Job Seekers: Attitude Matters
It’s very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the insulation of the internet allows us to be bitter, snarky, etc., with impunity. Perhaps in an anonymous environment like Slashdot that may be the case, but when all your interaction is tied to your very public identity, as on LinkedIn, guess what? It’s going to be looked at by potential employers.
And who wants to work with someone that is bitter, resentful, depressed, snarky, over-critical, arrogant, whatever?
I’m not saying you have to be all rosy and cheerful all the time, but just think carefully before you let those negative emotions out in public online, especially on a professional networking site like LinkedIn.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Agreed. While we are all paid to execute upon our goals a key aspect of our jobs include the way in which we interact with those around us. It may or may not be a documented part of your objectives, but it will always be measured by employees. My best advice is:
- Stay positive. You don’t have to be annoyingly optimistic, just positive and with a can-do attitude.
- Be knowledgeable of your craft.
- Communicate clearly with your peers and those you come into contact with.
For more specific ideas on what you should be doing if you’re out of work in the IT field read here:
http://johnfmoore.wordpress.com/2009/03/22/things-you-should-be-doing-if-youve-lost-your-it-job/
John
http://johnfmoore.wordpress.com/
April 1st, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Great reminder here that many seem to forget.
I understanding their feeling, I’m in the same boat of being laid off/unemployed. There may be days that get to me but publicly stating your disheartened/negative attitude isn’t going to help your search and will certainly not help you mentally. You’ve got to stay positive through it all and be thankful, though unemployed, that you have the ability to search for jobs every day or use these technologies.
Staying mentally focused and positive isn’t about putting a smile on your face but how your mindset is given the circumstances. How you react to rejection and how you persevere from it.
Thanks for the post!
Sonny
April 6th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Attitude directly affects your altitude – - when it comes success in the workplace. There are few snarky people who manage to be successful in spite of themselves, but for the vast majority – - you must play nice in the sandbox or you will be kicked out. Remember there is are several internet sandboxes as well – - and prospective employers do follow you to see what you are saying and to whom you are saying it – -
As a career coach, I tell my clients to never write anything on the internet they would not want their grandmother to share at Sunday School. While I say it with a tongue-in-cheek smile, I also mean it.
Never has it been more important to be sure that everything available to public scrutiny on the internet protrays you as a professional. The reward can be amazing – - and the risk is unbelievable when you forget.