This is Find Your Dream Job, the podcast that helps you get hired, have the career you want, and make a difference in life.

I'm your host, Mack Pritchard. I'm also the founder of Max List.

It's a job board in the Pacific Northwest that helps you find a fulfilling career.

Every Wednesday, I talk to a different expert about the tools you need to get the work you want.

Do you let the openings you see on job boards drive how you look for work?

Step away from the computer, says today's guest.

A better approach is to know your purpose and your strengths and reach out to your community.

Hayden Iverson Todd is here to talk about how to do an intentional job search.

She's an assistant director of career and

fellowship advising at Reed College. It's a private liberal arts school in the Pacific Northwest.

Hayden joins us from Portland, Oregon. Well, let's get going, Hayden. Let's start with

intentional job search. What do you mean when you talk about an intentional job search?

The biggest thing that I mean when I think about an intentional job search is really taking a second to pause and think and plan about how you want to approach your job search before you start applying to jobs.

Oftentimes when I'm talking to students or other

job seekers, one of the biggest things that I hear is, I just need a job. And that really drives the job

search rather than taking a step back, creating a plan that is personalized and intentional and is really

going to be the roadmap for their job

search process. Why is it important to do this, Hayden, to step back and create that plan?

Why not just start sending out applications? I really think that one thing that can get lost in the

job search process, particularly the stress of a job

search process, oftentimes we're searching because we don't like the job that we're currently in,

or for students, it's because you're getting ready to graduate, or you feel like you need

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