Your job search is often a reflection by how you see the world of work. Landing a good job can be a mixture of timing and the ability to take action.
We all have heard the way we view a situation described as seeing the glass ashalf empty versus half full . As with both views there is a pendulum that swings to the extremes, either side has its blind spots. The key is to have a healthy approach when facing change and know when you are walking on the extreme side.
A tight job market can influence the best attitudes. The view you choose can make your search feel productive or leave you hoping you never have to job search again.
A job search can be loaded with opportunities or barriers depending on how you view it.
Anyone who has been on the hiring side of the table knows how important it is to select a candidate with a positive outlook. With the number of hours devoted to the workplace, employers tend to gravitate toward the job candidate who displays a can-do attitude rather than the one who focuses on the problems.
Job searching through a pessimistic lens can be draining and keeps you from taking the necessary risks. In addition, an optimistic attitude is attractive and related to good health. In fact, a number of studies indicate an optimist usually has fewer illnesses, and when they do become ill, they recover at a faster rate.
What you visualize often happens. Think of the power of the visualization an athlete goes through before competing. The same visualization basically happens with a job seeker: How they view themselves during the interview or when meeting others while networking often occurs in life.
Whether you choose to be an optimistic or a pessimistic job seeker, keep in mind that your view most likely will influence how others receive you.
Try this for an experiment, over the next week, pay attention to how you view your job-search goals. Do you keep an open mind to possibilities or close the door to all the barriers you must overcome?
How can you tell if you are an optimist or a pessimist?
Usually an optimist will view the job search process as a series of opportunities, taking the search in stride by being adaptable to changes that are unpredictable, seeing rejection as an opportunity to learn and increase their job-search skills.
A pessimist will tend to view the job-search process as a series of failures, with each rejection a confirmation they lack the skills necessary to be hired. They often compare themselves to others and focus on what they don’t have instead of what they can contribute. In an interview, a pessimist will tell you what they can’t do for you rather than what they have to offer.
