We All Win When We Stop Competing
In an industry built on collaboration, it’s strange how isolating the job search can feel. We whisper about openings. We hesitate to share leads. We measure our worth by proximity to the offer. And sometimes, in trying to secure our own future, we accidentally gatekeep someone else’s.
But here’s the truth I keep coming back to: sharing the job I applied for doesn’t mean I lose.
It means I trust there’s room for both of us.
It means I believe that generosity isn’t weakness. It’s leadership.
The Scarcity Mindset Doesn’t Serve Us
It’s tempting to believe that jobs are limited and that every opportunity is a zero-sum game. That belief can sneak in quietly, especially when we’re tired, discouraged, or feeling behind. I can absolutely relate to this feeling. But underneath that mindset is a quiet fear: that there’s not enough to go around.
Still, we know better. Especially those of us who work in teams, lead from backstage, and work diligently to build trust with our collaborators. We’ve seen what’s possible when people show up for each other.
- Competition might sharpen our edges. Generosity strengthens our networks.
- If I only succeed by being the last one standing, then I’ve missed the point of working in a people-first profession.
- There is no real solidarity in silence. When we don’t share, we shrink the possibility of what our industry could be.
A Rising Tide Doesn’t Just Lift Boats, It Builds Bridges
Some of the best opportunities I’ve ever had came through someone else’s generosity — a shared lead, a recommendation, a nudge. That kind of support isn’t just nice. It’s transformative. It shifts our idea of success from “me first” to “us, together.”
We’re not just applying for jobs. We’re shaping the kind of industry we want to work in. One where collaboration doesn’t stop at the rehearsal room door.
- When I share an opening, it’s not a flex or a favor. It’s an act of faith in the people I admire.
- I don’t want to be the only one in the room. I want to be surrounded by people I trust to lead, adapt, and create with care.
- Every time we lift each other up, we rewrite the rules. We remind the industry that behind the scenes doesn’t mean invisible.
Support Is the New Strategy
This work is personal. And when something is personal, it’s easy to feel protective, even competitive. But I’ve learned that when I choose to support someone else, it doesn’t take anything away from me. If anything, it deepens my connection to the work and to the people doing it beside me.
Support isn’t a fallback. It’s a strategy. One that makes all of us stronger.
Here are a few ways to practice it in real time:
- Share the job. Recommend the friend. Offer a second pair of eyes on their resume.
- Celebrate their win, even if it stings a little. The right fit is never a one-size role.
- Be the kind of leader who doesn’t just open doors. Hold them open long enough for someone else to walk through.Key Takeaways
- Generosity in the job search is not naïve. It’s a bold act of leadership.
- Sharing opportunities creates space for more ethical, inclusive, and human-centered work.
- When we support each other, we transform an industry shaped by scarcity into one led by connection.
We get to decide what kind of industry we build. Do you want to build one where we compete for scraps, or one where we create room for each other to thrive? Every job shared, every name passed along, every quiet act of support…it matters. Not just for who gets hired, but for who feels seen, trusted, and believed in.
Let’s be the kind of leaders who make space. Let’s choose generosity, even when it’s hard. Let’s keep reminding each other — we’re not in this alone.
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Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.
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