Square Tooth, Round Socket

Earlier this week I received the above email from a recruiter. On its face there’s nothing wrong with it, and in fact I appreciate the directness of their approach. Because in that approach we get a clear look into why so many people are quite frankly disheartened by the process of finding a job.

It’s hard to receive that email and not believe that the recruiter is trying to place a specific-shaped cog into a machine. At the end of the day I don’t blame them either. The employer has a distinct task that needs to be filled and not filling it may prevent them from reaching a desired output; a goal that ultimately a number of people including investors, employees, founders, and customers rely on.

No one in this chain of decisions acts nefariously.

And yet, I feel like I’m playing out one side of a transaction and nothing more. This isn’t to say there are not plenty of good reasons for someone to get a job, but rather, that for those of us who can afford to be non-transactional about our career choices, it is disappointing when we barely clear that bar. Time and time again I talk to people who feel like they are in a job that affords them a life they’re looking for but is ultimately divorced from any true professional/personal development goals they have. Over time they find themselves disengaging from their work simply because it’s not serving anything beyond those basic transactional needs.

If we set such a low standard for our careers we will continue to find ourselves disappointed by them, which robs us of opportunities to truly serve others with the full extent of our skills while simultaneously finding professional environments that foster our growth. If more of us approached our jobs with these aspirations it would in turn raise the quality of work across the board.

At Managerie we aspire to do just that. And we know we’re not alone in that journey. So if you’re interested in how we’re changing things, sign up to get started.