You change jobs for many different reasons. The most obvious reason for considering a change is that your current job no longer gives you a level of satisfaction that you expect in return for your effort. You also believe that there is another job out there that would give you a higher level of satisfaction or better rewards than the job you hold now. You want to leave your current job because you don’t see it as that great of a “catch” and you want a better opportunity.
Here’s a secret to becoming an attractive candidate for your future employer:
Treat Your Current Job – and All Your Previous Jobs – as Great Jobs.
Employers are more attracted to a candidate who is currently a satisfied employee than a dissatisfied employee. They’re looking for candidates who can see the opportunity in every challenge and the best in people, and these candidates are usually satisfied, high-performing employees.
Do you ever noticed that when you are desperately looking for a job, you seem to run up against closed doors, yet when you get what you considered a great job, suddenly you start fielding calls for other exciting opportunities? You may say that this is the law of attraction at work. When you are content and happy in a great job, you create a field that attracts more opportunities for being content and happy – in other words – additional options for great jobs. The best time to look for a new job may be when you don’t need a new job.
What if you’re feeling burned out right now, looking for a job, and running into walls?
You may want to do an attitude assessment and come to terms with the situation in your current job. Check your resentment, frustration, and/or desperation at the door and look for the positive experiences you’ve gained from your current job. You can make your best effort rehearsing answers to interview questions, but you may not be able to fake your attitude for too long. You need to sincerely believe in the value of each experience to your growth and development.
How you feel about your current job will come across in the way you write your cover letter and resume. Your attitude about your current job will be between the lines of what you say to a recruiter or prospective employer.
