Developing A Constructive Attitude
Your attitude is your most important asset in the job search campaign.
Unfortunately, your attitude is also your most vulnerable and obvious feature. If you are in a negative space, you’re competing against yourself and other job seekers. Also, other people are quick to detect any signs of negativism or defeatism and may feel reticent in helping you.
Unemployment can adversely affect your attitude. In the spirit of forewarned is forearmed, here are some of the negative emotions that can affect attitudes during unemployment:
Anger - Many people become angry because they have been rejected by their former employer. Sometimes this anger is focused on the boss, the president, the personnel manager, an organization competitor, or the company. Sometimes a spouse, or a family member, becomes the target for the anger. Worst of all, sometimes the anger turns inward as self-recrimination.
Depression - A feeling of loss may lead to depression - whether the loss is real or imagined, current, or potential.
Revenge - Some people take on an attitude of “I’ll really show those ungrateful people. I’ll get a job with a competitor and work against them and beat them at their own game”.
Vulnerability - Getting a new job means offering yourself to many people, exposing your skills and thoughts to them—and being rejected.
Loneliness - You never know who your friends are until you need them. Sometimes they don’t seem to be available when you need them. The loss of fair-weather friends can lead to a feeling of loneliness.
Self-Doubts - Job loss makes some people doubt they ever really were competent to do work which, in fact, they did successfully for many years.
Embarrassment - Being out of a job is not pleasant, but it is not a sign of personal failure. Nonetheless, some people feel very embarrassed as if they had lost a measure of their worth as people.
Highs and Lows – Rapid mood swings are not uncommon as job possibilities emerge and disappear.
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it” is a famous quote by Charles Swindoll that we use as a mantra here at dknx. As it relates to job seeking, we believe that your attitude is your most important asset in the job search campaign.
It’s also important to realize that you are not alone. There are people you know who potential sources of information and assistance are—including us. So, don’t hesitate to ask for help.