Purge

I was coaching a client recently who's on the job search for the first time in decades. He's had an incredible career. Strong results. Highly respected. And yet, he said something I hear more often than you'd think:

“I feel disconnected from this process.”

Not unqualified. Not unsure of what he’s done. Disconnected.

And as we talked, it became clear why.

The job search doesn't break people because they aren't trying hard enough. It breaks them because they're carrying too much that no longer serves them.

Old narratives

.Old job search rules.

A resume built to list tasks instead of communicating value.

A strategy that relies on volume instead of clarity.

And when you bring all of that into today's market, the process starts to feel foreign, even for high performers.

So here’s what I coach people to do first:

Stop adding more effort, and start purging what's outdated. Find your WHY.

Purge:

• the belief that you must meet 100% of the requirements

• the resume clutter that hides what actually makes you valuable

• the hesitation that keeps you invisible on your resume and in the interview

• the roles you’re chasing because they look good, pay well, have a good title, but don’t fit

• the version of your story that no longer reflects who you are now

  
  

Because the goal isn’t to convince someone you’re capable.

The goal is to position yourself as the right fit; clearly, confidently, and consistently.

And the same is true on the hiring side.

Companies don’t struggle because there’s no talent.

They struggle because they’re holding onto outdated hiring habits:

• job descriptions written for a role that doesn’t exist anymore

• interview processes that reward confidence over competence

• “unicorn” expectations that eliminate strong candidates

• systems designed to filter people out instead of identify potential

  
  

Whether you’re searching, hiring, or developing a team, momentum doesn’t come from piling more on.

It comes from clearing out what no longer fits. Purging is no longer just for your unwanted piles of paper, unwanted clothes, or unneeded knickknacks.

Let's turn a corner in 2026 and Vetta Insights is here to help you find your alignment - on both sides of the equation.

#JobSearch #Coaching #Growth #Hiring #Strategy #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment #VettaInsights