A Girl’s Guide to Getting a Job: The Power of Positive Psychology

She explains why finding a job is all about having a positive attitude, and believing in yourself.


With unemployment pushing 10% and many people being out of work for a year or more, the tendency is to become negative and self-critical. But this is the worst thing you can do.

Finding a job is about having a positive attitude and believing in yourself. According to Doug Thom, an instructor at Salt Lake Community College, the process of becoming employed is one primarily of psychology and perception. He has stated that people are not hired based on their credentials but that credentials merely get one an interview.It is important to know what an employer is looking for and practice those skills.

In addition, many people get depressed and this creates not only a negative affect but lack of motivation to even go out and look for a job. I suggest 13 positive strategies for finding and getting the “right” job.

Positive Psychological Strategies for Finding a Job

1. Like yourself. Work on your self-respect and confidence. If you     don’t like yourself, others will find it hard to like you.

2. Visualize the type of job you want, and visualize yourself doing      it.

3. Believe that you will get the job. We attract what we believe.

4. Match your strengths to the job requirements. Look for a job     that matches your strengths, not your weaknesses. Ask     someone to objectively sit down with you and help you list     about 5-10 strengths and then look for jobs that utilize those     strengths. We often want to be something that we couldn’t     possibly become because we don’t have strengths in that area.     That’s why it’s important to take inventories like the MBTI to     match your style with potential jobs. If you don’t match your     strengths to the job in your resume and in the interview, you     won’t get an offer. Your weaknesses come through when you     haven’t identified, provided evidence for, and matched your     strengths to the strengths needed for the job.

5. Be a positive person. No one wants to hire someone who is     sad or negative to be around.

6. Have a strong work ethic. Employers would rather hire     someone who knows how to work than someone with talent.

7. Tell your prospective employer that you want the job and what     you would bring to the company. Be assertive not aggressive.

8. Don’t be afraid to sell yourself. No one else will.

9. Learn good interviewing skills. Be direct, honest and confident.     Personnel people can tell if you aren’t honest or are insecure.

10. Exercise. If you are in control of at least that area of your life,       it translates to other areas.

11. Be positive! A positive attitude about life shows in your       actions and behaviors. It also shows in your eyes.

12. Know your prospective employer. Research so that you know       their business.

13. Don’t always look for the dream job. It may be the right       employer that could turn the opportunity into the dream job.       It’s a tight market out there.


Dr. Henrie is an adjunct professor of Positive Psychology at the University of Utah and she has a private counseling practice. She can be reached at (801) 787-9855.

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