The Difference Between a Job and an Opportunity
A positive attitude is one of your best assets on the job.
A job is where you go to put in your time and get a paycheck. You perform needed skills, do what you’re told, and get it done so you can get on with the better things in life. Some people like their jobs, and others don’t.
Even the best IT job may not provide fulfillment and purpose – or it might.
What determines whether that IT position you just accepted is just a job or becomes an opportunity is one thing and one thing only – your attitude. Ideally, you will take a position well-suited to your skills with a company that treats its employees well and makes an effort to create a nice place to work.
In reality, though, many job seekers end up taking jobs that are less than ideal when they can’t find what they are looking for. After all, there are those bills to pay. So how can you turn that lackluster job into an opportunity? That’s where attitude comes in.
The Benefits of a Positive Attitude
It’s easy to turn negative when you are stuck in a job you don’t really enjoy, but negativity isn’t likely to improve your situation in any way. It may make you feel better for a minute or two when you vent about your situation or make a snarky comment about your boss, but a negative attitude can actually have the effect of keeping you stuck even longer.
What many people don’t realize is that negative attitudes are extremely contagious. It really does only take one bad apple to spoil the whole bunch, when it comes to a negative attitude. And sooner or later, negative attitudes cause problems for the company when they spread out onto clients, co-workers and everyone else you come into contact with.
When you have a positive attitude, opportunities will often find you.
A positive attitude, on the other hand, can show your boss that you have what it takes to move into a better position that may be more fulfilling. No one wants to work with someone who is chronically unhappy, so if you want to be promoted, be positive and do your job in the best way you know how, even if it’s too easy or you feel it’s beneath you.
Positive attitudes are as contagious as negative ones, but in a far better way. Instead of complaining, you can encourage others and appreciate them for what they for you directly or for the company. Looking for ways to have fun and enjoy work will pay off when it comes time to choose who to promote or reward in some way. You can find more tips on having a positive attitude in the workplace here.
Choose to look for the good in any situation, and chances are, you will find it somewhere. Instead of being miserable and unhappy, the job can turn into an opportunity to grow where you are planted so that you are ready when something more ideal comes along.
GDH Consulting helps match IT professionals to jobs and opportunities well suited to them. Join our talent network today.
