Perspective has everything to do with success in a job search. Your perspective influences your attitude and energy, which influences your communication skills and your motivation.
All of us get caught in perspectives that don’t serve us. Like the times we say we’ll never get a job, or that a job search is hard, or that we need the perfect elevator pitch or cover letter, or that we’ll never get hired or promoted because of our age, gender, background, or …
It’s hard to see what else is possible when we’re caught in a perspective.
And yet, changing perspective can be as easy as standing up. Or looking out the window. Or trying on a different voice.
If you want to show up alert, energized and confident try these tips.
If you’re at risk of being quiet, nervous or collapsed, change your perspective.
Stand up. You’ll have more energy, you can feel a greater sense of substance, you’ll be more in contact with your feet and legs and you can be more present.
Walk around and look in all four directions: north, south, east and west. Getting into your body and using your eyes to look outward can take you out of the depleting energy of navel gazing and remind you that there is a vast world beyond your worries and your computer. The four directions helps you punctuate and think about what each geographic direction offers you.
Use visual symbols. Reflect on qualities that inspire you and give you strength, then choose a visual that you can look at so you can stay connected to that energy when you’re working or on a phone interview. For example, a redwood tree might convey strength and growth, an image of Rosa Parks might say “speak your truth”, or a mountain view might can remind you of the satisfaction you can feel when you reach your goal. (You can also get a talisman that you can put in your pocket and carry around to support you.)
Shift into the third person. Write short paragraphs starting with “she” instead of “I”. How did she resolve a challenge with her co-workers? What did she do to win a journalism award? What does her letter of recommendation say? Once you’ve written a paragraph read it out loud. The third person voice can free you up to celebrate and identify your strengths and shift your perspective from feeling beat-up. This is especially helpful if you have trouble bragging!
Ask, what would “x” do? Pick someone you admire and ponder how that person talks about herself. See what you learn from channeling another’s perspective.
And lastly, sage advice from my beloved grandmother (who insisted we get lots of sunshine). Take a break. Get outside. Feel the fresh air. Listen to the birds. Smell the roses. Remember that you are a living breathing being who needs to move and feel all her senses.
These tips are especially helpful for phone interviews when people can’t see you or for gearing yourself up when you’re reaching out, networking, or interviewing. Or when you’re having a hard day.
And if you want perspective from someone who sees what’s possible and has a knack for seeing others’ strengths, contact lparadise.coach@gmail.com