Dream Job pursuit. Ukraine
2021/1
Since my experience of job searching during a pandemic, the war in my country, waves of layoffs and dismissals, a high unemployment rate, and other chaotic events is still quite fresh, I cannot help but share it. It is truly unique and practical.
I hope it will be useful and inspire anyone who now finds themselves caught between "That's all!" and "Not yet!" to navigate their challenges with resilience and determination.
I am experimenting with a new format to sound both objective and engaging. I would greatly appreciate any comments and feedback. So…
Disclaimer: All similarities to actual events or people are purely coincidental. Names, except for the main character, have been changed.
Characters:
Olya, the main character.
Director of recruiting agency X.
Two companies where our hero had the most vivid hiring experiences. Let’s call them X and Y.
Best friends.
Frenemies (friends or acquaintances whose presence is often more challenging than helpful — but hey, don’t we all have them?)
Kyiv, serving as the perfect backdrop for a bittersweet ending to any story.
Prologue: Growth Mindset in Action.
Olya had already navigated a successful job search before. For her, finding a job was never the problem; finding a good job was the real challenge.
Despite her solid experience and positive mindset, our hero found herself grappling with panic attacks whenever she casually mentioned to friends or acquaintances that she was considering a shift in work segments or formats. Her current job, while undoubtedly beloved, no longer brought the inner fulfillment she craved. She longed to try something new, modern, and dynamic — something that promised both flexibility and unlimited income.
For reasons she could only partially explain, Olya believed these changes were meant to happen.
She still does.
Here are some of the phrases her friends used to rattle her confidence at the slightest mention of a career change:
"Are you crazy? Outside of corporations now, it’s just hunger and cold. Don’t even think about leaving your warm, cozy spot."
Olya’s familiar workplace, after a year and a half of remote quarantine, had begun to feel like an extension of the chair she spent her days on. That remark made her cringe.
"Have you thought this through? You’ve got two children. You can’t just quit."
Such statements, though predictable, didn’t account for the toxicity and manipulation Olya endured daily. They seemed designed to undermine her ability to think critically, analyze, and make sound decisions.
"Are you okay?"
This simple question — seemingly innocent — became the final trigger that propelled her forward. It pushed her to move both TO and FROM: FROM a secure yet stifling permanent role TO something new and unknown—a realm she’d dreamed of but never explored.
Yes, Olya was scared. But as a psychologist, coach, and seasoned professional — not to mention a mother of two and an entirely self-reliant individual — she knew precisely what to do when fear took hold:
Just do it.
So, she grabbed a flip chart, a set of markers, and decisively drew a vertical line down the middle, dividing the canvas into two sections. She labeled them:
SOFT and HARD.
From that moment, Olya began a deep dive into analyzing her professional identity.
To be continued...
May 28, 2021.
All similarities to real-life events are purely coincidental. Truth and fiction are artfully intertwined.