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Finding that job starts with motivation
by JUDIT PRICE
My job has its positive and negative aspects. Seeing clients succeed gives me great job satisfaction. But a source of disappointment is encountering clients that are simply not motivated. I have noted innumerable times the importance of self-motivation. In fact, it should be unnecessary to even discuss a topic that is so self-evident. When I meet people who have education, good skills, solid work experience and genuine value, yet have a laid-back attitude, an attitude of "I´ll do it tomorrow," I find that discouraging, and know I have a real challenge in helping these people regain their motivation. The truth is nothing puts your self-esteem on the line more than a job search. You may have self-doubt on a daily basis. Hiring managers want cheerful, positive people. They have enough of the other kind in-house. Consequently, if you are not motivated and that lack of motivation is visible, one ounce of self-doubt can lose you a ton of money. One of the first clues to poor motivation is procrastination. Here, you have no one to blame but yourself. It would be wrong to assume that doing something a little later is OK, as long as it's done and done right. Unfortunately, there is a trap here. For many, procrastination can easily lead to a type of "crisis living." All the problems resulting from a lack of meaningful employment tend to get worse over time. For example, if it takes three weeks to update a resume, instead of one, the other issues -- financial, social, family, etc. -- just get two weeks older. And that´s bad. String out procrastination over four months or six months or a year and a crisis of some sort becomes a distinct possibility. I want to be clear on one point. Being motivated does not necessarily translate into immediate success and economic issues aside, visible motivation can help your overall situation. Motivation is infectious. When those around you understand the pressures, but see how you pursue your goals with vigor and determination, that can generate a mood of hope and support, affecting everything. By the same token, when the effort is clearly not there, it's obvious and depressing for you as well as those around you. Procrastination can inevitably result in lost opportunities, inept approaches to your whole campaign, and very slow or no progress. Procrastination should never be confused with planning. Many people are simply very deliberate, approaching a job search much as they would a work project. Careful planning, identifying resources, lengthy research and other steps may be normal and natural. Comparing that to people who have a more immediate and aggressive approach does not imply procrastination, as long as you set reasonable deadlines and meet those deadlines. Even taking time off to think and get your inspiration back is fine. But let's be honest. We know our degree of motivation. We know the difference between planning and goofing off. The second clue to a lack of motivation is letting others control your job search. There is no doubt when others do the job of searching for you, you are putting your worst foot forward. And the reason is obvious. Only you can sell yourself. Only you have the information and background and motivation to communicate your professional, organizational and personal qualifications. No matter how well meaning others may be, they do not have the self-interest you have. For example, if a hiring manager looked at your resume and rejects you without at least a phone interview your chances at an opportunity become much worse. If however, your friends can sponsor you for a meeting or conversation, resume deficiencies can be overcome. Since only you can present a complete picture of your skills and experiences, your talent, chemistry and personality could counter a negative perception. Obviously, in many cases you have no choice, resume or nothing. But that is not always the situation. Frequently a sponsor can get you a few words with a hiring manager. You want sponsorship, but you must present your qualifications yourself, whenever possible. So what does all this mean? Clearly, if you procrastinate, taking longer to move forward, you are in trouble. If you rely on others to sell you, rather than just sponsor you, that's definitely a problem. I am amazed at how many people have what appears to be a positive conversation with a recruiter. Then they sit back with the expectation or hope the recruiter will soon call back with that interview appointment. Or, they don't understand why the recruiter doesn't return their phone call. What this means is: Take stock, be honest with yourself and take charge. Judit Price is a masters-level career guidance counselor, certified career master, international job transition coach, and a career development facilitator. She is also a principal at Berke and Price Associates, Skills for Career Services, in Chelmsford. For further Information email: Judit Price or call: 978-256-0482 |
