Seven Tips to Seek Career Opportunities

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.                 Sir Winston Churchill

When we are faced with a challenge, are you the kind of person who focuses on the problem, or looks for a solution? The attitude that we adopt will affect the actions that we take.

What is an attitude? It is a point of view of liking or disliking toward an object such as: ideas, events, or people.

Attitude combines all 3 components noted below, that influence each other.

• Thoughts – your thoughts/beliefs about an attitude object, and your self talk
• Feelings – your feelings or emotional reaction directed toward something or someone
• Behaviour – your actions when exposed to an attitude object

Your perspective on a situation will start with your thoughts, either favourably or unfavourably which will determine your behaviour. Changing your emotions is the difficult part of the components of attitude. For this reason, people try to cover up their attitudes with behaviour such as: consuming alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, or over indulge in activity such as eating.

For example, when an individual is faced with a job loss, it is a stressful situation and difficult to maintain a positive attitude. However, we choose our attitude, it can be a position from which to learn and grow, or ‘Poor me’ syndrome. Our attitude plays a vital role in our life. Let’s look at 2 different approaches and attitudes, and how to re-frame the situation.

Attitude 1

I cannot get another job, look at the economy. It was unfair to lose my job. Why did it happen to me? I am … age and will struggle to find a job. What will my family and friends think of me? The company singled me out.

Attitude 2

How did I perform that may have caused a problem? What can I learn from the situation? What skills can I develop? Do I want to remain in this type of occupation, or is it an opportunity to find a new role or a new industry? It is time to move on and get a fresh start.

What is the difference in attitude? The first attitude involves blame and despair. Whilst the second attitude aims to learn from the situation, it places boundaries to contain the situation, and presents hope for a fresh start.

You can not change the situation, but you can change how you interpret and respond. It may not be easy or simple to look for the positive aspects of situations as we can be challenged by our deep seated personal beliefs and fears. We need to take a creative approach that is broad, and encompasses a number of perspectives.

Tips to face a challenge for a positive outcome

Mindset

Clarify the problem or challenge, aim to understand it from a range of perspectives. Each perspective forms part of a ‘whole’ that we need to understand. Many are expert at seeing a situation from their own view, whilst discount other perspectives or ideas.

A positive attitude comes from a positive mindset. Your thoughts are realistic with a clear perspective. They are free from negative bias that are influenced by fear and negativity. Aim to balance your strengths with your weaknesses, rather than only focus on the latter. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Channel energy on solutions, rather than focus on problems.

Resilient people develop resilience when they are knocked down, and come back stronger and wiser. Rather than being overcome by failure, they find a creative approach to rise up. Psychologists have identified some of the factors that make someone resilient, among them: a positive attitude, optimism, the ability to regulate emotions, and the ability to see failure as a form of helpful feedback.

Be proactive and make things happen, rather than wait for things to come. Actions will strengthen you as a person and improve confidence. 

Commitment

Commit to learn and grow from a particular experience. It is part of our life journey. It is a value system that will help you to find your bigger goal and life purpose.

Benefit of the action

We are inspired to act when the goal is of greater benefit than the effort. In our example, the goal of finding a new job that provides income, an outlet for our skills and socialisation, will motivate and inspire action. Once you move forward, embrace this journey.

Prepare for a challenge

Take decisive action to achieve your goal. We go through challenges – it is part of life’s journey. The challenge is temporary. Take one day at a time, and see the experience as a life lesson.

Supportive network

Surround yourself with people that are positive and supportive to you as a person and the goals that you aim to achieve.

Time for events to unfold

One sign of maturing is recognising the time it takes for thoughts, feelings and events to unfold. This is when we gain perspective and insight. Take the time to appreciate the growth.

Positive view and look after of yourself

Aim to develop confidence in your ability to solve problems, and maintain your relationships. Aim to visualise what you want in your life, rather than focus on fear. A positive outlook will enable you to see that good things will happen in your life.

There are times in our lives when we are required to recognise our personal power to change situations that we need to confront. Create a mental image to visualise the future you want to accomplish. This can help set your goals and support you to stay on course. Our attitude can influence our behaviour, and the outcome that we achieve. It will affect how you see your life journey, as a learning process with beauty and growth.