Attitude is Everything!

November 2002

Editor: Those of you who spend some time on the Internet probably know about a company called HireDeaf.com (www.hiredeaf.com), which promotes employment for people with hearing loss. James Kittell of HireDeaf.com has written a great article on attitude, and has generously allowed us to share it with you.

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After sending out numerous resumes without a response, it is easy for job seekers to feel hopeless and rejected. However, during these uncertain economic times, a positive attitude may be the most important tool for success in a job search.

The concept is simple. Remain confident, focused and steadfast in your journey towards success and you will begin to get a clearer view of the light at the end of the tunnel. It is important to realize that you will come across inevitable bumps in the road. Accept this fact, as well as the occasional feelings of frustration, and you are likely to develop a more positive out look and the persistence needed to continue towards your goal, rather than being derailed by some inevitable rejection.

Be Enthusiastic
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In order to remain enthusiastic during your job search, think of each element of the process as a learning experience. Take away key lessons, considering that even in rejection you may find constructive criticism to use to refine and perfect your job seeking skills. For example, for every company you research, you learn more about an industry.

For every interview you go on, you improve your presentation skills. Regardless of whether you get the job or not, try to take something away from each effort or opportunity. If you begin to feel pessimistic about finding a job, take a break and work on a task unrelated to your job search that can be easily accomplished. Volunteer your time or take a course at a local college. Sometimes it helps to step away from the process for a while before jumping right back in.

Project Confidence
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Throughout your job search, it's important to remain positive and project that confidence in your resume, cover letter and interview. Review your accomplishments and emphasize specific successes and results. A recruiter or potential employer will definitely notice if you are proud of your work. When you attend an interview, highlight these accomplishments in an enthusiastic manner.

Don't Give Up
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It may seem like no one is hiring, but that's not true at all. On Flipdog.com, for instance, there are 1,000 jobs listed in the US. However, be careful not to measure your job search success by the time you spend answering ads. Instead, you may want to measure it in terms of things you can control like how many leads you find. Keep plugging away, sending resumes out and networking with everyone you know. Following are some tips to keep your winning attitude and make your job search experience easier:

+++ Develop a job search strategy.

Focus on making something happen rather than waiting for it to happen to you. If you strategically target the areas you want to approach, you'll be more efficient and save time on your job search.

+++ Do not talk down your past jobs or employers.

Always go into an interview with something positive to say. Remember that each past employer is a valuable reference and resource for future job opportunities.

+++ Be brave and take risks.

Apply for a job even if you think it might be a reach. You'll never know if you can succeed unless you try. You may find that if they like you, they'll tell you about another job that you may be suited for.

+++ Be flexible and open-minded.

Consider opportunities that, at first glance, may not be what you're looking for. Sometimes change in a different field or occupation might be just what you need.

+++ Try not to feel rejected.

If you don't receive an offer, chances are, it wasn't meant to be. Keep focused on the other opportunities that lie ahead. You could also write a follow-up letter to the interviewer that thanks him for his time and asks for input on how you could have improved your interview technique.

+++ Stay busy.