The first in a series of poems with Interviewing & Career Lessons in Rhyme by Lynn Ste. Marie.

Enjoy!

John’s path had shown an upward climb,
His loyalty, abundant.
What did he reap for all that toil?
His job was made redundant.

“It isn’t anything you did,”
His boss said and repeated.
“We just cannot afford you now.
Our company’s depleted.”

You may be in a state of shock
And understand John’s fate
If after years of working hard,
A cutback sealed your fate.

We all know that this happens now.
It’s common in our time.
Careers are being thrown in flux,
Derailed in someone’s prime.

What of this unexpected turn?
Can you begin again?
You can, of course. Life just may be
Quite different than it’s been.

Your job search is your job right now.
There is no magic fix
To opening another door.
I don’t have any tricks.

What I do have is empathy
For how you may be feeling.
I’ve heard this story many times.
I know it leaves you reeling.

It’s now the time to realize
That every race is won,
Not by sheer luck or skill or fate,
But through the work you’ve done.

If you’re like John, the path you’ve had
Points not due south, but north.
Though things may change, the constant is
Your vision going forth. 

Make your own list right now of all
That brought you up that hill.
If you can’t see just what it was,
Ask those you love.  They will.

How do I know?  Because I’ve made
A list just like this one
At times in life when I had thought
My climb was all but done.

It may seem like a simple thing
But what they say is true:
The past predicts the future best,
So find the best in you.

John also made just such a list.
He called me and I said,
“John, think about what carried you.
Success still lies ahead.”

He’s back on track and heading north
Ascending a new hill.
He’d climbed before, and claimed, “I can,”
But John now says, “I will.”

He followed up last week and said,
“You know that word “redundant”?
It was a lie.  I’ve never been.”  
John’s redefined ”abundant”.

Lynn’s Tip:  Make a list this week of your virtues, skills and traits and how they might transfer to a new position.