Bitterness: A Barrier in Jobsearch

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Bitterness: A Barrier in Jobsearch

After weeks, months, andsometimes well over a year, the drain of the job search can take it’s toll on job seekers. Sometimes those who have been laid off never really get over the sharp pain of being let go and it festers throughout the duration of the search. I don’t know if it is the unbelieveable length of the search or the lack of courtesy, respect and integrity that is embedded in the search process, or whether it is the phone calls that go unreturned, the networking conversations that go no where, or the lack of responsiveness from employers? I often say in the presentations I give and in 1:1 meetings with clients, that job search is not easy and it is not fun, and that those who will most likely prevail with a job offer in hand will be those who recognize this, accept this and learn how not to let it make them sad, angry or bitter.

Every day I hear stories from job seekers about how their resumes go into a black hole, how they can never reach an employer by phone or get a return call, and it is impossible to meet the 10 out of 10 job qualifications. As people tell me their stories, their tone is more than frustration, for many it has turned into down right bitterness.

Being able to manage your attitude is the largest part of a good and effective job search strategy. The emotions of anger, sadness, and bitterness seep through your pores unknowingly and prevent others from wanting to help you and employers from wanting to hire you. There are no better people repellents than those emotions. On the contrary, people who are positive, confident and upbeat attract people to them. One of the biggest factors in a hiring decision is chemistry with the employer. Good chemistry occurs when a candidate is engaging, meaning leveraging their positive attitude to draw that hiring manager in.

So to prevent bitterness from becoming a barrier in job search, a job seeker has to rise above it by acknowledging that job search inherantly isn’t fun, easy or even fair and it is your responsibility to do be creative in your approach, positive in your outlook and confident in knowing that one day you will land.

2010-04-03T10:22:03+00:00

About the Author:

Cultivating Careers was founded by Karen Kodzik, a Career Consultant who has worked with individuals in transition for over 13 years. Karen meets professionals at various points on their career path and works with them to gain a clearer sense of where they want to take their careers. Karen Kodzik holds a Masters Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Career Development. Karen couples seasoned counseling skills with a solid business acumen. She has coached and consulted various levels of professionals across industries to successfully reaching that next point in their career.