Attitude Counts!
While teaching one of my job search workshops recently, I heard myself say, “Goodness, jobs are really hard to come by! If you find something in your field of fascination that actually supports you and gives you what you need, you’ll be lucky!” Remember, I was speaking to a group of individuals that have many difficult barriers to begin with. Did they need me to make their situation any harder? But I did just that!
Upon reflection I discovered I needed to check in with MY OWN ATTITUDE! I was giving them one more barrier to add to the rest. I constantly remind my candidates to have a positive and constructive attitude but I have somehow fallen into some very destructive thinking. I also believe that attitudes affect others. Did I think I was exempt from the rule? Obviously!
Here’s what I’m doing differently:
- Stopped watching the ”doom and gloom“ news
- Searching the news for “good” news
- Discovering companies that ARE hiring
- Working with my candidates even harder to create stellar CV’s
- Spending more time helping my candidates use their networks
- Helping my candidates expand or create a network
- Began expanding and using MY network
- Became familiar with internet networking sites—yup I’m on FaceBook and LinkedIn. Join me!
I’m saying this is to remind you to check in with your own attitudes first when working with others. If you’re helping people prepare for the job search process in any fashion, your attitudes can be their biggest barrier!
Photo by Luis Argerich
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barriers, attitude, job, search
It’s hard not to feel down with all the bad news on the news! But your right, focusing on the negative will only create more. I hears someone say today that eventhough unemployment is high – employment is higher. And, people are getting hired everyday. Thanks for the reminder.
Dear Becky,
I absolutely loved your article on “Attitude Counts”! I have for years now, changed my unhealthy T.V. watching of the doom and gloom news and started reading uplifting, inspiring books! It has made a difference in how I respond to our customers on the phone.
Being a customer service manager for a Career Development company requires me to be upbeat, real and ready to hear just about anything our customers may want to share. Just the other day, I had a customer who is a state employee call and say he was really upset about losing 2 days a month without pay and didn’t know what he was going to do because this was going to hurt him financially.
I could hear his despair in his voice and so I asked him if he were willing to “see” it another way? He said, sure. I then asked him if there was anything he’s wanted to do but just haven’t had the time? He said, yes. I’ve always wanted to teach my own class on career development. Well I said, now you have the time! Start brainstorming ways to use these two days to do what you’ve always wanted to do! Needless to say, he felt lifted up from the phone call and is currently on his way!
YES Becky, I agree, our own attitude counts!!!
Sincerely,
Vicki