How to Build a Positive Outlook While Seeking an Environmental Job

Written By Lauren Pepper:
linkedin.com/in/laurenfpepper

 A positive outlook? In this economy? I must be joking, right?  It’s true that those of us currently seeking a new career in the environmental field are doing so during a time of economic uncertainty. However, I contend that the need for an optimistic attitude is all the more important. Here are some benefits of such a mentality:

Projects Confidence

An optimistic outlook does wonders for the energy you put out into the world. If you’re feeling positive about something, people will notice. You will appear more self-assured when sitting down for an interview, and will sound like someone with clarity around their vision and goals for the future. This will impress interviewers, who are generally looking for someone who is not only confident but knows what they want.

Notice Opportunities

Training your brain to think more optimistically will help broaden your focus to include unique possibilities and potential opportunities that may not be apparent at first glance. If you’re not looking for something, then you’re never going to find it. However, if you remain open and think outside the box, more prospects will become noticeable to you and you can then weigh your options as to whether they could potentially meet your needs.

Improves Focus

Keeping a positive focus on what you want helps keep that goal at the forefront of your mind; leaving little room for ‘what-ifs’ and negative intrusive thoughts. In turn, this helps keep your energy up, allowing you to pursue your goal over a longer period of time. 

Promote Resilience

With a more positive outlook comes a healthier attitude, whether towards job hunting or in general. Knowing that you have a goal you want to achieve which will make you happy in the long run makes those stings of rejection more bearable. They’ll still hurt, but instead of being just rejections, they will become learning opportunities. What could have been improved upon, and how can you change things to better suit your end goal? The path to victory never runs smooth, and there will always be little rejections or disappointments along the way. But as long as you see them as opportunities, you will come back stronger and more prepared until you finally reach that important goal.

Increase Approachability 

Last but certainly not least on this list, having a sunny disposition will give you a more approachable air. This attitude will help a lot while networking, as it can draw positive attention and interest. The professionals you reach out to will appreciate connecting with a person who is polite and has a genuine curiosity about their field of study. If you can marry your passion for environmental work to this disposition, you’ll have a winning combination!

It’s understandable that it may be difficult to cultivate and keep positive thoughts while searching during a tough job market. While it may be difficult to develop and maintain positive thoughts, if you can treat it like part of your arsenal of soft skills it may become easier to keep it up over time. If you can struggle with this, I recommend the Mindset and Motivation series created by Laura Thorne. It is a 3-part series that helps you learn tools to help you make better decisions and turns your dreams into actionable goals. 

In the meantime, good luck and stay positive, reader! You can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.