Changing jobs (or being unemployed and job searching) can be even more stressful, particularly if you have major responsibilities in your life such as a mortgage to pay for or children to feed. The emotional toll of joblessness can weigh heavily upon a person’s shoulders and this can deeply affect a person’s ability to obtain new employment.

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There is an old expression that in my experience rings true: Moods are contagious.

For those of you, who are unfamiliar with this concept, allow me to briefly explain the theory.

A person who is in a good mood will give off an upbeat energy that will positively influence the moods and behaviours of those around them. The opposite can also be true. If someone is feeling stressed, depressed or pissed off at life in general, than that energy can also be felt by those around them.

To say that a negative frame of mind is not ideal for job searching would be an incredible understatement.

Have you ever just had a bad feeling about someone but couldn’t really explain why?

Imagine for a moment that you are in the shoes of a prospective employer. A new applicant walks into your place of business, carrying all of their personal stress, and they inquire about a job.

They lack self-confidence.

They lack enthusiasm.

They lack a positive, friendly attitude.

They fail to impress you with the ever critical – First Impression.

Basically, you ask yourself “what can this person bring to my business?”

Subconsciously you have already answered: “nothing”.

With the exception of Clinical Depression (clinical depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act), anyone can be in a position to control and alter their own mood for the positive with the right mental attitude and a little bit of self-awareness.

First of all, start each morning by “choosing” your mood for the day and remember that the only person that can control your mood is you. It’s easy to be in a bad mood. Anyone can do it. Being positive however, requires a little more energy and a little more effort.

In remembering that moods can be contagious, it is also important to note that moods can be “self-contagious”. In other words, if you “pretend” to be in a good mood long enough, eventually it will just happen. Before you know it, you will be laughing and enjoying your day and putting your stress and problems behind you (for the time being at least).

Second, remain optimistic about yourself and who you are. Remember that you haven’t always been down on your luck and try to remember the good times in your life and all of the great things that you have done to help other people and give back to your community. Karma is for real folks!

Third, network with old friends and stay away from negative people.

“You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as diseases. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.”

Finally, embrace change as a fundamental fact of life – an evolution. If you’re not moving forward (life certainly does), than you are in fact going backwards. You cannot stay standing still.

Self-confidence is your single greatest weapon when job searching.

“To become very successful, you will need to certainly develop your soft skills – your body language, clear communication, use of language, dress, confidence level and handshake.”

Present yourself as though life is great and maybe someday (soon) it will be.

JR

This article is part of a larger, on-going series called:
Job Search Series: Competing for a Career in Today’s Struggling Economy
http://mrjamesryan.com/2009/10/27/job-search-series-competing-for-a-career-in-today%E2%80%99s-struggling-economy/

Job Search Series 1: Re-developing a Positive Outlook on Life is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

You don’t need me to tell you that we are living in tough economic times. Everyone knows that – especially those that are either unemployed or underemployed (working, but not earning enough to sustain an enjoyable/affordable lifestyle). According to mainstream media, these numbers are growing by the thousands each and every day (at least, in North America).

Personally, I have grown increasingly concerned as many of my own friends, family members and students have struggled to secure permanent full-time employment. Unfortunately, they are not alone.

So what can they do to find a new job?

In an upcoming series of articles, I will ‘attempt’ to answer this ever important question.

Article 1 – Understand the psychological downside of being unemployed. Learn to find your self-confidence – again!

Article 2 – Define your dream job. Know where you are going before you attempt to get there.

Article 3 – Understand the importance of a First Impression – it can make or break you.

Article 4 – Weigh all of the pros and cons of Re-Education. Know what you are getting into.

Article 5 – “Why I am not a fan of conventional job search techniques and ideas.”

Article 6 – Take a risk and “Think Outside of the Box”

Article 7 – How can Social Networking help? Quick answer – it can’t!

Article 8 – How to improve on your Soft Skills – and why? (and what are they?!!)

Article 9 – Learn how to sell yourself and answer every employer’s greatest question: “What’s in it for me?”

Article 10 – Invest in yourself – you’re worth it. But be prepared to make sacrifices.

In my experience, most people simply lack the self-confidence to know where and how to begin. This is where I come in. I will rely specifically on my personal and professional experiences in an attempt to point you in the right direction and assist you with brain-storming sessions to inspire your creative thinking.

