Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

By Barb Smith

A networking contact of mine once gave me a fridge magnet that reads:

It’s your attitude that determines your altitude.

While the notion holds true in many contexts, it is particularly applicable in job search. Whether early on when you may be feeling somewhat directionless, or when you are well into your search and wondering if it’s ever going to end, your attitude will play a key role in the quality of your decision-making, not to mention your resilience.

Early on…

There is nothing quite like losing your job (for whatever reason) to have you questioning your self worth. While emotional reactions to job loss vary, it’s not unusual to experience a loss of confidence and a desire to do little more than sit in front of the TV. And for those few who experience a situational depression, the prospect of getting out of bed in the morning can be equated to climbing Mount Everest.

This is not the time to engage in a job search. Give yourself some time to work through the negative emotions and concentrate your focus on things you CAN control. As time goes by your attitude will improve and you will start to experience more neutral and even positive feelings. This is your signal that you are ready to begin your search.

Along the road to job satisfaction…

Now that you are feeling a little more in control (and a little more energetic), you’ll probably find that your attitude toward your job search has improved as well. This is a good thing.

From this point forward, keeping a positive attitude is a must. To quote author Peter McWilliams, “you can’t afford the luxury of a negative thought.” Negativity will deplete your energy and distort your perception at a time when you need to be your best. A positive outlook on the other hand, will help keep you motivated and moving toward your goal.

Furthermore, we tend to “wear” our attitude; it is evident in our face, voice, and body language. When you consider that most interviewers (many of whom are trained in reading body language) rate confidence and a positive outlook as the number one turn-on in an interview, you start to understand the power of a positive attitude. And given the number of people with whom you will interact during your search, leaving them all with positive impression can only help.

A positive attitude is one of the most compelling qualities a job seeker can bring to bear in every aspect of the search. Don’t leave home without it!

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Barb Smith is a professional Job Search Coach in London, Ontario who applies the employer’s perspective when helping individuals find satisfying jobs with a minimum of stress and frustration. For more information, contact Barb at 519.691.0218 or email barb@barbsmithjobsearchcoach.ca. www.BarbSmithJobSearchCoach.ca

Published in Networking Today, May 2007