Most leaders in transition default to candidate mode without even realizing it.
And it doesn’t work because candidate energy is a losing game. It’s needy, deferential, and desperate. Mindset is everything. Here are the 9 core attitudes that will have you show up throughout your job search like the seasoned leader you are, and land faster.
The builder’s attitude
You’re not waiting for luck or recruiters. You’re building something that will outlast this phase: relationships, visibility, clarity, purpose.
The long-game attitude
You take the pressure off. You stop chasing instant wins and remain calm, consistent, and strategic, when the alternative is to operate in emergency mode, scattered and restless.
The ownership attitude
You’re the CEO of this transition. You design the roadmap, set the milestones, and own the outcomes. Even the working hours and your vacation time! You don’t need permission from anyone.
The learning attitude
You prototype your story, your outreach, and your positioning. You treat each step like a test, not a final exam. And you improve at each iteration.
The confidence attitude
This is not your first complex project. You’ve turned around messy situations before, now you’re doing it for yourself.
The designer’s attitude
You don’t just want a job, you want the right environment.
You choose conversations and opportunities that align with your energy, values, and purpose.
The abundance attitude
Needy is creepy, and pushes people away. When you network from a place of giving or exchanging, you become the kind of person others want to talk to.
The investor’s attitude
You’ve invested in your teams, your companies, your projects. Now it’s time to invest in the asset that matters most: you. You understand ROI: the right support, structure, or community doesn’t just make the transition more pleasant (and that’s already a lot), it makes it faster.
The tribe attitude
Transition is not a solo sport. The people who move fastest are the ones who surround themselves with peers who challenge them, refuse to let them play small, and help them sustain momentum.
These 9 attitudes are what we build into you at Spark.
Spark is a 10-week program that helps leaders accelerate their transition by shifting from Candidate mode to CEO mode. The next cohort starts December 11.
