Is Your Ego Getting in the Way of Your Job Search?

“…in lowliness of mind let each esteem
others better than themselves.”
– Philippians 2:3

Is it possible you might have an inflated ego and think more highly of yourself than you ought to?  We all need to consider this possibility. You may be surprised at the company you are in:

• Simon Peter, the apostle, whether he thought he was too good or not good enough to have Christ wash his feet in John 13:8, he thought he had a better idea, not only wash his feet, he wanted his whole body washed.
• James and John thought they were too good to be like the other apostles and were good enough to sit on Christ’s left and right hands in His Kingdom (Mark 10:35).
• Ananias and Sapphira thought they were too good to do as they said they would in giving to the needy, and so kept some for themselves (Acts 5).

These represent only a few of the people inflicted with the “thinking too highly” virus. It’s far too common, and that’s what compelled Paul to write the verse. And in so doing, he presents Christ as the model of one who was just the opposite, a servant leader.

The focus of a servant leader…

Servant leaders focus on what they can give, not what they can get. They focus on others, not themselves. They ask about needs and problems and how they can help address them, not so much on what benefits they will get for all their work.

Thinking too highly of yourself in a job search might look like the following:

• A disregard for feedback.
• A disregard for lower tiered positions.
• A disregard for lower paying positions.
• A disregard for the employer’s job requirements.
• A disregard for your support group.
• A disregard for new search techniques

What does this say about you?

In each of these, you are really saying you are too good to do what others do, what is required, what Scripture encourages, and stubbornly stand above it.

How are you doing in your view of yourself?  If Christ Himself took a position of humility, it’s a good model to follow.

Father of all humility, help me to have a realistic view of myself, not too high and not too low, but to see myself as You see me.

If you would like to explore working with a Christian centered Career Coach, Contact me for a no-obligation consultation and we can discuss your situation, what you would like to achieve, and structure your job search to fit your uniqueness.