The practice of gratitude takes just that: practice. It’s something we can easily forget to do each day, especially when we’re stressed, overbooked, and facing personal challenges. One of the most difficult times to remember this practice is when we are looking for a new role in our professional career. But there are ways to find and practice gratitude in your job search.
Sure, being a job seeker is stressful no matter the circumstances. Your resume and cover letter need to be spruced up, you’re worried about the market in your area, and you’re anxious about making a good first impression in job interviews. This is where the power of gratitude can come in and help you reframe your perspective.
Let’s look at 3 quick ways to show gratitude and why it’s essential to the success of your search and for your own well-being.
1. Celebrate what you bring to the table
What skills have you acquired in your career? What educational opportunities have you had access to that will impress your potential employers? What professional experiences have been most exciting and most worthwhile? How do those experiences and your specific talents set you apart from others in your field?
Be proud of what you’ve accomplished. There was surely a time when you wished you could offer all that you can today. Make a list of those things and reflect on how far you’ve come. Practice gratitude for the opportunity to look for a new role where you can let your accomplishments shine. Talk to your loved ones, former colleagues, career coach, and inevitably your recruiter about how what you bring to the table can best translate to a new role.
2. Be grateful for your personal network
Your friends, former colleagues, fellow alums, and family members may know about possible new roles for you. Consider this:
- You may have helped them find positions in the past and they want to repay the favor.
- They may have experience in a new field you’d like to explore.
- They may have a connection to a recruiter who can help you find your ideal job.
- You may need direction and insight from someone you trust to help you get back on track.
Maximize the number of opportunities and offers that come your way by talking to your personal network about your situation. Use this chance to learn more about what they’ve been doing. Think about ways you can help them in the future, further nurturing your connection.
3. Apply gratitude in your search
Opportunities are always around us. Sometimes we simply have to slow down to recognize them. Your job search may not have come at the easiest time and slowing down may be easier said than done, but you can make both work for your practice.
- Think about what you can learn from this experience. Maybe it’s honing your personal brand or building your professional network. Or maybe it’s learning to bravely face a challenge and address areas where you can further develop.
- Make notes of opportunities you may not be interested in but that may be perfect for friends, former colleagues, or family members. They may not know they should look until the opportunity presents itself.
- Keep a journal about your search. In it, make a list of things you were grateful in your previous positions. This may also be easier said than done, but in creating this list you’ll be generating positive feelings. Those feelings will help you stay motivated in your search and focused on the specific role you’d like to land.
- Show gratitude for others’ time. Thank recruiters who reach out to you. Send handwritten thank you notes to leaders after interviews. Treat your friend who connected you to your dream job to lunch. Find ways to show appreciation to all those who took part in your journey.
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