Passion. It’s not a word you’d necessarily associate with being professional or be throwing around at work. But we all need a bit of it.
Why? What does passion have to do with being happy at work, getting your career back on track or finding the right job? Well, a lot. A whole lot, in fact. When you have passion, you know what inspires and motivates you. You have purpose, which gives you focus and direction. And knowing all of that means you know your strengths. And knowing your strengths means you feel confident and capable. Powerful, right?
Passion has a lot to do with being happy at work and finding the right job or taking the next step. It can help you recharge your career, reconnect with things that excite you and it enriches your working experience.
Passionate is a buzzword you see (too) often in job ads and on CVs but it’s it's often just a bit 'meh' and lacking substance. On a CV, who isn't going to say they are passionate, dedicated and hardworking? No-one is going to write 'mildly interested, invested a bit and sometimes lazy' are they? One would hope not. If you want to include passion on your CV and LinkedIn, show the proof of how you demonstrated your passion and what outcome it drove or resulted in.
If you talk about being passionate be...passionate. I was hosting a mock interview with a client and with a deadpan face and very flat voice, they responded to a question with "I'm very passionate about..." but their face and voice said differently. We have to convey our passion with a bit of animation - eyes that sparkle and a face that lights up - even if it's just a little. If not, it's counterproductive.
If you genuinely have passion you have an edge. It’s more than enthusiasm and energy.
Enthusiasm bounces around and can obscure the path ahead, but passion is honed and enduring. It’s powerful. It can take you places in life and in your career.
You know passion when you see it in someone, even if you’re not sure what it is. It helps you make connections and it’s so attractive to other people – including recruiters, hiring managers, colleagues and leaders. They know you are genuine, that you’ll go the extra mile, give your all and stay motivated.
Do you know what your passion is? Do you know how to harness it to give you an edge?
A session of Career Therapy with me as your coach can help you connect with and articulate your passion in a way that is authentic to you. It can also show you just how powerful passion can be to help you grow your confidence and recharge your career.
Let's explore how you can find or reignite your passion with a free intro chat. Click on 'Book a call' anywhere on the website or email me: louise@careertherapy.co.uk And don't forget to check out other posts for more impactful career tips.
What's stopping you?
Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash