6 Mindset Shifts for Job Search and Career Success

Your mindset is a set of attitudes and beliefs that help you make sense of the world and yourself.

In your professional life, having the right mindset is key to building confidence, achieving goals, being happy, growing skills, being open to diverse perspectives, and overcoming rejection, doubt, and imposter syndrome, among other things. Having the right mindset is critical to being successful in all your professional endeavors.

Below are 6 practical mindset shifts that can help put you in a more positive frame of mind AND achieve your job search and career goals.

🧠⬆ Mindset Shift #1: It’s not rejection, it’s redirection.

If you are in, or plan to be in, a job search, it’s possible you’ll receive a rejection letter, email, or phone call after submitting a resume or sitting for an interview. And that can be disappointing. But it doesn’t have to be – with the right mindset.

Here’s the mindset shift ➡ It’s not rejection, it’s redirection.

🟢 Redirection to a bigger and better opportunity

🟢 Redirection to a bigger and better relationship

🟢 Redirection to someplace where you will be valued and appreciated

🟢 Redirection to somewhere good

When you shift your mindset from rejection to redirection, you focus on future opportunities and relationships instead of past shortcomings and disappointments. That simple shift puts you in a more positive mindset, which is critical for a successful job search.

🗝 Remember, it’s not rejection, it’s redirection.

🧠⬆ Mindset Shift #2: It’s not “I HAVE TO,” it’s “I GET TO.”

Most people approach a job search with a negative mindset. They see a job search as a necessary activity that can’t or shouldn’t be enjoyed. They look at a job search as a burden or something they are compelled to do. Approaching a job search – or any activity – with a negative attitude limits your performance, and often the outcome. There is, however, a simple mindset shift that can positively change your job search outlook, approach, experience, and possibly (hopefully!) result.

Here’s the mindset shift ➡ It’s not “I HAVE TO,” it’s “I GET TO.”

🟢 I GET TO search for a new job

🟢 I GET TO rediscover myself

🟢 I GET TO envision a bigger and better future self

🟢 I GET TO explore new opportunities and possibilities

🟢 I GET TO learn about new roles, companies, and industries

🟢 I GET TO meet new people

🟢 I GET TO interact even more with my network

🟢 I GET TO discuss my achievements and value I would provide to a prospective employer

🟢 I GET TO enter a new, healthier employment relationship

🟢 I GET TO secure a new job

“I HAVE TO” is limiting. “I GET TO” is empowering!

When you shift your mindset from “I HAVE TO” to “I GET TO,” you’ll approach your job search with more enthusiasm, optimism, and openness – all of which will improve your performance, your experience, and how you are viewed by prospective employers.

🗝 Remember, it’s not “I HAVE TO.” It’s “I GET TO.” 

🧠⬆ Mindset Shift #3: It’s not a weakness, it’s a hidden strengthen

✔ You didn’t apply for the job.

✔ You didn’t convey the value you’d bring to the employer during the interview.

✔ You passed on the promotional opportunity at work.

Sound familiar? If so, the culprit could very well be your mindset. You are too focused on your perceived weaknesses. You are approaching career opportunities from behind a self-imposed barrier. And that is holding you back.

You need to re-frame your mindset to turn your perceived weaknesses into your strengths. Below are a few examples of mindset shifts to help you get started:

🛑 Instead of: “I’m too young.”

🟢 Try this: “I am energetic, creative, passionate, and highly skilled in the latest industry technology.”

🛑 Instead of: “I’m too old.”

🟢 Try this: “I bring maturity, professionalism, insight, wisdom, and many industry contacts to this role.”

🛑 Instead of: “I don’t have enough experience.”

🟢 Try this: “I am someone that doesn’t have to unlearn bad habits, policies, and procedures from previous employers.”

🛑 Instead of: “I’m not from here.”

🟢 Try this: “I bring an outsider’s perspective, worldview, and objectivity to this role.”

It’s very likely that your perceived weaknesses are just hidden talents. To turn these talents into strengths (and advantages), start by re-framing your mindset. Don’t shy away from what you or someone else believes is a weakness – proactively communicate and demonstrate how it is actually a strength.

🗝 Remember, it’s not a weakness, it’s a hidden strength.

🧠⬆ Mindset Shift #4: Mindset Shift – It’s not “Why Would?” it’s “Why Wouldn’t?”

Have you ever been in a job search and thought, “Why would they (the company) hire me?” You begin to question yourself and your abilities. It’s as if you are looking for reasons not to apply for your desired role. You are focused on your perceived weaknesses. You are lacking in confidence. And this negative focus and lack of confidence is a self-imposed barrier that is holding you back from a successful job search and future. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a simple mindset shift that can positively change your focus, confidence, and approach to your job search.

Here’s the mindset shift ➡ It’s not “WHY WOULD they hire me?” it’s “WHY WOULDN'T they hire me?”

🔴 Asking yourself “WHY WOULD they hire me?” immediately takes your mind to a negative place. You focus on your perceived weaknesses. You look for reasons why you aren’t smart enough, strong enough, and skilled enough. It’s a mindset that crushes your confidence and holds you back from pursuing potentially good fitting opportunities. It also makes you feel (and appear) less assured of yourself and abilities, which can hurt your job search prospects.

