26 November 2025 From Doing to Being: reflections to change perspective in the job search
From Doing to Being: two focuses in the job search
How to career coach I find myself helping people in their job search and often, in our work together, it emerges that in order to achieve more results it is important to try to change perspective, shifting the focus from 'doing' to 'being'.
Often in fact, the initial focus is on the object, the 'what' - what I can do, what skills I have, what job or company I am looking for. Yet, there is a very important question, often overlooked because it is uncomfortable, that concerns the subject, the person, and that question is: "Who do I want to be?"
It is not just about looking for a job to fill a (new) role. It is also, and above all, a unique opportunity to (re)define the person you want to become, aligning your deepest values and aspirations with the career path to be taken.
Why do we avoid the question "Who do I want to be?"
If it were simple, we would all constantly ask ourselves this question.
The reality is that reflecting on "Who do I want to be?" is an exercise that requires time, vulnerability and a considerable amount of mental effort. But why is it so difficult to go into this introspection?
Here are some of the most common reasons:
Fear of the unknown
Often, familiarity, even if uncomfortable, seems safer to us than the uncertainty of precisely defining a professionalism that may require radical changes. Questioning our deep-rooted beliefs about work and identity can be really frightening.
Social pressures and stereotypes
The influence of predefined models of success is strong and constant. Instead of questioning who we want to be, we tend to conform to what we think we 'should' be, based on the expectations of society, family and friends.
Freeing oneself from these pressures requires genuine courage.
Lack of introspection tools
The education system prepares us to 'act' and 'do', not to understand our own identity, our own 'being'.
Without expert guidance and specific tools, this type of reflection can appear like a labyrinth with no exit.
The call of immediate pragmatism
In the competitive labour market in which we find ourselves, it is all too easy to fall into the trap of 'I just have to find a job, any job'. The immediate need for stability can cloud the long-term vision, leading us to sacrifice authenticity for speed, without thinking that both visions can be planned, with patience and foresight.
Continuous, not occasional commitment
"Who I want to be" is not a question that is answered once and for all. It is a dynamic process that evolves with our experiences and maturity.
Keeping this quest and desire for evolution alive requires constant commitment and a growth mindset.
Who I want to be: my future impact at work
Expressing who you want to be means articulating your future impact, showing your mindset, your values, your approach to work.
To do this, it is necessary to reflect on the deep motivation that drives the way you work and interact when you are at work.
Some questions that may help with the reflections are, for example:
- What are the things that particularly characterise you as a person in your work that you want to make known when you introduce yourself?
- What behaviours in performing a task come naturally to you?
Some examples of answers to such questions may highlight the propensity to control and create order and stability, or the desire to innovate and build something new, or the ability to improve particular and specific aspects of detail.
Don't worry if the answers to the questions don't come right away because surfacing information that is meaningful to you takes time and calm.
In addition, you will find that the moment you can clearly express who you want to be in the job, it will also become easier to identify the type of job that is most suitable for you.
Conclusion: how to change your perspective, to transform your job search
Answering the question "Who do I want to be?" with clarity and authenticity, although it may require commitment and courage, will change your energy and commitment in your job search.
The answer to this question influences the entire direction of your professional development and your level of personal fulfilment.
Start changing your perspective in your job search today with a coaching programme, customised to your needs.
What is the first small, but significant, step you will take to start answering this decisive question?
"Your courage is the key to success"
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