Attitude & Success

1. Attitude & Success A PRONET Presentation

2. Keep Your Spirits Up • Your state of mind is the primary determinant of success or failure during a job search. • The continuous rejection inherent in any job-search can get to even the most optimistic of job-seekers. • Keeping your spirits up can take a concerted effort on your part during this time.

3. Leave Your Frustrations Behind • Leave your frustrations behind. • While it is normal and natural to be experiencing frustration during a job-search in a difficult economy, employers and network contacts aren't interested in hearing about it. • Conversely, passion and enthusiasm will attract the attention of those who can assist you.

4. Take Ownership • Take ownership. • Only you can make sure that you will find a satisfying job for yourself. • Taking responsibility for your search puts you in the driver's seat.

5. Focus on Goals, Not Obstacles • Focus on goals, not obstacles. • Realize rejection is a natural and necessary part of the job-search process. • Rejections during this process are not a reflection on you as a person or professional, but rather a function of market forces in a complex employment marketplace.

6. Believe in Yourself • Believe in yourself. • If you don't believe in yourself, why should anyone else? • "Never, never, never, never give up.“ Sir Winston Churchill in an address to a graduating class of Military Officers.

7. Positive Attitude/Optimism • How many times have you caught yourself saying: • “I won’t get that job.” • “Why bother applying?” • “I really don’t feel like looking for a job.”

8. Recapturing a Bit of Enthusiasm in Your Job Search • Look forward to the positive events that occur in a new job, e.g., new friends, new skills, new challenges, etc. • Think of the long term. Many good things in life take time. Never focus on a single day. • Remember, interviewing gives you an opportunity to meet new people and practice your interviewing skills. • Don't think about rejection, think about making the right choice for yourself. • Obtain a temporary job if needed. Many job seekers benefit emotionally by feeling productive and working with others, and it can help financially. • When you do not receive a job offer, move on and know the right job will show itself soon. • Make positive affirmations about your new opportunities. A positive attitude will reflect in your interviews and surely build a momentum toward success.

9. Taking Steps Toward Success • Surround yourself with positive, supportive people; talk to a mentor, counselor, member of the clergy, or friend when needed to regain a positive perspective; visualize yourself in your new job. • Get your finances in order. Cut expenses as much as possible during the transition. Take a temporary position if needed; bringing in extra income not only helps financially, but can also help you feel productive. • Make a list of your knowledge, skills, accomplishments , and contributions made in your work, hobbies, volunteer experience and with family and friends and review them daily!

10. Taking Steps Toward Success, cont’d… • Ensure your Resume reflects the skills and accomplishments related to your current goals. • Be proactive and develop a solid JOB SEARCH PLAN. • Prepare a daily schedule for your job search and follow it (just as if you were working). • Remember, you are also interviewing the company; both you and the employer want a good fit. • Keep track of your contacts and follow up! • Practice your interviewing skills regularly until you are happily working.

11. Get Organized • Take a few minutes at the beginning of each day to write a to-do list and rank your priorities. • While this may seem basic, it will focus your attention on what you need to do to accomplish your long-term objective: landing a new job.

12. Set Up a Routine • Try to arrange activities for periods when you'll get the most out of them. • For example, when working online, try to avoid the busiest time for Internet service providers (generally after dinner or after work). • This will increase the speed and efficiency of your efforts. Also plan your most challenging tasks for mornings, when your energy level is highest and your mind is fresh.

13. Define Your Goals • List ambitions that are achievable and measurable, such as meeting two new contacts or drafting a more tailored resume. • Accomplishing these short-term goals can keep you in "success mode" and boost your confidence. • They will also help you achieve your ultimate goal of finding a job.

14. Don’t Get Stuck with Busywork • Ensure that each action you take advances you towards your objectives. • For instance, while researching companies online can be helpful, focusing solely on surfing the Web won't open any doors. • Use the information you've gleaned and incorporate it into a cover letter for a prospective employer.

15. Avoid Procrastinating • Putting off projects that can be difficult or potentially embarrassing often becomes a pattern. • Steps like sticking to a schedule and building in a reward system for yourself will help you stay on track.

16. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle • Looking for a job is a full-time role in itself. As such, you'll need to maintain a balance between your work and personal life. • Take breaks during the day to stay fresh. • Eating well and exercising can also give you more energy and help reduce any stress you may be feeling.

17. Having a Sense of Humor/Balance • When you are out of work it is hard to have a good sense of humor. • You don’t think about laughing when you are feeling miserable and struggling to pay your mortgage or rent. • It is important to surround yourself with your friends who will cultivate your sense of humor and give you a balance. • Go to the movies. • Share laughs with your friends in person and by email. • Laughter is great medicine. • Listen. Soak it all in. Ask for advice from your friends and colleagues, and your network to expand your own personal self-knowledge. • Be open to what you hear.

18. Time Management • Manage your time and plan. • These are critical skills that most job seekers forget. • Your strategizing and organizing comes about evenings and weekends. • The implementation comes during the course of the work day. • Many applicants do tasks that they would be better served doing during other periods of time. • Networking, cold calls, interviews are all vital things to do during the 9 – 5 schedule.

19. Staying Focused • Know what your objective is. • Always know where you are and where you are going. • An old saying goes like this: "If you don’t know where you are going, you will end up somewhere else.

20. Follow-Through/Persistence • Over the years, I have seen applicants put very little attention to follow through. • For instance, the networking process, keeping connected with others in good times and in bad.

21. Reflection • They say the definition of insanity is doing the same behavior over and over again, and expecting to get a different result. • It is important to reflect on what is working and what is not. • Look at what signs, or signals, or what life’s coincidences have brought you. • If you must, slightly re-shift your focus.

22. Effective Job Search • An effective job search is more than doing the right things, it also includes having the right mind set and traits. • Having effective personal qualities and traits will get you to your ultimate objective.

23. Keep the Faith • MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF…YOUR SEARCH WON'T LAST FOREVER AND YOU WILL GET A JOB!!