Job Search Lessons from A Christmas Carol

Carols ring out from every corner, yuletide greetings are being shared, and a certain jolly and rotund fellow is on his way. It’s the holiday season!

If you aren’t in the holiday spirit this year, that’s totally understandable. It’s been a crazy two years since the pandemic started, and the latest variant isn’t exactly making life easier. Just try not to be like Ebenezer Scrooge before the events of A Christmas Carol. Come to think of it, what kind of lessons can we learn from our own job search past, present, and future?

  1. Job Search Past

The Ghost of Christmas past shows Scrooge how much he loved Christmas as a child, as well as the relationships he missed out on because of his fixation on making money. Think back to your childhood. Back then, your future was all one big question mark. You probably weren’t super focused on the future, but maybe you wanted to be a firefighter, or a baker, or an artist. Life was simpler then with less day-to-day responsibilities.

If you’re looking for a new career path now, refer to the dream careers of your youth for inspiration. It’s never too late to change careers, and now that you’re older, you can look for something you’re passionate about in the same industry. For example, if as a child you wanted to be an artist and you’re currently in business administration, it might be worth looking into marketing.

  1. Job Search Present

In A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge into the lives of those closest to him. He was so obsessed with making money that he never really took a moment to think about what was happening in other peoples’ lives.

Now, you probably aren’t obsessed with money like Scrooge, but sometimes being in a position for a long time makes it harder to move on. Maybe you really like your co-workers, or you’re scared of failing at a different job. But there are plenty of other options out there, and you won’t know about them unless you do a bit of research.

  1. Job Search Future

The last spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, shows Scrooge that if he continues on his lonely, money-grubbing path, no one will mourn him after he passes.

When it comes to your career, where do you really see yourself in five years? 10 years? This might give you annoying interview flashbacks, but if you’re honest with yourself, what do you really want out of your career? If you don’t like your current position, or if you want to change things, start now. You don’t have to up and quit your job right away, but you can make a plan to get that dream job you really want. Start making a list of what you really want, and research ways to get there.

After the events of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge vows to change his ways for the better. Now, this blog isn’t as powerful as visitations by three mysterious spirits, but we hope we’ve helped shed a bit of light on what you really want from your job. Happy holidays!

Are there any other job search lessons you see in A Christmas Carol? Let us know in the comments section below!

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