Trouble getting hired? It Might Be How You’re Naming Yourself

Why Isn’t Anything Working?

“I’ve applied to every job. Nothing’s working.”

That’s what Monica told me on our call. She’s a creative and resilient entrepreneur who launched a thriving Etsy business in 2013. Her shop weathered the pandemic. But now? Sales have plummeted. She’s tired. Burned out. And unsure of what’s next.

She reached out not because she lacked experience—but because she was hitting a wall. Despite all her effort, doors weren’t opening. Sound familiar?

If you’re struggling to get hired, you might think the problem is your resume, your skills, or the job market.

But what if the issue isn’t you—it’s how you’re naming yourself?

Vague Descriptions Don’t Open Doors

When I asked Monica to describe herself, she said,
“I’m really outgoing. I’m a great communicator.”

I replied, “That’s how you work. But who are you when you do that work? Say an ‘I am’ statement.”

She thought for a moment.
“I am a problem solver and a fixer.”

That’s a start—but it’s too broad to be useful. I asked, “Could you solve a healthcare crisis or an engineering challenge?”

She laughed and said, “No—I work in elder care.”

Exactly.

That was the breakthrough.

The Real Reason People Can’t Help You

When we speak in generalities, we leave others confused—even if they want to help.

Monica thought she was being clear. But her statements didn’t reveal her specific value. If I were a hiring manager or a networking contact, I wouldn’t know what to do with her.

And then she said something I hear all the time:
“Well, that’s just one part of me. I can do so much more—it’s just hard to explain. It’s overwhelming.”

So I told her the truth:
If it’s overwhelming to you, it’s going to be overwhelming to me.
You have to make sense of yourself first before anyone else can.

The Hidden Key: Professional Identity

This is where my work begins. I help people clarify their multiple professional identities. And if they are what I call a hybrid professional—someone whose identities truly integrate—I help them name and articulate that hybridity.

But not everyone is a hybrid. That’s why I always start with assessment. Some people have singular or multiple identities that remain distinct—and that’s okay.

The mistake comes when we use blanket labels like “strategic thinker,” “leader,” or “problem solver” without context. These labels are not wrong—but they’re not specific. They don’t help you stand out. They don’t tell me where you fit or what you bring.

If You're Not Getting Hired, Ask Yourself This

You are not “just” a problem solver.
You are not “just” a communicator.
You are something more—but only if you know how to say it.

If your job applications are falling flat…
If people can’t refer or recommend you…
If you feel invisible in the job market…

It might be the way you’re naming yourself.

Action Steps: Start Making Sense of Yourself

Try these five steps to begin naming your value more clearly:

1. Say an “I Am” Statement
   Not what you do, but who you are when you do it.
   Example: “I am a systems thinker who designs equitable care models.”

2. Get Specific About Your Strengths
   If you’re a “problem solver,” name the kinds of problems and the context where you solve them.

3. Identify Your Primary Professional Identities
   Write down 2-4 roles or lenses you use in your work (e.g. educator, strategist, storyteller, caregiver).

4. Explore the Intersections
   What happens when you combine those identities? That’s the potential key to your hybrid identity.

5. Test It Out Loud
   Share your new language with a trusted colleague or coach. If they get it and can repeat it back—you're on the right track.