What can you learn from George Lucas‘ mystical Jedi knights that will help you with your job search?
It’s not a trick question I assure you. At the risk of being called a total geek I’m going to tell you that I am a huge Star Wars fan – in fact since high school. Yes you can start laughing now.
Anyway there’s a lot you can learn from the fantasy Jedi knights in the galaxy far, far away…
What’s a Jedi for non-Star Wars Fans?
You non-Star Wars fans are probably wondering what a Jedi is.
The Jedi are characters in the Star Wars galaxy who used magical powers that comes from the Force and weapons known as lightsabers, which created powerful energy blades able to cut through nearly anything. They were guardians of the peace and protectors of the Republic.
A Jedi Code for Job Seekers or Shinobi
The Jedi follow a special code — the Jedi code. Here’s the wording of the code that you’ll be learning about:
There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force.
So what does Jedi thinking have to do with your job search?
Be Cool Under Fire
“There is no emotion, there is peace.”Jedi must know peace and serenity in the face of danger and while saving the galaxy. As a job searcher you have to keep your cool and calm regardless of how stressful the situation is. The key thing here is to feel no fear – be willing to take risks, get out of your comfort zone and do what it takes to reach the right people who you want to work for.
One emotion you want to avoid is desperation. If you show desperation you’ll lose all respect and it will show you have little respect for yourself. Would a Jedi ever show desperation? The heroic ones wouldn’t.
Being Ignorant Is Deadly
“There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.”Jedi value knowledge over ignorance. In your job search walking into the interview without a clue is a surefire way of losing it – whether you’re going entry-level or executive C suite.
The same goes for your goals for the job search. Say you’re submitting resumes without knowing what you want or what you’re applying to (shot gun approach). You’re failing to make the connection between what you can do and what problems you can solve for an employer and that’s ignorance.
You want to learn about your employers and find the ways you know you can solve a problem for. Being wilfully ignorant is a tried and true way to the Dark Side of someone’s Trash box. You’ve only got 9 seconds to get someone’s attention – are you wasting their time and yours?
The Job Search is Just Business – Leave Out (Most) Emotions
“There is no passion, there is serenity.”
If you’re feeling stressed or depressed during the job search you’re less likely to be at the top of your game, keeping up with phone calls, making the appointments, etc. Learn serenity where you feel no stress or anxiety.
You may slip or fall and you may feel like you’re unable to climb back out. Are you a roiling pool of lava or a still pond in a green glade? Which would you prefer to deal with as yourself or an employer?
A cool mind finds answers and solves problems. An angry or desperate mind creates them.
One emotion you must have for job search however is passion, which can help with like-ability. That can give you an edge in the informational and job interviews.
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