Introduction
Today's career landscape feels more uncertain and fast-changing than ever.
Layoffs, automation, economic pressures, and shifting work environments mean that staying stagnant isn't an option.
You need more than just technical skills to succeed. You need self-awareness, adaptability, and genuine human connection.
On a recent episode of the Ramped Podcast, Chris Schembra, connection expert and bestselling author, shared profound insights into what it truly takes to thrive in both life and work. Through his work with global companies, Chris emphasizes the power of presence, emotional honesty, gratitude, and building meaningful relationships.
In this article, we explore the most powerful takeaways from that conversation—and how you can apply them immediately to your career.
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The Power of Self-Awareness in Career Growth
Self-awareness isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the foundation for every meaningful career decision you will ever make.
Chris shared a simple but powerful exercise:
Ask yourself in any moment, “What’s one word that honestly describes how I feel right now?”
Leaders who consistently check in with their own emotions—and encourage their teams to do the same—build workplaces that are more resilient, empathetic, and effective.
For job seekers and professionals alike, this self-awareness practice has critical benefits:
- It helps you make better career decisions that align with your true values.
- It improves emotional intelligence, making you a better teammate and leader.
- It fosters authenticity, which is increasingly valued in today's workplace.
Ignoring your emotions leads to burnout, poor decisions, and disconnection.
Tuning into your inner state leads to alignment, energy, and clarity.
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Adaptability: Your Secret Weapon for Uncertain Times
The only constant in today’s workplace is change.
Economic conditions shift. Technologies emerge. Industries rise and fall.
Adaptability has become one of the most important skills any professional can build.
Chris emphasized that instead of obsessing over rigid five- or ten-year plans, successful individuals focus on adaptability and presence:
- Stay anchored in today: Focus on doing great work now rather than constantly chasing a far-off future.
- Stay curious: Treat change as an opportunity to learn and grow, not as a threat.
- Stay agile: Be willing to pivot if new opportunities emerge that better align with your skills and passions.
Adaptability isn’t passive acceptance. It’s an active, dynamic choice to meet reality as it is—and to respond with creativity and resilience.
If you’re looking to shift industries, change roles, or step up in your career, your adaptability will be your greatest asset.
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Building Deep, Genuine Connections
In a world where technology often drives superficial interactions, genuine human connection has become a true differentiator.
Chris’s work centers around creating spaces for deep, vulnerable sharing—where people move beyond small talk to real emotional connection.
In a career context, here’s what that looks like:
- Ask thoughtful questions: Go deeper than the usual “How’s it going?” Ask, “What’s something exciting you’re working on right now?” or “What’s been your biggest win this week?”
- Practice active listening: Mirror, label emotions, and ask "what" or "how" questions to show genuine curiosity.
- Express gratitude: A simple, sincere thank-you can build trust faster than any networking hack.
The best career opportunities often come from relationships, not job boards.
And the best relationships are built on mutual respect, shared values, and authentic conversation.
For job seekers feeling discouraged, investing in relationship-building might just be the game-changer you need.
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Authentic Storytelling: How to Truly Stand Out
In interviews, in networking, and in professional branding, authenticity wins.
People can tell when you're reciting a script versus when you're genuinely sharing who you are.
Chris encouraged everyone to practice telling their story not through the lens of "achievement" but through the lens of "human journey."
Tips for authentic storytelling:
- Own your struggles: Challenges you’ve faced often make you more relatable, not less.
- Share the “why” behind your career choices: Let people understand your motivations.
- Be vulnerable when appropriate: Showing real emotion (without oversharing) builds connection.
When you tell your authentic story, you give others a reason to remember you—and a reason to root for your success.
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Shifting from Scarcity to Abundance Thinking
Job seekers often operate from a mindset of scarcity:
“I have to get THIS job, or else…”
“There aren’t enough good opportunities…”
“If I don’t hear back, I must have failed…”
Chris challenged this mindset, reminding us that abundance is real, even if it’s not always visible right away.
Shifting from scarcity to abundance thinking means:
- Trusting that the right opportunities will find you if you stay aligned with your strengths and purpose.
- Understanding that rejection isn’t personal—it’s part of the process.
- Believing that there is enough room for your success and the success of others.
An abundance mindset doesn’t mean being naive. It means being resilient, open, and future-focused.
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Using Gratitude as a Career Advantage
Gratitude isn’t just for personal life.
It’s a career superpower.
Chris’s entire approach to connection is built on gratitude:
- Gratitude for colleagues who support you.
- Gratitude for mentors who guide you.
- Gratitude for opportunities—even the ones that didn’t work out.
Practicing gratitude in your career does three things:
- Strengthens relationships: People naturally want to work with those who appreciate them.
- Boosts your own mental resilience: Focusing on what’s going well keeps you positive and proactive.
- Attracts opportunity: Positive energy opens doors in surprising ways.
Simple gratitude habits like sending thank-you notes, publicly acknowledging teammates, and celebrating small wins can dramatically improve your career trajectory.
Want to hear how gratitude transformed one major company's internship program? Listen to the full Ramped Podcast with Chris Schembra here!
Practical Tips for Navigating Career Uncertainty
To wrap up, here are tactical moves you can make today based on Chris's insights:
- Start your day with a one-word emotional check-in: Builds self-awareness and presence.
- Reach out to one professional contact each week with a genuine thank-you or compliment: Strengthens your network meaningfully.
- Apply gratitude before anxiety: Before stressing about an interview, write down three things you're grateful for.
- Practice active listening in your next networking conversation: Mirror, label emotions, ask “what” or “how” questions.
- Celebrate micro-wins: Every application sent, every conversation had, every insight gained is a win.
Building a career isn’t about one giant moment.
It’s about thousands of tiny choices that, over time, build momentum, trust, and opportunity.
Stay anchored. Stay curious. Stay connected.
Conclusion
In an era of rapid change, emotional overload, and constant noise, the professionals who succeed aren’t always the smartest, the most talented, or the most experienced.
They are the ones who:
- Know themselves deeply.
- Adapt with resilience.
- Build authentic, trust-based relationships.
- Tell real stories.
- Operate from gratitude, not fear.
Your career is not a single destination. It’s a lifelong practice of learning, connecting, and growing.
Every decision you make to be more present, more authentic, and more grateful puts you one step closer to a career—and a life—full of meaning and fulfillment.
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Things You Need While Searching for a Job
Once you are armed with the knowledge about what kind of job will make you happy, there are core things to get lined up for a job search. Let's look at a few.
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What to Look for in a Job
Fun fact, most people will have about 12 different jobs in their working lifetime. This goes to show that finding a job that you love enough to hang onto takes some forethought and possibly a bit of trial and error. Just the same, you can make some plans in advance, helping you land in a position that leaves you perfectly content. Check out a few things to look for when looking for that perfect job.
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