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 Upcoming Retrograde Periods
2024
During April 1st to 25th from 27° Aries to 15° Aries.
During August 5th to August 28th from 4° Virgo to 21° Leo.
During November 26th to December 15th from 22° Sagittarius to 6° Sagittarius.
Mercury Retrograde Element Focus
Mercury’s current retrograde signs are mainly the Fire signs (Sagittarius, Aries and Leo) for 2024.
Mercury Rules
Communication
Every planet rules different things in life. Mercury rules communication, writing, signing, meetings, learning, schools, trading, auctions, merchants, agents and middlemen.
Trade
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.
Workplace
In the workplace, Mercury covers resumes, recruiters, interviews (by phone and in person). Mercury can influence your LinkedIn profile although Saturn has a lot to say about that as well.
Paperwork
Mercury also is concerned with paperwork and anything you sign, like a job offer. It is also concerned with the fine print which during a retrograde period is more of a focus and you should read it all.
Mercury Retrograde Sequence
There is a sequence in each retrograde cycle and five main parts:
- Mercury enters the pre-shadow period of about ten days before the actual retrograde starts.
- Mercury stations retrograde.
- The retrograde period itself, usually 3 weeks.
- Mercury stations direct.
- The after-shadow time of about a week and a half after Mercury has been retrograde.
Phew.
Before Mercury goes Retrograde
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.
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Mercury Retrograde
When Mercury is retrograde do the following:
- Revise your resume.
- Refresh any cover letters.
- Get your filing up to date of jobs for which you have already applied.
- Write a list of companies and people with whom to follow up and contact them again.
- Research current thinking in your industry.
- Set up alerts for leads.
- Schedule second interviews (phone and in person).
- Review job offers.
- Prepare your paperwork for jobs you plan to apply for after Mercury is retrograde as you wait for it to go direct.
Revisit projects
During Mercury retrograde periods you can follow up and work on things that you have already done when Mercury was direct.
Don’t start new things when Mercury is retrograde because if you do, they will most likely be reversed when Mercury goes direct.
Sometimes you have no choice because a job advert or interview comes up when Mercury is retrograde and you need a job so you have to go. In these instances be aware that the terms will change.
As Mercury goes direct after the retrograde period, and if you did apply for a job or had an interview during the retrograde time, you can expect to return again and again for further interviews, or the job itself is shelved, or the job is morphed into something else altogether.
When Mercury is retrograde, avoid starting new things because if you do, you will have to review them later as Mercury goes direct.
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 who cancel and can’t make it to the interview for whatever reason.
All of this time-consuming effort is due to the Mercury retrograde effect which impacts communications, trade and agency.
Read more >>> Mercury
Read more >>> What Each Sign wants in the Workplace
Read more >>> How to Find a Job With The Sun in Astrology
Author Bio
Alison Price: Astrology Coach
Alison wants to help you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor.
Learn more about Alison’s journey.
If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.
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