________HOW'S YOUR ATTITUDE?
Your attitude may well become your most important asset in both work and life - or it may get in your way. Indeed, we consider it to be the first key step in conducting an effective job search.
Take a moment to examine your attitude:
Check the current state of your attitude by completing the following exercise. Indicate whether or not you primarily agree ("Yes") or disagree ("No") with each statement:
If you checked "Yes" to more than six of these statements, you may be harboring some negative attitudes that affect both your job search and your on-the-job performance. You should seriously consider changing these attitudes since they are most likely significant barriers to getting ahead in work and life!
SOURCE: Adapted from Ron Krannich, Ph.D., The Military Spouse's Employment Pocket Guide (Manassas Park: Impact Publications), pages 6-7. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Copying strictly forbidden.
YES NO 1. Other people often make my work and life difficult. ___ ___ 2. When I get into trouble, it's often because of what someone else did rather than my fault. ___ ___ 3. People often take advantage of me. ___ ___ 4. When I worked, people less qualified than me often got promoted. ___ ___ 5. I avoid taking risks because I'm afraid of failing. ___ ___ 6. I don't trust many people. ___ ___ 7. Not many people trust me. ___ ___ 8. Not many people I know take responsibility. ___ ___ 9. Most people get ahead because of connections, schmoozing, and politics. ___ ___ 10. When I worked, I was assigned more duties than other people in similar positions. ___ ___ 11. I expect to be discriminated against in my job search and on the job. ___ ___ 12. I don't feel like I can change many things; I've been dealt this hand, so I'll have to live with it. ___ ___ 13. I've had my share of bad luck. ___ ___ 14. Employers try to take advantage of job seekers by offering them low salaries. ___ ___ 15. I didn't like many of the people I worked with. ___ ___ 16. There's not much I can do to get ahead. ___ ___ 17. My ideas are not really taken seriously. ___ ___ 18. I often think of reasons why other people's ideas won't work. ___ ___ 19. Other people are often wrong, but I have to put up with them nonetheless. ___ ___ 20. I sometimes respond to suggestions by saying "Yes, but...,"
"I'm not sure...," "I don't think it will work...," "Let's not do that...."___ ___ 21. I don't see why I need to get more education. ___ ___ 22. I often wish other people would just disappear. ___ ___ 23. I sometimes feel depressed. ___ ___ 24. I have a hard time getting and staying motivated. ___ ___ 25. I don't look forward to going to work. ___ ___ 26. When I worked, I sometimes came to work late. ___ ___ 27. The jobs I've had didn't reflect my true talents. ___ ___ 28. I'm worth more than most employers will pay. ___ ___ 29. I've been known to do things behind my boss's back that could get me into trouble. ___ ___ TOTALS ___ ___