Stop dating your employer

Somewhere along the way, we were sold a fairytale, that work should be our true calling, our one true love, the thing that sets our soul on fire every day.

Cute story. Completely unrealistic.

Like a princess waiting for Prince Charming, too many professionals are holding out for the perfect job — the one that will “fulfil them completely”, never ask too much, and always reward their loyalty.

But like relationships, they don’t work that way.

There’s no magical “happily ever after” where you ride off into career bliss with a laptop and a latte. Even the best jobs need effort, compromise, and a reality check about what makes work fulfilling in the long run.

I’ve never helped a client “find the one”.

Because honestly? The one doesn’t exist.

What I do help them find is a healthy partnership — where the employer and employee actually respect each other, share values, and grow together (without the gaslighting, thanks).

Mutual Benefit, Not Blind Devotion

A healthy relationship is a two-way street.

You bring your skills, they bring fair pay, respect, and opportunities. If you’re constantly giving and getting crumbs in return?

That’s not love — that’s exploitation.

It Takes Work to Find the Right Fit

The right job isn’t always love at first sight.

Sometimes you need a few “bad dates” (aka dodgy jobs) to figure out what you actually want. It’s not failure — it’s field research.

Passion Fades, Purpose Stays

That honeymoon phase, the one where everything feels new and exciting, eventually fades.

What sustains a career isn’t fireworks; it’s trust, respect, and shared goals.

So don’t chase the job that makes your heart race. Chase the one that helps you grow.

Keep Investing in Yourself

Strong relationships take effort, so do great careers.

Communicate, build trust, keep learning.

Upskill, reskill, re-whatever-it-takes. Because the minute you stop investing in yourself, the relationship stagnates. I promise, I’ve 100% made this mistake!

Not Every Job Is Forever — and That’s Fine

Some jobs are stepping stones, not soulmates.

They still matter. Every role teaches you something, even the terrible ones. Actually, ESPECIALLY the terrible ones.

So maybe the secret isn’t to fall in love with your job, it’s to build a career that respects you back.

What do you think?

Have you ever fallen for the “dream job” myth?

Hit reply and tell me your story.

~Lisa

Your Q&A

MS Teams & Pre-Written Answers

This question comes from a client in my job searching membership, who asked a great question about notes for MS Teams interviews. I wanted to share it because it’s something I answer a lot.

The guts of the question is this:

Is it okay to have an interview prep document open in MSTeam side by side that I can refer to now and then?

In this case, the client is going for a Government interview, where the questions will be dropped 15 minutes before the interview.

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Hi Awesome Client,

That’s entirely up to you if you have the document on a separate screen.

I’m not against it because if you were going for the interview in person, you’d be given the questions 15 minutes before in a room.

You’d make notes on the A4 page they give you and take that into the interview. You’d then refer to your notes in the interview — but obviously, they’re quick notes to keep you on track with your answers.

You’d be looking at the panel as you deliver your response, but it’s fine to glance down at your notes to prompt you if you’ve missed something.

That said, the panel won’t be impressed if they see you holding back on delivering your answer to scroll for a fully written response, or if you read word-for-word from a script.

You’re meant to know your stories in advance — the notes are just there to help you deliver them smoothly and confidently.

Delivering an interview via MS Teams actually takes more effort than in person because you lose body language and physical energy.

You need to work harder on maintaining connection—looking into the camera, keeping your hands visible, framing your upper torso, and ensuring good lighting and a clear background.

You can leverage ChatGPT in the 15 minutes before the interview by giving it the questions along with your interview prep document.

It can do the heavy lifting of pulling together concise prompts you can refer to during the interview.

In fact, if you want to do this, I’d suggest testing it in advance.

Take five practice questions from your interview prep document, include your full written answers, and ask ChatGPT something like:

“Condense these into clear, conversational bullet points I can use as interview prompts.”

That way, you can refine the format and see which summary style you prefer. Once you find a version that feels natural, you’ll have a ready-made system for the morning of your interview.

Thanks for writing in.

~Lisa​