Try It and See: How to Get Out of Your Own Way in Your Job Search

Here's something I've been thinking about a lot this month.

In June, I led a 2-hour presentation at an industry conference. I went to an in-person content creation session with people I'd never met. I watched a recording of myself on a panel and (genuinely shocking development) did not immediately want to move to another continent or the bottom of the ocean.

None of those things felt comfortable before I did them. All of them turned out to be fine. Most of them were actually kind of great.

And every single one of them started with the same decision: try it and see.

“Try it and see” is the vibe I chose for myself in January this year. Instead of doing a New Year’s resolution or picking a word, I picked “try it and see.” I’m pleased to say that I haven’t forgotten about it and it has done me well so far—and we’re nearly halfway through the year!

What I’ve learned is that it isn’t just a personal growth motto that you can cross-stitch onto a pillow. It’s actually one of the most practical approaches you can take to a career, job search, or any area of your life that’s become stagnant. If you’ve been stuck, spinning, or quietly convinced that nothing is going to work out in your favour, I want to make a case for you to just try it and see!

What "try it and see" looks like in a job search

It does not mean throwing everything at the wall and hoping something sticks. I sometimes have a hard time taking action because of what might (or might not) happen afterwards. That’s where “try it and see” comes in. Make one small, intentional move and watch what happens instead of predicting it. You will have the opportunity to decide how to react once you take the first step.

Here are five places to start.

1. Apply for the role that feels like a stretch.

Not the one you're 100% qualified for on paper. The one where you meet most of the requirements, and your stomach does a little flip-flop when you read about the company and the job description because some part of you knows it's exactly where you want to be.

Apply anyway. Try it and see.

The worst that can happen is that you never hear back about your application, which is exactly what will happen if you don’t apply! The best thing that can happen is a conversation that changes your trajectory. The math on this is not complicated.

2. Update one section of your resume. Just one.

"Update my resume" is the kind of task that lives on a to-do list basically forever because it feels enormous. It's not enormous. It's a document. Break it into pieces and start with the section that bothers you most. Alternatively, start with something simple to gain some momentum, then go back and work on the bigger challenges.

Rewrite it. Read it out loud. See if it sounds like you. Try it and see.

3. Send the LinkedIn message you've been drafting in your head.

Connect with the person whose career you've been quietly admiring, the hiring manager at the company that’s piqued your interest, or the former colleague who might know someone.

You've probably rehearsed it approximately forty times and sent it zero times because, what if it's weird? Here's the truth: a genuine, warm, specific message is almost never weird. People like being reached out to thoughtfully. And, again. Worst case? You never hear back. Best case? It changes your life. Try it and see!

4. Say the title out loud.

Don’t keep your dreams to yourself. Make them a real part of your world. If you want to be a Director, say "I'm targeting Director-level roles" out loud. In a sentence. Whether anyone else is listening or not.

How does hearing it out loud feel? Notice if you immediately want to take it back and qualify it with "well, eventually" or "I think I might be ready." If there’s any hesitation, it means you have some work or learning to do. Your resume can't make the case for you if you haven't made it for yourself yet.

5. Talk to someone who's been on both sides of the hiring table.

Not to get a list of resume tips you could have googled. But to get a real read on what's likely working, what isn't, and what's actually standing between you and the interviews you're not getting. Sometimes the thing that's holding you back is obvious to someone outside your own head. Sometimes you just need someone to tell you that you're already ready, and your resume just hasn't caught up yet.

That's where I come in. Try it and see.

The part nobody talks about

"Try it and see" is uncomfortable because it removes the protection of not knowing. If you don’t try, you’ll never know. If you do try, you will get an answer.

As long as you haven't applied, you can still believe you would have gotten the interview. As long as you haven't updated your resume, you can tell yourself the old one is probably fine. As long as you haven't sent the message, you can assume they would have been interested.

Trying something means finding out. And finding out is scary, even when the answer is good!

But here's what I know from years of working with people at exactly this crossroads: the job search stalls not because people aren't qualified, but because they're waiting for certainty before they move. And certainty doesn't come before the move. It comes after.

You don't feel ready, and then try. You try and then find out you were ready.

So, what's the one thing you've been putting off?

Try it and see!

Gabe is a Nationally Certified Resume Writer, career strategist, and owner of Go-Getter Resumes, helping mid-career professionals get interviews for next-level roles without pretending to be someone they're not. Book a free Meet & Greet and let's figure out what's next.

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