LAST week, we looked at some undesirable mindsets that would hinder the job-seeking process. Here are some other undesirable mindsets.
Inferiority complex
Due to discouragement or critical comments from others, some individuals may feel inferior and lack confidence in their abilities.
This type of individual often gives up easily and would give up even before they try. They always feel that they have a lot of shortcomings and would always lose out when compared to others. They often back out at the last minute and end up giving their chances to somebody else.
Due to their feelings of inferiority, they would not be able to perform well during the interview. They would stammer, feel giddy, have butterflies in the stomach or be lost for words.
And when they are not able to perform well, they would be even more convinced that they are not good enough. This makes them lose confidence and feel even more inferior. They let their inferiority beat them before others do. These individuals need to overcome their feeling of inferiority and learn to see the good points in themselves.
They need to constantly encourage themselves and believe that they may not be perfect but they do have their own strengths. They should discover their strong points and tap on them to build up their confidence.
Dependent
Some individuals have been so well-protected by those around them that they become overly-dependent on others. They rely on others to make decisions for them, to make plans for them and to map out everything for them.
Hence, they do not have a mind of their own and would just follow others in whatever they do. They would choose a profession that is least demanding and not consideration other factors such as their suitability, interests, prospects of the job, etc.
They are usually not competitive as they always rely on others to provide them with ideas, solutions and direction.
Hence, during their job-seeking process, they wait for directives from friends and family and would act according to their advice. They wait for opportunities to come by and do not seek to break out of their situation.
Most interviewers are not impressed by such individuals as they are often seen as lacking drive and having no sense of direction.
To overcome this, these individuals need to learn to think for themselves and decide what is the best for them. Only then would they be able to impress their interviewers and convince them of their ability to perform.
Focus on big money and fame
Some individuals put a lot of focus on money and fame to the extent that they are willing to sacrifice their family, social life and even their interests. They are constantly seeking opportunities to move to a bigger job, a bigger corporation, a bigger city and even overseas.
Naturally, everyone wants to be successful and should strive to do so. But it should not be done in such an extreme way that they have to forgo their principles or values or even important people in their lives.
Individuals who seem to be very engrossed in achieving success can be seen as those who are not going to be loyal to the company as they are only interested to build themselves up and not the company.
Hence, they might meet resistance in getting a job as most companies appreciate loyalty and not those who would come and go like a breeze.
These individuals should learn to value people and their work and not take them as a tool to just achieve success. In the long run, they will realise that success does not mean money and fame alone but also job satisfaction and respect from others.
Priscilla Hiu is a career guidance consultant of Gracia Management and a certified behavioural consultant of DISC Personality Profiling System, Institution of Motivation Living, USA and Extended DISC Personality Profiling System, Extended DISC Northgate.