10 Job Seeking Tips When Mercury is Retrograde

You may have heard something about Mercury retrograde and wondered what it is and what is does, and what to do and what not to do, or you may have even thought, “So what?”

If you are interested in finding a job or growing your career, see what to do when Mercury is retrograde, so you can make the most of every moment.

Planetary Energy

To make the best use of planetary energy it is all about going with the flow and that means taking the meaning of the planet and noticing if it is holding up a “stop” or “go” sign.

One example of planetary energy that you can see is the Moon and the tides.

The Moon pulls the waters of the Earth and creates two high tides and two low tides each day.

As each day moves on the times for the tides constantly changes. But every day there will be two incoming tides and two outgoing tides.

It is at the incoming tide that you can yell “Surf’s up!” and trot down to the beach to practice your surfing.

Well if you live on the coast and have a surf culture perhaps like in Hawaii, but you get the picture.

You can only surf when the tide is coming in.

There is no point in paddling out to hope to surf in if the tide is going out. Right?

About Mercury

Each year Mercury will be retrograde three times at around four-month intervals and for about three weeks each time.

Each year the dates are different.

You can find the exact dates when Mercury will be retrograde for the next few years below.

You can mark these dates in your calendar now and lock out this special time.

About Retrogrades

Apparent retrograde is the optical illusion of something going backward and in this case, it is the planet, Mercury.

Imagine you are on a train and moving along at a fair pace then suddenly you come upon another train on the next track.

The other train is going slower than you are so your train overtakes it but the other train seems to be going backward.

Both trains are driving forward but one seems to be going in reverse. That is the illusion of retrogradation.

That a planet is retrograde can be interpreted as a time to change the pace and adjust your approach to things.

When a planet is not retrograde it is direct.

Mercury’s Retrograde Periods for 2023

During January 1st to 17th from 23° Capricorn to 8° Capricorn.

During April 21st to May 15th from 15° Taurus to 5° Taurus.

During August 23rd to September 15th from 21° Virgo to 8° Virgo.

During December 13th to 31st from 8° Capricorn to 22° Sagittarius.

Mercury Retrograde Element Focus

This year Mercury’s retrograde signs are in mainly Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) and then it starts to slip back into the Fire signs (Sagittarius, Aries and Leo).

Mercury Rules

Every planet rules different things in life.

Mercury rules communication, writing, signing, meetings, learning, schools, trading, auctions, merchants, agents and middlemen.

In everyday life, this means all your shopping, buying and selling, texts, phone calls, emails and general chatting, as well as gossip, comes under Mercury’s influence.

In the workplace, Mercury covers resumes, recruiters, interviews (by phone and in person).

It also is concerned with paperwork and anything you sign, like a job offer.

Mercury Retrograde Sequence

There is a sequence in each retrograde cycle and five main parts:

1. Mercury enters the pre-shadow period of about ten days before the actual retrograde starts.
2. Mercury stations retrograde.
3. The retrograde period itself, usually 3 weeks.
4. Mercury stations direct.
5. The after-shadow time of about a week and a half after Mercury has been retrograde.

Phew.

Before Mercury goes retrograde (and is direct) do the following:

• Write your resume crafted for each specific job

• Compose targeted cover letters

• Apply for jobs via email and snail mail

• Call companies on the phone

• Reach out to your contact list and tell them you are looking for work

• Take the initiative to let your family, friends, and others know you are searching for a new job

• Start a short course on something you need in your job to build your marketable skills

• Join professional societies and attend Meetups in your field

• Create and develop your LinkedIn profile

• Accept initial interviews

• Sign job offers

All of the above should be done when Mercury is not retrograde and preferably not in its shadow period.

Recruiters

Companies usually act in good faith when they place an advert for an opening in their business.

The effect of Mercury retrograde changes the terms or the agreement and thus they may no longer need the person that they were originally looking for when Mercury was retrograde.

This cuts both ways for people looking for work and recruiters.

Companies and career consultants are better off only placing vacancy adverts when Mercury is direct and communications are clear.

If a recruiter seeks a candidate during the retrograde period they will have to spend three times as long emailing back and forth and interviewing people that cancel and can’t make it for whatever reason.

All of this time-consuming effort is due to the Mercury retrograde effect which impacts communications, trade, and agency.

Author Bio

Alison encourages you to explore your unique creativity and live a satisfying life through your personal astrology. She offers her insights from the heart and with a sense of humor.

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