To Get Hired or Get Promoted, Attitude Is The Key

When you're looking to get hired or get promoted, what do you think is your most important asset? Your experience? Knowledge? Skill? Talent?

While all of those are advantages that will help you achieve your goals, there's one thing that's more important than all of them combined.

Your attitude!

I attended a board meeting recently. It should've been spelled "bored." Just about everyone's eyes were glazed over or nearly closed with fatigue as one dull presentation after another was foisted upon the board members, staff and audience.

Then something changed.

Someone who had never spoken at a board meeting before got up, went to the lectern, fired up her PowerPoint presentation, and totally blew everyone away! People perked up in their seats and listened attentively to her every word. When she was done, people clapped! (If you've ever attended a public agency board meeting before, you'll know how remarkable that is!) The board president said, "I've seen hundreds of presentations. This is the first time I've ever seen one that elicited applause!"

Was this presenter more experienced, more knowledgeable, more skilled or more talented than all the others? Absolutely not. As a fairly new employee, she was actually inferior in all of those areas.

What made the difference? Her attitude. She was enthusiastic, positive, upbeat, energetic and truly excited about what she was talking about! It wasn't the quality of her presentation that impressed people, it was how she made them feel. Her enthusiasm was contagious, so the audience greatly enjoyed listening to facts and figures that, presented by someone without her energetic attitude, would've bored them to tears.

Everyone in that room will remember and think very highly of her--not the more experienced, knowledgeable, skilled or talented presenters--because of her attitude.

You know why companies conduct time-consuming, labor-intensive job interviews instead of simply hiring people based on the qualifications presented in their resumes? One of the reasons is to find someone they'll enjoy working with. This can only be conveyed in person, by your attitude.

Think of your own coworkers. Who do you enjoy working with? The smart guy who has all the answers but acts superior? The woman who's has the most experience but whines or complains whenever she's asked to do something in a new way? Or the person who always smiles, listens to you, stays positive, friendly and supportive no matter what?

How's your attitude?

Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.

---

Get That Job: Mastering Job Interviews

I've heard it said?in fact, it might well have been... Read More

Job Hunting Tips: Staying Active

Unemployment is depressing: financial pressures stress you out, looking for... Read More

Resume Formats ... The Hidden Pitfalls

Deciding on a resume format is the first major decision... Read More

Tips for Terrific Telephone Interviews

Telephone interviews don't just happen; they are the result of... Read More

How To Write A Resume, Avoid These Resume Mistakes

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME-MISTAKE #1NEVER USE THE WRONG PAPER!... Read More

Believe And Get Hired

Good things seem to come in bunches, especially in a... Read More

Vocational Experts 7 Proposals to Solve the Unemployment Problem

The subject is constantly in the news and may decide... Read More

Use Job Search Hacks to Get Hired Faster

Job searching alone is like hitchhiking a scary ride with... Read More

The Musketeer Approach

Stories of intrigue, treachery, politics, lies, double crosses,... Read More

Telecommuting Website (Part One)

"I've heard you talk about building a website to get... Read More

The Best Business And Economy Solutions

In todays Business and economy, starting any business service requires... Read More

Unemployment Survival: Taking Back Control

One of the most emotionally crippling aspects of unemployment is... Read More

Passing The Police Test Just Became Easier

You've taken the police officer selection test or law enforcement... Read More

Finding the Right Travel Nursing Placement Agency

Travel nursing is becoming one of our nation's fastest growing... Read More

The #1 Job Search Mistake To Avoid: Not Preparing Your Mind!

Mental preparation is probably your most important task as you... Read More

From The WorkWise Collection: Ten Ways to Win the Job Search Mind Game

Are you one of the thousands of job seekers who... Read More

The Springtime of Your Career

Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love, introduced... Read More

You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression

There is no easy way to define exactly what editors,... Read More

Can You Actually Fail A Personality Quiz?

Q. I didn't get a job that I interviewed for.... Read More

Everyone Should Have a RED BALL in the Job Search

May I explain what about what a red ball means... Read More

Handing in Your Resignation and Serving Notice

Have you made the right choice? Before deciding to resign... Read More

One Cover Letter Secret You Cant Afford To Miss

Suppose you were the hiring manager, your desk piled high... Read More

Advantages of Mobile Oil Changes; A Potential Small Business for You?

Mobile oil change and mobile lubes are great for fleet... Read More

How To Type A Resume For Employers

Learning how to type a resume may feel like a... Read More

TMI: The Resume Destroyer

"They say my résumé should be only one page long.... Read More

When Bad Interviews Happen to Good Candidates

Going through the motions of a bad interview is like... Read More

Whats Stopping You from Getting Your Next, Good Job?

This question comes up often when I'm working with someone... Read More

Career Planning for Gifted Adults

"James is so restless and energetic. I wonder if he's... Read More

Fascinating Ways to Make a Living Doing What You Love May Be Closer Than You Think...

You don't have to look very far to find fascinating... Read More

Are You Tired of Hiring Other Peoples Rejects? - 12 Mistakes Recruiters Make and How To Avoid Them

When John applied for a job at Oakland Company, his... Read More

Hot Business Trends for 2004? And Beyond: Maybe One Will Turn Into a Creative Business Idea for You

I always look forward to the December issue of... Read More

How To Resign Gracefully

Once a new job has been accepted, you need to... Read More

Job Search Blurts

I coined this word to draw attention to the nervous... Read More