4 C's of The Modern Day Job Searcher

Looking for work can be easy or difficult – it depends on the job market, your ability to present yourself, or even would require you some stroke of good luck. Sometimes it’s a matter of perspective, in the sense that your behavior can make or break your chances.

While we are all different, with one’s difficulties being another’s eases. The key here is to find and understand what you find mentally problematic and simple, to play your strengths and see what’s possible for you.

Looking for a job is, in itself, a job. It means you have to put your best foot forward and rise above the others who are in the same situation as you, and impress potential employers. This means you have to give time and effort in order to gain the mental traits you need to succeed.

Just what are these traits? In a book called “Developing Mental Toughness,” authors Doug Styrcharczyk and Peter Clough discuss the 4 Cs:

It’s important to see challenge as an opportunity, rather than something that would get us down. One way to do this is to put yourself in unfamiliar territory, one that may even scare you – such as looking for a job in an entirely different place or in an industry that’s different from where you are in right now.

Look at a challenge as a positive thing – rather than running away from it, face it. Who knows where it might take you? Ask yourself if this opportunity is worth it, compensating for its “scariness” and toughness once you actually go through with it.

There is a famous quote that goes, “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Confidence in yourself is a choice – a lot of it may come from other peoples’ belief in you, but at the end of the day it’s up to you to believe that or not.

Find what motivates you (in this case, finding a job), and find what does the opposite. Stick with the positives and let go of the negatives. It may be easier said than done and surely more difficult for some. Confidence almost always does not come automatically. However, it can be developed.

Turn it into a habit. Be determined, and surround yourself with people who will cheer you on instead of bringing you down. Make a conscious decision in accepting behaviors that contribute to the results you want, not just in your job but in all other aspects of life as well.

Commitment is the ability to stick to what you are doing. A famous sports brand’s tagline is “Just do it,” as we all should. Commitment is doing something because you want to, you know what it’s for, and risking enough because you are willingly taking action – nobody’s forcing you.

These days it’s easy to get distracted, especially with everything being mobile and easily accessible. One minute you’re happily looking for your dream job, and then you’re drowning in an endless whirlpool of cat videos the next. So, how do you stick to your tasks when it comes to a job search?

Renowned life coach and author Bob Proctor once said, “Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to the result.” Being accountable definitely helps – you hold yourself responsible, and try to “reward” yourself when you have an accomplishment. It could be simple as going out for an ice cream cone once you’ve sent your resume to 10 prospective companies. You’ll be more excited and have something to look forward to!