Saturday, February 23, 2013

Thinking Positively in a Negative Economy



How is your work attitude? Being out of work or stuck in a dead-end job is not the way most of us envision our work life; but in a poor economy, every employee must work hard to maintain a job or to land a new one. Unemployment or underemployment, however, can be devastating to self-esteem. That means each person in these situations will also have to work harder at maintaining a positive attitude. There is no other choice if you hope to be successful at work.
  • Do not berate yourself if you have no job or a low-level position; rather, remind yourself that most people go through several jobs and careers.
  • Do not tie your self-worth solely to your work; consider the sum of your talents, skills, and unique experiences.
  • Believe in yourself and your competency; upgrade your skills if needed.
  • Develop positive work habits.
  • Strategize ways to find more meaning in your work or more meaningful work.
  • Tell yourself you can conduct a successful job search.
  • Display enthusiasm during an interview and while you are working.
  • Set goals and persist in achieving them.
  • Be grateful.
  • Surround yourself with upbeat, positive people.
  • Call on your network when you are feeling down or when you need help with a job search.
  • Be positive; a positive attitude will help you move forward; replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
  • Become a problem solver.
  • Do something to improve your situation.
  • Make friends on LinkedIn and other professional networking sites.
  • Focus on what you have control over; forget about what you cannot control.