Spring Cleaning

Dust Off Your Attitude to Improve Your Job Search Results

Spring has sprung! While there are parts of the world that would definitely disagree with me, here in our Gulf Coast region the blooms are out in full force. And with spring, normally that means it’s time for some spring cleaning . . . getting rid of the “old” and unnecessary things, clearing out the cobwebs and clutter in order to let in a breath of fresh air. So what does this have to do with a job search?

Many experts believe that your attitude can either make or break your job search, and that attitude is usually based on one’s own mindset. Often times during a job search, people experience situations that can negatively impact their attitude and mindset.

Some of the most common “mental clutter” causing attitudes:

1) Lack of Focus – Being unsure of what you want to do and willing to do “anything.”

2) Lack of Marketing – Being unable or unsure how to communicate the value that you bring to an organization.

3) Defeat / Despair – Believing you will “never” find a job and that no one will ever give you a chance.

4) Entitlement / Superiority – Believing that YOU are the solution to any problem and behaving like someone owes you an opportunity.

So as you work on your spring cleaning this year, don’t just concentrate on your home, office, car, etc. Also take time to clear the mental clutter, dust off your attitude, and implement some of these actions to improve your job search results:

1) Focus – Remember an effective job search is not so much about quantity as it is about quality. Make sure you put your efforts on customizing your submissions for positions you are truly drawn to instead of sending a “one size fits all” resume to a large number of positions.

2) Market – Demonstrate your can-do attitude to the employer and show how your past accomplishments could make life easier for him or her. Share examples of past accomplishments and connect the dots on how these can translate into the employer’s business.

3) Be Positive – There are a lot of tricks you can use to maintain a positive mental outlook. Two of my personal favorites are to wear a smile 🙂 and use affirmations / positive self-talk to help keep a healthy self-image.

4) Be Confident / Not Cocky – There is a fine line between being positive, believing in yourself, and putting others off by appearing arrogant. Pay attention to feedback from those around you and make sure that you are not crossing that line.

Hopefully this information will help you to conduct a self-assessment and clear away any “mental clutter” that might be hindering your job search efforts. And maybe along the way it will add a little Spring to your step. 🙂

Bobi Cook is a Regional Facilitator for Workforce Solutions in the Houston – Galveston area. She currently conducts job skills seminars throughout the 13 county Gulf Coast region utilizing her MBA and over ten cumulative years experience as a professional educator, quality systems manager within the automotive industry, and small business administrator to help job seekers develop and implement successful job search campaigns.