FEATURE ARTICLE

The Right Attitude Can Get You that Job Quicker
By Lolita Villa

Looking for a job isn't that easy. While you may get daunted by the kind of opportunities that come your way, remember that it takes a little change of attitude to help you see the bright side of bleak times. You may not like the kind of job offers that you are seeing so far, or you may feel that the long process of interviews and filling out forms as hopeless. But try to be a little patient. With the right attitude, you can go a long way. Check out these tips from Business Trends Philippines:

See it from the employer's perspective
You're not the only applicant to this company, so try to cooperate with the employer and see things from their point of view. You may be asked to fill out application forms at their office even if you've already sent your resume. You may take several qualifying tests and go through a barrage of interviews that may require you to return to the office several times on different dates. Thought this may seem tedious for a job opportunity that remains uncertain if it will be yours, try to be patient with it. Remember, you're not the only one who is going through the motions of finding a job. And in every experience, you will learn more things that you can use for your benefit, in the future.

Have an open mind
Upon entering a prospective office, you may be struck by the way it seems too quiet for your taste, or how intimidating the people seem. Don't make rash prejudgements without considering the possibilities. Give yourself a chance to discover more about what's in store in a new workplace. Try to be open about the company culture and the nature of the work by asking more questions. Don't jump to the conclusions that you're not qualified for a certain job offer. Some people may see more in you, than you see in yourself.

Be sensible
You may have a specific salary in mind. However, you may be offered much less than that, given the situation. Be sensible about money matters. Ask yourself, can the company afford the kind of salary I'm asking for? Is this amount commensurate to the kind of skills and abilities I have to offer? Is this the appropriate salary level for this kind of job? It's okay to tell people what you believe you're worth. By no means should you go around belittling yourself and your capabilities. But don't be quick to turn down a job offer just because you think the pay is too little either. If there are more reasons to take a job besides the salary being offered, you may want to make a small concession this time. Good performance on the job is usually rewarded with better pay later on.

Strategize
Don't get discouraged so easily with your job search. If positive results take long in coming, try to come up with a strategy, and make some drastic approaches. Study the market you want to join. Look who the competition is, and see whether you measure up. If you don't, then, do something about it. Add more skills to your roster, or volunteer for community service, for instance, to boost up your resume. Assess what your USP (unique selling point) is, too. Ask yourself, what can I offer this company that others can't? Capitalize on that, and make sure that your prospective employer is fully aware of it.