It’s All About Attitude: Show Your Young Adult How to Overcome Fear and Adjust Their Attitude

by Hallie Crawford, MA, CPCC

Pounding the pavement is tough. Let’s face it; it’s not going to appear on anyone’s top 10 list of fun things to do. But if your young adult goes into his/her job search with the wrong attitude, it’s going to be a downward spiral with a potentially unhappy ending. The good news is… you can help prevent this.

Now is the time to encourage him/her to make career decisions from a position of strength or possibility and not out of fear, weakness or other negative feelings. It may take practice, but creating that feeling of strength and optimism can happen. Offer these suggestions to your adult son or daughter to bolster their outlook on their job search in one of the most challenging economies of our times:

Remind them that worrying does not help - Taking action does. Encourage them to do something about the challenges they’re facing. This not only helps them to tackle each challenge head on, it also empowers and motivates them to continue to achieve success along their career path!

Ask them to evaluate their decision making process - Ask your young adult to take some time to notice how they approach their decisions. Are they approaching them with confidence and strength? If the answer is yes, then they’ll know that they’re getting a positive outcome as a result of their positive attitude and actions. If they approach decisions with fear or anger, then, conversely, they’ll notice the result is much less constructive.

Have them practice being positive – Consciously practicing being positive may feel strange at first so encourage them to take small steps. Remind them to notice how they are feeling about the decisions they are making. If they are experiencing ‘bad vibes’ then it might be time to shift their mindset, or to table that important decision until they feel more comfortable and confident.

Encourage your adult child to invest in themselves - While money may seem tight right now, one of their best bets is to spend their resources making themselves invaluable to their current or potential employer. When they invest in their education – through additional classes to beef up skills or through advanced programs to learn new skills – they enhance their value and marketability.

Spend time with your young adult to discuss their justifiable fears and concerns in this time of uncertainty. Then offer these suggestions to help them maintain a positive outlook so that they follow their chosen career path and ultimately reach their goals.

About the Author:

Help your college grad get on the right track! Certified Career Coach Hallie Crawford specializes in helping recent college grads and boomerangs identify their ideal career path and make it happen. To schedule a complimentary consultation and find out more about Hallie visit http://www.halliecrawford.com or contact her at 877-298-6444.

Bring Hallie to your next event! Hallie is a compelling, humorous and passionate career speaker recently featured on CNN and Fox Business News. Find out how you can invite her to speak at your next association, club or networking meeting.

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