Employment Uncertainty and the Holiday Season
Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season. The holiday season is a time when families, friends and acquaintances gather in an expression of goodwill and comradery. This is also a time many review their personal circumstances, the condition of their personal and employment life. For anyone uncertain or unhappy with his or her employment situation, the holidays can be excruciating. Listening to expressions of satisfaction, success, and enthusiasm with others' careers can only increase one's anxiety and stress.
It is not easy facing another holiday season when you are uncertain about your employment situation. Employment instability can stem from multiple reasons, such as interoffice politics, policy or personnel change, possible layoff, burnout, boredom, or personal life changes. Whatever the reasons, if you are facing employment uncertainty, make this holiday season a positive factor in a successful change.
To create a positive holiday season for yourself and those you care about, start by deciding that this will be a positive season. People respond to us based on how they perceive us at the moment and on how we respond to them. With this knowledge, you can start to improve your holiday season by doing things like being friendlier, improving your posture, and not criticizing. When a conversation becomes negative about someone, something, a situation, or decision, stop for a minute, find the positive side and comment on it positively. By following these simple steps a number of changes will occur. People who may not have acknowledged your existence will recognize you when you greet them, you will start to expand your circle of acquaintances, you will start to be perceived as an optimist, and you will also start to be seen as a more confident person.
How do these minor changes in behavior and attitude help with an uncertain employment situation?
1. As you treat people in a more favorable style you will be responded to in kind. More people are inclined to assist a positive person than a negative person. Most people, while they may express negatives, chose not to associate with people who are as or more negative than they are. 2. As your circle of acquaintances increase so does your network of people willing to assist you in any job transition you may undertake. 3. When viewed as a confident person you are treated as such and assume a position of competence. 4. When these responses occur you will become more self-assured.
Statistically the people hired and changing jobs in January and February are those that network and even interview during the prior holiday season. The holiday season provides the opportunity to meet more people and to network more than any other time of the year. Employers are always looking for positive, competent, and confident people. People are always willing to assist friendly, self-assured, positive and optimistic people. When you meet people at the different gatherings be the friendly, self-assured, positive and optimistic person you want to be.
If you are not sure or unhappy with your situation review your circumstance. Identify the positives of your current position: what has been good about it, what are my expectations, if I change nothing what can I expect in the future, and what could I change to attain my goals? Then do the opposite and identify the negatives of your position. Determine if an employment change is really what is necessary or if you just need to change something in-house.
When the career topic comes up this holiday season be ready to expound on your analysis of your career. Be prepared to positively and optimistically identify what you currently do and what you would like to. This will provide your networking contact the information they need to assist you in the future.
Volunteer for some activities this season. Your help will be greatly appreciated; you will meet new people in many different occupations and be able to discuss what they do and how they like it. Their input will allow you to determine if you want a position with their organization or an organization similar to theirs.
Your positive changes will have a reciprocal effect on your family as well as your associates and network. Children and spouses always respond in-kind to our exhibited behaviors.
In summary, you have the ability to create a positive holiday season and reduce employment uncertainty. You can display your positive attitude, participate in discussions about careers, and relate your successes and objectives. You can expand your circle of friends and acquaintances. You can explore new careers and set in motion positive changes for your employment situation. You can volunteer, help others, assist your community and increase your family's holiday enjoyment.
Key ingredients in resolving employment uncertainty are:
1. An objective look at your current situation to determine what really needs to happen 2. A decision to improve or maintain your positive attitude 3. Develop and expand your network of assistance
Vince Barrett, Principal of Quad City Career Counseling, Bettendorf, Iowa. Quad City Career Counseling provides a full range of career management services, counseling, coaching, and marketing.
It is not easy facing another holiday season when you are uncertain about your employment situation. Employment instability can stem from multiple reasons, such as interoffice politics, policy or personnel change, possible layoff, burnout, boredom, or personal life changes. Whatever the reasons, if you are facing employment uncertainty, make this holiday season a positive factor in a successful change.
To create a positive holiday season for yourself and those you care about, start by deciding that this will be a positive season. People respond to us based on how they perceive us at the moment and on how we respond to them. With this knowledge, you can start to improve your holiday season by doing things like being friendlier, improving your posture, and not criticizing. When a conversation becomes negative about someone, something, a situation, or decision, stop for a minute, find the positive side and comment on it positively. By following these simple steps a number of changes will occur. People who may not have acknowledged your existence will recognize you when you greet them, you will start to expand your circle of acquaintances, you will start to be perceived as an optimist, and you will also start to be seen as a more confident person.
How do these minor changes in behavior and attitude help with an uncertain employment situation?
1. As you treat people in a more favorable style you will be responded to in kind. More people are inclined to assist a positive person than a negative person. Most people, while they may express negatives, chose not to associate with people who are as or more negative than they are. 2. As your circle of acquaintances increase so does your network of people willing to assist you in any job transition you may undertake. 3. When viewed as a confident person you are treated as such and assume a position of competence. 4. When these responses occur you will become more self-assured.
Statistically the people hired and changing jobs in January and February are those that network and even interview during the prior holiday season. The holiday season provides the opportunity to meet more people and to network more than any other time of the year. Employers are always looking for positive, competent, and confident people. People are always willing to assist friendly, self-assured, positive and optimistic people. When you meet people at the different gatherings be the friendly, self-assured, positive and optimistic person you want to be.
If you are not sure or unhappy with your situation review your circumstance. Identify the positives of your current position: what has been good about it, what are my expectations, if I change nothing what can I expect in the future, and what could I change to attain my goals? Then do the opposite and identify the negatives of your position. Determine if an employment change is really what is necessary or if you just need to change something in-house.
When the career topic comes up this holiday season be ready to expound on your analysis of your career. Be prepared to positively and optimistically identify what you currently do and what you would like to. This will provide your networking contact the information they need to assist you in the future.
Volunteer for some activities this season. Your help will be greatly appreciated; you will meet new people in many different occupations and be able to discuss what they do and how they like it. Their input will allow you to determine if you want a position with their organization or an organization similar to theirs.
Your positive changes will have a reciprocal effect on your family as well as your associates and network. Children and spouses always respond in-kind to our exhibited behaviors.
In summary, you have the ability to create a positive holiday season and reduce employment uncertainty. You can display your positive attitude, participate in discussions about careers, and relate your successes and objectives. You can expand your circle of friends and acquaintances. You can explore new careers and set in motion positive changes for your employment situation. You can volunteer, help others, assist your community and increase your family's holiday enjoyment.
Key ingredients in resolving employment uncertainty are:
1. An objective look at your current situation to determine what really needs to happen 2. A decision to improve or maintain your positive attitude 3. Develop and expand your network of assistance
Vince Barrett, Principal of Quad City Career Counseling, Bettendorf, Iowa. Quad City Career Counseling provides a full range of career management services, counseling, coaching, and marketing.