🟢 On the other hand, asking yourself, “WHY WOULDN'T they hire me?” reframes your mind to focus on your strengths, your unique selling points, and the value you would provide to a prospective employer. Focusing on your strengths puts you in a positive frame of mind, which gives you the confidence to pursue opportunities that can make your future bigger and better. This mindset helps you feel (and appear) more confident in yourself and abilities, which is an important factor in a successful job search.

🗝 Remember, it’s not “WHY WOULD they hire me?” it’s “WHY WOULDN'T they hire me?”

🧠⬆ Mindset Shift #5: Mindset Shift – It’s not “I FAILED,” it’s “I LEARNED”

When your job doesn’t work out as you or your employer hoped, it’s easy to adopt a negative mindset. You blame or criticize yourself. You ruminate on what you could have done differently. You doubt your qualifications, abilities, and skills. You start to wonder if your next job experience will end up like this one. You question if there is “something wrong” with you. You see yourself as having failed.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a mindset shift that can positively change how you see your “unsuccessful” work experience.

Here’s the mindset shift ➡ It’s not “I FAILED,” it’s “I LEARNED.”

🟢 I LEARNED I’m not a good fit for that organization’s culture

🟢 I LEARNED I’m not a good fit for that occupation

🟢 I LEARNED that industry/company/leader’s values don’t align with mine

🟢 I LEARNED my talents and strengths can be better utilized somewhere else

🟢 I LEARNED I need new skills and training to succeed in that role

🟢 I LEARNED I need more time and experience before I’m ready for those responsibilities

I FAILED is a pessimistic mindset. I LEARNED is an optimistic mindset.

When you shift your mindset from I FAILED to I LEARNED, you see your work experience as a lesson, which is foundational for professional (and personal) growth. Adopting the I LEARNED mindset will leave you wiser, more confident, and better positioned for future career success.

You assign meaning to your past, to your experience(s).

Choose to assign positive meanings.

You don’t fail. You learn lessons from your experience(s).

🗝 Remember, it’s not “I FAILED,” it’s “I LEARNED.”

🧠⬆ Mindset Shift #6: Focus on "THE GAIN," not "THE GAP"

Take a moment to assess your career (or life).

How did you do so? If you are like most people, you probably thought about what you haven’t accomplished. How far you are from your own career goals – or the goals others have set for you. You likely compared yourself to where others are – perhaps coworkers, friends, or classmates. If so, you are living in THE GAP. You have an external focus. You are measuring yourself against ideals and against others. You are focusing on what you don’t have and what you haven’t accomplished. This is a GAP mindset. It’s a negative mindset that produces negative feelings.

But you don’t have to think – or feel – this way. There is a simple mindset shift that can positively change your motivation, how you measure your progress, and how you view and feel about yourself.

Here’s the mindset shift ➡ Focus on "THE GAIN," not "THE GAP.”

🔴 Focusing on THE GAP – the distance between where you are and where you think you should be or where others are – you measure yourself against an ideal that is always moving. You are measuring how far you still must go. This focus often results in feelings of disappointment, frustration, and low self-esteem.

🟢 Focusing on THE GAIN – the distance between where you are and where you started – you measure your progress. You measure how much you’ve accomplished thus far. This focus often results in feelings of satisfaction, confidence, and high self-esteem.  

When you shift your mindset from THE GAP to THE GAIN, you’ll begin to measure how much you’ve achieved and how far you’ve come in your career (or life). You’ll focus on what you’ve done, not what you haven’t done. Doing so will leave you feeling happy, optimistic, motivated, and energized about yourself and your career. THE GAIN mindset will help you be more successful.

PROGRESS LEADS TO MOVITATION, so measure your progress.

🗝 Remember, focus on THE GAIN, not THE GAP.

(This mindset shift was inspired by the book, The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy, PhD. This concept – mindset shift – fundamentally changed the way I measure and view my career (and life) and I’m confident it can do the same for you.)

These 6 mindset shifts will put you in a positive frame of mind, sharpen your focus, and boost your confidence, optimism, and motivation. They will help you achieve your job search and career goals.

So get your MINDSET SHI(F)T together. Like right now.

For information about job openings, visit: https://www.leonardworkforcesolutions.com/openings

For more career development tips and information, visit https://www.leonardworkforcesolutions.com/news

For information about 1:1 career development services, visit: https://www.leonardworkforcesolutions.com/careerdevelopment

If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:

1.           How To Go From Not Selected To Re-Approached For Your Desired Job: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-go-from-selected-re-approached-your-desired-job-leonard-mhrm/?trackingId=Ws%2B%2BcKjoR3mvzrNExqYsVA%3D%3D

2.           Use reverse engineering to create multiple pathways to your target role (w/ an example!): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/use-reverse-engineering-create-multiple-pathways-your-leonard-mhrm/

3.           STAY or GO? Ask yourself this question: "How do my work relationships make me feel?: https://youtu.be/pjKqjsnXFiQ  

[This article was originally published on LinkedIn on 10/3/22: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/6-mindset-shifts-job-search-career-success-bill-leonard-mhrm/]