Messy, Unprofessional Emails

Last week, I got an email that looked like this:

“Hey!!! Guess what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Omg, I can’t even be calm because I’m so excited!!! I applied last week to two different job openings with a company. They loved my resume and want to interview me for both positions!! Do you know how excited I am? lol!!! I couldn’t wait to tell you!!! Omg!!! Does Linda closet have anything new?! Could I come by? Also could you help me prep for my interview before the 12th? Super excited you!!! I look forward to hearing from you!!”

As a career coach, those are my absolute favorite emails to receive. After working with our participants, I love having the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and success. I love that they want to share these victories with me. I love spending time with them in Linda’s Closet as they search for the perfect interview outfit or find clothes to wear to their new job. I love receiving the messy, unprofessional, but extremely joyful emails.

I’m grateful because I get emails like this after an awesome experience job shadowing or after a speed mentoring event. I’m grateful because I get text messages after spending an hour in Linda’s Closet shopping for just the right blouse. I’m grateful because I get phone calls after connecting a participant to a professional in the community for coffee. I’m grateful because people invest in our participants.

If you have donated to Linda’s Closet, thank you. If you have volunteered for speed mentoring, thank you. If you have been shadowed by one of our participants at work, thank you. If you have looked over a resume or conducted a mock interview, thank you. Thank you for the investments you’ve made in our participants that allow me to receive emails, phone calls, and text messages filled with pride and joy.

As we head into Thanksgiving and the holiday season, what are you thankful for?