Minority Career Network

Minority Career News
January - March 1999

API and the Job Search
by MCN Staff

Attitude, Personality, interests and intuition may land you a job or the right career change. Attitude is a very abstract term, but we all recognize what it is when we encounter a bad one or a good one for that matter. As it pertains to the jobs and careers, attitude encompasses such concepts as flexibility, thinking outside the box, and self-confidence. A positive attitude is a must when job searching or exploring career changes. This is rather obvious, but it may be less obvious that it is counter-productive to internalize rejections and obstacles when your job search or career choice takes longer than planned. Keep the altitude in your attitude by following some of the tips below:

Attitude is also a part of your personality to a certain extent, but your business personality is a composite of individual traits and characteristics that reveal your style of doing things. Are you aware of your personality profile? Awareness of your personality profile gives you the freedom to focus on the interaction styles of others and to make adjustments in your style in order to achieve positive results. The advantage is yours when you know yourself. So get in touch with your human resources representative for assistance in obtaining a personality profile if you are not aware of yours, or visit a library or bookstore to read up on this subject. This may be very insightful if you are considering a major job or career change.

Mix your interests and intuition along with your attitude and personality, and trust yourself. There is a niche that is uniquely suited to you, but only you can determine when you are ready to fill it. Your niche should excite you, engage your energy and your mind. For example, recently a college student who was not sure of what major to declare commented, “I want to work in an area that really interests me because I don’t want to be forty and miserable.” Many people make career or job choices based on what they are considered good at. Avoid the I’m-good-at trap. Being good at something is not a limitation, but a window full of many opportunities. When you feel charged-up and the light comes on in your eyes, then you and those around you will know that everyone’s choice was the right choice.

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