Friday, March 8, 2013

Having Trouble Landing that Job? Get an Attitude Adjustment!

 Having Trouble Landing that Job? Get an Attitude Adjustment!

With unemployment rates hovering around 8% and employers hesitant to hire during these uncertain economic times, finding a job can prove rather difficult. If you are having trouble getting a leg up against the waves of applicants trying to enter the job market, maybe you need to get an attitude adjustment.

unemployment, job searching, job hunting, jobs, advice
According to Sartain (2003), "Employees with positive attitudes have a more constructive influence on the success and fulfillment of organizational goals and objectives than employees who have more education and experience but also have a negative attitude."

Many companies recognize that a positive attitude trumps technical knowledge almost every time; especially when recruiting for positions which deal directly with customers. A positive attitude permeates throughout an organization, affecting employees and customers alike. 

High enthusiasm, strong desire to learn, and self-motivation are some key characteristics that employers thirst for above all other qualifying details.

I attended a webinar through Ashford University, and had the unique opportunity to speak with actual HR job recruiters. One key point they drilled into us was to make sure you are submitting a cover letter each and every time you apply for a job. It can never hurt! Plus, it is an opportunity to show off your personality a bit through the tone of the letter.

Think of it as a sales pitch where you can express that positive forward-thinking attitude and show that you've done your research for the company you are applying for.

Current employers are still out there looking for the perfect candidates to fill spots. Don't be so pessimistic!

Get out there and keep at it. Just don't forget to smile once in awhile.  ;-) 

Daniel Wagner.

I have a plan to begin that all-important search using an excellent book as a guide. "What Color is Your Parachute: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers" by Richard N. Bolles (2013 edition). You can begin that journey with me here: http://dwcreativerse.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-job-hunt-begins-before-graduation.html

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Reference: Sartain, L. (2003). Getting extraordinary results from ordinary people. In Effron, M., Gandossy, P., & Goldsmith, M. (Eds.), Human resources in the 21st century (pp. 3–9). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

1 comment:

spudmuffin said...

It's amazing how the paradyme has shifted from wanting to work for a company and leaving your mark upon them to a sense of "employment entitlement". It was bewildering as a friend of mine who employs entry-level food service workers shared with me an email response to a job posting (no names of course) containing the statement "If you don't want to hire me don't waste my time by calling me in for an interview." Not only is this arrogant, but it shows that there is a mindset that somehow employers should be privileged to hire a worker, rather than the employee being privileged to be selected above numerous applicants. I second your sentiments that I would hire an unskilled worker that is enthusiastic team player willing to work for the company over a highly skilled worker that is in it only for themselves. So when applying for a job and asked "why this job?", simply stating "because I need one" will not suffice. They know they have jobs open. What they are really saying is "I can't do this all myself. What can you offer my company that will make you a long-term asset rather than a short-term employee?"

-Keith, MBA(May2013)

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