Gratitude is more than just saying thank you, it gives you the space to recognise the value in people, moments and circumstances. It is an opportunity to be aware and to genuinely be grateful.
You may be thankful for something that has happened (or for something that hasn’t).
It may be interesting to note that practicing gratitude and job hunting are more connected than you think. Because when you’re #opentowork it’s easy to focus on what you don’t have: the vacancy to apply for, the interview, the offer, the feedback, the clarity.
But what if gratitude wasn’t just a nice feeling, but a strategy? What could happen if you consciously took a moment to be grateful?
Rejection/Redirection Receiving a rejection email, or being told you’ve not been successful in your application will sharpen your focus. It will push you closer to the right fit and away from what was never meant for you. Being open to this thought process is important, and to be thankful for saving your time on something that wasn’t right for you, is to be observed.
Feedback/Fuel Didn’t land the role, but received feedback? THIS IS GOLD. Receiving any feedback after an application or interview is rare these days so hold onto what you are told. Use it to fuel your next application, your next job search and your next interview.
Acknowledge it, use it, and be grateful – most candidates never even get a response.
Reflection/Refinement Gratitude turns reflection into progress. Instead of focusing on ‘why didn’t I get it?’ ask ‘what did I learn?’ This small shift refines your thought processing and could make all the difference.
Network/Net Worth Every coffee chat, every LinkedIn message, every Recruiter who took 10 minutes to showcase you to their network are wins. Appreciate them and nurture those connections. Make an effort to keep the relationships going and be grateful for the networking opportunities.
A grateful mindset isn’t naïve it’s resilience and it might just give you the edge, because it helps you to keep going, keep improving and show up better at each stage.
Think about that slide deck you created for an interview for the job you didn’t get. Being thankful you had the opportunity to put all of your thoughts and expertise into one document that you can use again in other interviews is really important. It’s little things like this that give a huge shift in mindset.
- Start your week listing 3 things you’re grateful for as you look for work.
- Send one thank you message each day even if it is just to someone who liked your post, nurture these connections.
- Before each interview, focus on what this opportunity will teach you, rather than worrying about what it would mean if you didn’t get the job.
- After each interview be thankful for the opportunity, be grateful for the insight into another company and for the opportunity you had to demonstrate your skills and expertise to someone else.
Of course, gratitude doesn’t erase the challenges of job hunting, but it does soften the edges, sharpen your mindset and keep you moving forward with purpose and positivity.
Job hunting isn’t only about receiving a job offer, it’s about showing up as the person who gets remembered.
For all the right things.
#hellopimento
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