Lessons from the Coast

One afternoon I was taking a break and watching the brown pelicans dive for bait.

As I watched this one particular pelican, it was fascinating. He was laser focused on finding his prey and once spotted, he immediately dove down using his big mouth to scoop up what I assume was bait fish.

What was intriguing to me is to see how focused he was, how precise and intentional the dive was – he remained honed in on the task not allowing anything to distract him.

This got me thinking about you in your job search.

And what struck me wasn’t just the pelican’s focus—it was his restraint. He didn’t dive repeatedly or impulsively. He waited. He watched. And when the moment was right, he committed fully and decisively. No second‑guessing. No half‑dives.

That’s what this job market is asking of people right now.

Opportunities are fewer and decisions take longer, which means success isn’t about constant action—it’s about intentional action. Being clear on what you’re targeting. Knowing the value you bring. And having the discipline to wait for roles that truly align instead of chasing every possibility out of fear or urgency.

The people who are landing well aren’t doing more—they’re doing things with purpose. They’re prepared when the right opportunity appears, and when it does, they move with confidence.

Just pop into any job seeker’s support group or Career Services professionals event – Strategy + Intention + Purpose are the things that are moving the needle right now.

So my question to you is…who are you reconnecting with? How are you expanding your network? Need networking ideas or a solid game plan? Reach out. I can help.