Shakespearean quotes for Job Seekers

 By Mary Salvino, Career Management Coach

If you are a fan of Bill the Bard, a.k.a. William Shakespeare, and some of the more popular quotes from any number of his plays, you may find that some of the quotes listed below are particularly relevant for today’s job seeker.

1. "This above all; to thine own self be true." ~ Hamlet, Act III, Scene I.

Job Seeker:  Have you taken the time to properly assess what is important to you and why?

2. "Can one desire too much of a good thing?" ~ As You Like It, Act IV, Scene I.

Job Seeker: Are your expectations realistic?

3. "An honest tale speeds best, being plainly told." ~ King Richard III, Act IV, Scene IV.

Job Seeker: It is one thing to craft and disseminate an elegant message about yourself, it is quite another to create "facts" where none exist.

4. "I cannot tell what the dickens his name is." ~ The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act III, Scene II.

Job Seeker: How are you different, (and better), than those competing for the same opportunity?

5. "Nothing will come of nothing." ~ King Lear, Act I, Scene I.

Job Seeker: You cannot build a solid job search program until you have done your research – Plan the work, work the plan and know what measurable objectives you are trying to reach.  (These tips can also be applied once you have secured the job you want.)

6. "Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." ~ Macbeth, Act V, Scene V.

Job Seeker: Can anything be worse than being perceived as "signifying nothing"? Egad!

7. "Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast." ~ Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene III.

Job Seeker: Look and apply for opportunities with companies that can give you what you want and need in the long run.  Once you have your foot in the door, you can then work towards your ‘ideal job’. 

8. "Brevity is the soul of wit." ~ Hamlet, Act II, Scene II.

Job Seeker: Say it or do it.  (Talk is cheap.  Actions speak louder than words.  Add appropriate cliché here.)

9. "Of all base passions, fear is the most accursed." ~ King Henry the Sixth, Part I, Act V, Scene II.

Job Seeker: Measuring is frightening.  Measuring is also critical if your goal is the desire to learn and/or work successfully.

10. "I'll not budge an inch." ~ The Taming of the Shrew, Induction, Scene I.

Job Seeker:  Be cautious of what you demand or desire.

11. "Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." ~ Twelfth Night, Act II, Scene V.

Job Seeker: Keep going.  The mathematics of your journey’s success increase exponentially the longer you are working and moving towards your destination.

12. "Why, then the world's mine oyster." ~ The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act II, Scene II.

Job Seeker: Picking the career path that will put the most money in your pocket may not be what is best for you.  Think about choosing the opportunity that will help effect real change in the world around you. The world is your oyster if you choose to make it so.

How many of the quotes listed above resonate with you?  Do you have any to add? 

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Copyright © 2013, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved. Show you care and share this article with your colleagues, coworkers and friends. Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2013, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino. “Career Matters” is a blog authored by Mary Salvino, the Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. It is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future career opportunities. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please send an e-mail to Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca.