Staying Positive in the Job Search

• 2-minute read •
It’s no secret that job hunting at its very worst can be a demoralizing experience. When trying to sell your qualifications in a competitive job market, rejection is inevitable as employers have so many applications to choose from. For this reason, it’s crucial that you maintain a positive attitude toward your job search. In fact, your attitude toward your job search is as important as your strategy for conducting it; your results will certainly suffer if you feel negative, unengaged, or stressed out.

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Beat the Procrastination Blues

Ever find yourself delaying and delaying on something until it becomes a crisis? That’s when Procrastination has taken charge of your life -- instead of YOU being in charge of your life.

Procrastination is as natural to human beings as eating. It’s easy to do things we want to do, but the things we find difficult or unpleasant are what we put off And sometimes delaying a little bit here and there is not a big deal. But if procrastination is habitual for you, and is causing things to happen in your life that you don’t want to happen, it’s time for a new sheriff in town.

Simply, procrastination is just a habit of making the wrong choices. It’s choosing to take a nap instead of mowing the lawn It’s deciding to watch “Friends” instead of working out. It’s opting to socialize with a co-worker instead of working on a project. It’s cleaning off your desk instead of getting prepared for a meeting. It’s “I’ll do it later”.

Now there’s nothing inherently wrong with any of these choices. As an adult you have the luxury of choosing how you behave, and choosing your own responsibilities. And we all have responsibilities that we don’t particularly care for. But if you allow Procrastination to make choices that aren’t good for you, or that you don’t really want to make, then it’s time to put your Procrastination Buddy on a leash.

“Just Do It” may be a great marketing slogan, but in real life we often need a little bit more to work with. To conquer Procrastination, you will need to change the behavior that works against you achieving the desired results. Remember that you are changing a habit, and it will feel uncomfortable and unnatural at first. But with practice, you can teach Procrastination that it is not welcome in your life. Here are three ways to do this.

1. When you recognize a particular task is difficult for you and that you continually put it off until the last minute, try designing a system to handle it, instead of just “putting out the fire” when it becomes a problem. For example, if you’re always putting off or talking yourself out of your gym time, consider setting up a buddy system, so that you know you’re going to meet someone. Or make a date with someone to come over to your house to work out with you – a trainer, or a friend. By doing this, you have set up a system that will pull you forward when you’re willpower is low.

2. Determine if Procrastination is signaling you that you have made a mistake in your choice. If you find it difficult to go to work in the morning, perhaps you are in the wrong job. If you find that you don’t want to go home in the evening after work, it may be that you are living in a place that is not healthy for you. Don’t continue a mistake. Admit the mistake to yourself first and others (if necessary), and make the necessary arrangements to make it right. One of my clients was a senior in college receiving a degree in Electrical Engineering. He was having difficulty finishing projects, doing homework, studying for tests. His parents believed that he was afraid to go out into the “real world”. But as we talked, it became apparent that he had never wanted to be an engineer and had allowed others to make those choices for him. He was spending all his time working in a restaurant where they were teaching him how to cook. As soon as he recognized that he had made a mistake, he was able to tell his parents how he really felt, and make the change to get the training to be a chef.

3. We all have things we’re good at and things we prefer to do, and Procrastination can also signal that it is task that you really don’t like to do. Ask first, does it have to be done at all, and second, does it have to be done by you. Consider delegating the task to someone who would enjoy it, so that you can concentrate on things that you would devote more creativity and energy to. Personally, I struggle with keeping exercise in my life. So instead of learning things I didn’t find interesting, I hired a trainer who shows me what to do and helps me move forward consistently. I delegated that job to him, and now, I don’t have to think about it anymore.

Finally, REWARD yourself for a job well done. This is very important and a step that a lot of people ignore. A reward can come in any form you choose, from a simple affirmation to yourself, to buying yourself a treat. Realize that the ultimate reward for taming Procrastination is that by being in control of what you do, and finding ways to do it efficiently, you have given yourself more time to enjoy your life.

Characteristics To Help Find The Work Of Your Dreams

"Why am I not happy?" "Why is life a struggle?" "Why doesn't work, work?" We probe our soul with questions like these, but we will never hear the answers if we don't take time off in our hectic days to listen. Unless we slow down and take a deep breath, we cannot hear the subtle responses that come from within.

As we get older, the questions about the nature and quality of life come up. By then, though, we are so mired in the car payments and the mortgage and the daily routine, and we are so used to looking for answers outside ourselves, that we fail to recognize the simple truth: We need to find enough quiet space so that we can listen to the answers locked deep inside. We need to stop and let them surface.

Once we take that time, we can reflect on all we have done and all we hope to do, and decide if we are living the life we want or if, instead, it was programmed for us by others. Only then can we listen to our own voice, our own intuition, our own inner wisdom. Only than can we tap into our inherent skills, talents and inner creativity, which form the work for which we were individually designed. Then we will truly reap the rewards of joy and fulfillment as well as a paycheck.

