Mastering Job Search after Graduation: Attitude Matters
Congratulations Graduate! You have worked hard for this moment and now you begin your journey as a young professional.
Embarking on a job search can be a challenging journey. It's a journey filled with uncertainties, waiting periods and rejections that can test your patience. It is a time when your determination is tested. During such a time, in order to achieve your goal, it is important to develop and maintain a positive outlook. Yet often not easy!
In this blog, we will explore some of the components needed to launch and succeed in your job search not only as a new graduate, but as you continue to manage your career forward.
Build a foundation for success
How you think and what you think matters. Your attitude sets the tone for your job search. Make the decision that you are going to achieve success in your search. Surround yourself with the company of positive thinkers, and create a Job Search Project Plan. Understand that rejections are part of the process and when rejected, learn from the experience. For example, reflect on how you can improve upon your interview skills. Look upon each interview experience as a way to refine your job search skills and define what you are looking for in a job. Rejection is not a measurement of your worth. Rejection simply is an invitation to persist. As a student, you had to attend classes and study to pass your exams. This required focus, determination and a “can do attitude”. Job search requires the same! That is why a “can do” “believe in yourself”attitude is so important. When you cultivate a proactive, positive attitude, challenges become an opportunity for personal and professional growth.
Practice positive affirmations
Confidence is a learned trait. Think about who you want to become as a professional and write it down. Write down the traits you want to exhibit. Write down what you want to achieve, short and long term goals. Be specific yet be brief. Create these positive affirmations and make it your daily routine to repeat them to yourself daily. Begin your day reading these phrases as a way to boost your confidence and keep you motivated. Repeat the phrases slowly to yourself, focusing on each message. Examples of such phrases include: “I will land the job that provides to me _____________________”, “ I will remain focused and positive in my job search”, “I will learn from my experiences and strive to become the professional I envision myself to be”, "I will turn a setback into a reset”. Your mantras act as a beacon of encouragement, and are reminders of how powerful thought is to action. Your mantras will keep you moving forward in order for you to achieve your career goals.
Keep balanced
Your physical and mental well-being has an impact on how well you will be able to sustain your search. Keeping a schedule that is not only filled with job search activity, and “honey do lists”, but is filled with activities that provide a mental and physical escape from the daily must do activities, is crucial in maintaining the physical and emotional energy that is needed for your job search. These “escape activities” should they be yoga, working out at the gym, taking dance classes or engaging in a daily walk with a friend or job search buddy, are all ways to ensure balance and eliminate the isolated feelings that can be associated with job search. Your mind needs a break as much as your body needs nutrition and movement in order to maintain health. Activities that take us away from our day to day work tasks rejuvenate your mind and reduce stress. This allows you to maintain momentum in your job search and the energy needed to reach your career goals.
Understand that the job market is forever evolving
The world of work is not only temporary, it is forever evolving. Industries expand and contract and roles and requirements change rapidly. Therefore, as a job seeker, flexibility, mental agility, and an understanding of how current events play into the creation of jobs and skills needed is required. Legislation, AI, and world events impact how organizations may experience expansion or shrinkage of their workforce. These events also are industry creators. Stay adaptable and open to new opportunities, even if they may not align exactly with your initial vision for your career. Know when to upskill, reskill and to let go and to let in the new, and be willing to adjust your goals based on the evolving job landscape. Adopt the philosophy that job transitions are inevitable, and that it is up to you to stay informed in order to stay ahead of an unexpected shift in the market, and thus your career. Invest in staying informed!
To the new graduate… Your journey as a young professional starts with the right mindset and approach. When you adopt a positive and “can do attitude”, coupled with the right skills in managing your job search and career forward, you will surely be headed for success. Stay persistent, determined and always believe that you can achieve success in whatever you put your mind to… and if you do… then I will know that you will achieve the success you so desire in your job search and career endeavors.