Yahoo's new "Answers" feature is interesting. And, of course, it includes an area where job seekers post their questions. One recent question caught my eye. The hapless job seeker left a brief message wondering why he lived paycheck to paycheck, why his bosses always had it out for him, and why it never seemed to get any better.
I don't want to seem unsympathetic, and I can't pretend I've never indulged in feelings like this. But I couldn't help think that this posting embodied pretty much the perfect antithesis to a constructive job seeker's attitude.
First, the message implied helplessness. It resonated with the sense that nothing this individual could do made a difference. Effective job seekers, in contrast, embody an almost exaggerated sense of control -- even manifest destiny. Success is within reach and it's up to them to grasp it.
Second, the message made no attempt to explore anything the author had tried to change his fate. Job seekers for whom success is almost inevitable recognize that job hunting is made up of activities that can be analyzed and improved. And that an analytical approach -- "what can I do better?" -- is the key to reaching goals (like, getting hired).
Third was the underlying implication that the whole situation was the fault of other people. People (bosses) with an irrational desire to thwart the job seeker in his or her pursuit of success. True, in your career, you will face occasional adversity, even enmity, but if it's a consistent pattern, look inside.
Fourth, although the job seeker in question sought out help in a public forum, he or she provided no information that would have enabled anyone else to help. The world is full of people who will help aspiring job seekers, if approached correctly.
Finally, I was struck by the overwhelming negativity. As is the case in all of life's challenging and competitive endeavors, nothing helps more than indefatigable optimism.
My heart goes out to this anonymous, despairing job seeker. I'm sorry to say he's facing a long, uphill battle.
Comments