WHY OPTIMISM CAN ENHANCE YOUR CAREER SUCCESS!

OPTIMISM, GRATITUDE, AND A BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR THE COMING YEAR!

I glanced at my calendar recently and was shocked... Holy cow, where did this past year go?

It was a tough 12 months, filled with an unrelenting pandemic, healthcare emergencies, and shutdowns that impacted every aspect of our lives. Many people will be pleased to put 2021 in the rear-view mirror and move on to brighter and happier times. I agree that there are brighter times ahead, and truly believe that optimism, gratitude, and a positive outlook can help in every aspect of life, from health and relationships, to job search and ongoing career success.

 I would like to share some thoughts on how “looking on the bright side” can advance career success:

OPTIMISTIC JOB SEEKERS ARE OFTEN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL

If you don’t believe in yourself, it’s nearly impossible for future employers to believe in you. Before you reach out to a network contact or apply for a new role, take some time to be optimistic about your skills, and the wonderful value you offer to a future employer. Here are some ways that you can channel optimism into your job search toolbox:

·      Write down your specific career goal. Use W-5 – who + what + where + why and when to dive deep into your ideal role, target company, preferred functions and desired location. If you can articulate your goal, you can take positive steps toward achieving it!

·      Focus on honest yet positive self-assessment and write out a comprehensive list of your skills. Break down your skill list into hard/functional skills such as writing code or balancing accounts and into soft/interpersonal skills such as leadership, initiative or dependability. Keep this list handy and refer to it often.

·      Ask 4 or 5 colleagues, friends or previous managers to answer two questions and use their responses to bolster your confidence: What do I do really well? + Where do you see me adding the most value in the future?

·      Use STAR methodology – Situation + Task + Action + Result to articulate your previous achievements. By listing and detailing your accomplishments, you should become very optimistic about what you can do in the future!

GRATITUDE CAN RESULT IN KARMA:

·      Networking is the best way to make a career move, and “who you know” is as important as “what you know”. It’s important to keep karma in mind and ensure that networking conversations look like this: give + give + give + get. Offer networking contacts help, additional connections or insights before you ask for their assistance.

·      Once you have completed an interview (even a phone screening), be sure to show gratitude and follow up with a thank you note that demonstrates both your appreciation for their consideration and the close match of your skills to the position’s requirements.

WE NEED TO BELIEVE THAT A BRIGHT FUTURE AWAITS:

·      Job search can be heart-wrenching and things don’t always move in the direction we desire. When your search gets you down, take a break, do something you enjoy and revisit your career goal and skill lists. Simply believing in yourself and being positive that things will work out, will make you a more effective job seeker. 

·      Optimism is contagious. Smile in interviews and include a LinkedIn photo with a sincere smile. Companies hire people who fit their team dynamics: this is often a positive, resilient and optimistic individual. 

It’s not easy to stay positive when life throws curveballs. Be grateful for the good things in life, be optimistic about the future, and be confident that 2022 will bring happiness and success. We all need to share our light with others, and when you do so, you provide everyone optimism, gratitude and a bright outlook for the future!

 If you are having trouble staying positive, or your career is not bringing you happiness & fulfillment,  check out my website at www.careeraspirations.ca or reach out via LinkedIn message.

 Thanks for reading this note and please feel free to share it. May 2022 bring you many good things~~~~