or making a career change. Rejections, silence after interviews, or comparing yourself to others can make you question your worth. But self-belief isn’t about being fearless, it’s about trusting that you can handle whatever comes next. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳: 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂. Be Brave Think about everything you’ve already overcome - deadlines, life change

Tree Growing on Log in Water Let’s turn this Friday Focus: Integrity into action this week: 1. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲...

Tree on wood floating in water striving. "Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching,” isn’t just a nice saying, it’s the...

Paints in glass jars, bowls with paint inside on someone's desk. Here are 3 small steps you can take this next week to stay inspired: 1....

Albert Einstein once said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” That ties perfectly with this week’s word: Inspiration. When you’re...