Improve your Job Search Potential with Positive Thinking
Amid the changeability of the economy and job search efforts, there is one thing that remains the same. People have been saying for centuries that if you think and act in a positive manner, you will improve your chances of reaching your goals.
A Positive Attitude Helps
Napoleon Hill wrote his book Think and Grow Rich in 1937. Between its covers lay a new idea that he called a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA). Even though the book is quite old, it still speaks the truth. He credits positive thinking with the power to create reality. In other words, if you think and feel negative things, you act in a negative manner, and then you will not succeed at what you try to do. This is often due to a lack of confidence or attitudes that block forward motion. This holds true for the job search process as much as anything else.
Balance Push and Pull Factors
Push and pull are two ways of thinking about anything. When you consider your career, you may think, “I hate my job” or “my boss does not appreciate me.” These are push factors because you are pushing your job away from yourself. They are negative thoughts that do not provide a way forward.
On the other hand, pull factors are about positive thinking and attracting good things to your life. Statements like “I can go further in my career” and “I’m ready for the next step” represent pull statements. They focus on the future you want to have and the type of success you deserve.
Set Goals and Take Action
Changing push to pull is only one small step of the positive thinking plan. After you identify what you want to pull into your life, you can sit down and map out a plan with smart goals along the way. Creating a career path for the next 5 to 10 years gives you a direction and the inspiration to go after what you want. This also allows you to appreciate the steps along the path even if they are not exactly what you want now. Many people need to take a less-than-perfect job to position themselves for a better one later.
Recognize Your Strengths
Acknowledging what you are good at is an important part of positive thinking and achieving your goals. When you think about the future, align individual goals with your strong points to achieve them more quickly. You may not be used to thinking positive things about yourself, but everyone has something they are good at that can help them advance in their career. If you find yourself struggling, ask family or trusted friends for help. A recruitment consultant can also lead you through the process of identifying positive characteristics.
Keep Your Eyes On the Prize
Landing the first important job or getting your foot in the door on a chosen career path is very exciting and rewarding. However, if you celebrate that first step as a success, you will never move beyond your beginnings. Every time you reach a goal, create a new one to work toward. This does not mean you should never be satisfied with your job. Instead, keep your thinking positive and push onward into new and exciting levels of success.