Afterward, when we go back to our busy life, we find that we are whole beings again, not walking machines. If we have chosen to take a break from our careers, the work we choose when we return will be right and satisfying.

Regardless of how we use it, time goes by and then it's gone. The combined power of every ruler in the world could not change that by decree. So, in the end, the only thing that counts is how we used the time. Is what we're doing meaningful enough that if we were still doing it 10 or 15 years from now, we would be satisfied with that?

If you just keep going the way you are, ask yourself what you will miss and how it will affect you and the ones you love. If you are losing some of your spirit every year, what kind of husband, wife, father, mother or friend will you end up as after half a lifetime goes by? If you need to take time off to stop the downward momentum, isn't it worth it?

It takes time and perseverance to find the work and life of your dreams. Here are some characteristics to cultivate that will support you:

Vision -- great clarity about what you want. Describe your vision in detail and visualize yourself in your new condition. The more you do this, the more possible, even probable, it seems that you will get there.

Strong intention -- determination to get what you want. Pursue your goals when you are thinking, writing, talking, exploring, reading and being, as well as in your actions. Be resolute that you will achieve your objectives. Stay focused and don't let anything or anyone stand in your way.

Unwavering belief -- a belief so strong that it stands up against challenges. Other people, sometimes believing they are being helpful, try to persuade us to be realistic, meaning that we shouldn't aim too high. Successful people keep their goals high and their expectations inline. People may tell us we are being a dreamer. Successful people are practical dreamers. They have dreams, and they figure out how to make them come true.

Action approach -- know what you need to do and do it. If a person wants to drive a car, he gets behind the wheel. To dance, he moves his feet to the rhythm. To find a new job, career or better skills, he researches his options, decides on a plan and implements it. Everything requires movement. Moves toward your goals.

Focus -- stay on course. Don't stop on the way or get sidetracked by fear or the myriad other things that hold one back. Even the best get waylaid now and then, but those who are sure of the path they are on don't let themselves procrastinate for long. They just put themselves on fast forward and fly.

Faith -- truly believe you will get it. Know it is just a matter of time. If things don't move as fast as you would like, if something goes wrong, if you get unavoidably sidetracked, it doesn't have a permanent effect. When you fall off the horse, simply get right back on.

Beat the Post-Vacation Blues Before They Begin Strategies for Getting Back to Work After Going Away

Summer vacations -- or vacations taken at any time of year -- are good for business. Workers get to recharge their batteries with rest and relaxation, and their employers usually reap the benefits. But no matter how much you love your job and how much you unwind on your vacation, you still may feel anxious about your initial return to work.

Why? Blame it on a backlog. According to a new survey from The Creative Group, one third of respondents claimed to dread getting back to the daily grind because of "the work awaiting their return." However, half of those surveyed admitted that vacations made them feel happy and refreshed. So how can you keep your post-vacation afterglow upon re-entry to the professional world? Use the tips below to reduce the work that will accumulate in your absence and enjoy the lasting effects of your time away.

Help Someone Else Step Up

Do you know someone who's waiting for an opportunity to spread her wings? Maybe a junior team member or an assistant has been chomping at the bit for a chance to move up. Megan Slabinski, executive director of The Creative Group, reveals, "High-potential employees who are being considered for management roles may welcome the chance to prove themselves while their supervisors are away."

To help your new protege be most effective, she advises professionals to "ensure their second-in-command understands the resources available and has a good framework for making decisions." Take time to bring your charge up to speed so she will succeed in your stead.

Spread the Word

You can put out fires and lessen your load while you're out of town with the push of a button (or two). Says Slabinski, "Leave outgoing messages on your email and voicemail to let others know you are away and whom to contact in your absence." Not only will this immediately direct people to connect with your newly named second-in-command, but, adds Slabinski, it "will reduce the number of calls and messages you must attend to on your return."

(Enabling an auto-response with Yahoo! Mail takes only a few moments and a couple of clicks. Learn how here.)

In Case of Emergency

If there's a pressing issue or pending deal that you need to be involved with even if you're away, say so. Addressing a problem as it arises could save you time and heartache when you're back at work. However, warns Slabinski, "Clearly communicate if and when you want to be contacted about business matters while you're away to help minimize disruptions and ensure a peaceful break." Setting boundaries ahead of time will make sure you're not being bothered unnecessarily.

Hire Extra Help

You're probably not the only person in your department or even on your team who's taking a vacation this summer. So why not make life easier for everyone by bringing in some hired guns on a temporary basis?

"Hiring freelancers to augment your team during staff vacations can prevent remaining employees from becoming overburdened," says Slabinski. It will also keep the work that awaits you to a minimum.