It is not my intention to give you all of the answers. My intention is to create a framework which will enable you to find your own success.

“A teacher is never a giver of truth – he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself. A good teacher is merely a catalyst.” Bruce Lee

Cheers
James

Job Search Series: Competing for a Career in Today’s Struggling Economy is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

Of course, it always helps that I went through a very similar process myself.

Like many before me and many since, I too went through my own personal version of a mid-twenties crisis, where I strenuously deliberated on the next major step in my pursuit of a career worthy of a modern-day adult.

As a proud member of ‘Generation X’ (a book written by Douglas Copeland that I regularly read through when I was in my early twenties), I wrestled with what few career options were actually available (and of interest) to me at that time.

In retrospect, I definitely took the ‘hard road’ by choosing to by-pass College and University and venture straight out of high school and into the workforce. Due to unexpected events in my life (read my bio at www.mrjamesryan.com) and poor planning throughout my high school years, I continuously felt the pressure of being an academic under-achiever.

The difficulties that I experienced in securing a career began to compound as each year passed. On so many occasions, I had applied for jobs that I knew that I would be very well suited for, but like so many times before, I lacked the minimum academic requirements to apply.

Sometimes however, I would apply anyway, hoping to at least get an interview which would most certainly provide me with the opportunity to demonstrate my interpersonal and communication skills, but alas, the interviews never came.

It wasn’t until many years later that I finally conceded and went back to a local community College where I attended classes on a part-time basis while working a full-time job throughout the day (and raising two kids at night). After two years, I finally graduated and secured the ever-elusive college diploma.

Admittedly, when I started my re-education process, I was a bit cynical about what good achieving and obtaining that “little piece of paper to hang on my wall” could do for me. What I didn’t anticipate was that I would fall in love with learning for the very first time.

College allowed me the opportunity to grow in ways that high school never provided. In high school, I lacked maturity and I failed to recognize the benefits or see the value in what I was supposed to be learning (to be honest, I’m still not a big fan of Shakespeare).

If I had one recommendation to make to “Generation Y’ (the Media term for people born between the years 1980 and 1995), it would be this: do not stay in school for the sake of staying in school, but rather, make the most of your time while you are there. Pick something of interest and dedicate yourself to being the best that you can be.

Not sure what you want to do with your life? That’s okay. Constructively spend your time figuring it out.

How?

Try volunteering (and not just the short amount of time mandated by high schools). It’s an excellent way to explore and gain new experiences in your life. It’s also a great way to give back to your community. A ‘win-win’ in the eyes of any potential employer.

You say you have a desire to get into radio broadcasting? Great! Volunteer your time at a local radio station reading news to the blind (www.voiceprintcanada.com). When you finally register at a College, you will have the experience and know-how to be successful.

You desperately want to become a physical education teacher? Great! Volunteer as a physical activity advisor within your local municipality (example: http://www.regional.niagara.on.ca/living/health_wellness/physicalactivity/paa.aspx). Far better to find out now if it’s something that you’re going to enjoy before spending several years of your life and thousands of dollars at a University.

Opportunities to learn are everywhere. All you need to do is give a little bit of your time and effort. A pretty good trade if you ask me.

Good luck.
James

The Importance of Life-long Learning is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

The following is the resulting conversation from an assignment that was given out on September 2, 2009 between my students (and myself) to help add clarity to the definitions of “Soft Skills” and “Hard Skills” – but more specifically, the classification of “reading and writing” within those skills.

The instructions were for my students to visit 3 other random websites and then come back with their own determination/opinion.
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http://searchcio.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid182_gci1314710,00.html.

http://www.2020insight.net/Docs4/PeopleSkills.pdf

http://www.linkedin.com/answers/hiring-human-resources/staffing-recruiting/HRH_SFF/531813-34024960?browseCategory=HRH_SFF

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Please enjoy the debate and read through all of the comments. Also, please feel free to join in on the discussion by leaving your own comment as well.

If you have any questions or feel as though you may need some additional clarity on this issue, please contact me directly or leave your question in the comment section. I will do my best to answer it in a timely fashion.

Have a great day and happy learning.

James

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan