Trying to maintain your focus and motivation throughout a long job search can prove difficult. You put in long hours tweaking your resume, shoring up your network and writing the perfect cover letter. Then you practice your elevator pitch, responses to 30 common interview questions and your handshake. After several rejections, and despite your excellent preparation, you start to feel discouraged.
Cheer up. Everyone has down moments in life, and many prosperous people had to go through tough times before they accomplished great things. Get a mental pick-me-up with these 10 inspirational quotes to keep you motivated during your job search.
1. Wayne Gretzky
NHL legend and all-time leading goal scorer Wayne Gretzky said, "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take." Similarly, you never get a job if you do not try to apply for one. Keep taking shot after shot until you manage to score a goal and land a job. Eventually, you become so good at taking shots that one goes in because you've learned so much from the misses.
2. Milton Berle
Comedian Milton Berle's wisdom is ageless, especially when he said, "If opportunity doesn't knock, then build a door." If you have trouble finding a job, then build a professional reputation until someone takes notice of your skills, accomplishments and qualifications. Instead of waiting for others to notice you, do things that get noticed until an opportunity comes your way.
3. Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill once said, "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." This is certainly true of a job search. Even if you fail a few times, maintain your enthusiasm, so you can turn your mistakes into valuable learning opportunities.
4. Katharine Whitehorn
British journalist Katharine Whitehorn said, "Find out what you like doing best, and get someone to pay you for it." This is always true as you try to find your perfect career fit. Commit your professional goals to paper, find out what job description syncs with your personality the best, and then put your passion to work. If you mold your greatest passions into a career, people pay you for it for the rest of your life.
5. Mark Twain
Famous American author and humorist Mark Twain said it best: "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you too can become great." Misery loves company, and negativity is contagious. That's why it's important to surround yourself with positive people who can prop you up and inspire you during your job search.
6. Confucius
Ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius spoke the truth when he wrote, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." Finding your dream job may take time and dedication, but the effort is well worth it, because once you land it, and you'll be getting paid for something you would happily do for free.
7. Marva Collins
Chicago educator Marva Collins believed that, "Success doesn’t come to you, you go to it." She started a preparatory academy in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Chicago in 1975. Collins faced many daily challenges as she tried to bring kids out of poverty, but she never let those difficulties deter her from following her dreams and doing what she thought was right.
8. Estee Lauder
Famed fashion mogul Estee Lauder told someone, "I never dreamed about success. I worked for it." A potential employer does not pay for your dreams; an employer pays for your work. Similarly, you need to work for every job opportunity that comes your way.
9. Henry Ford
Industrialist Henry Ford had this to say about becoming someone great: "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." This saying reflects that your attitude leads to success. If you believe you can do something, you can accomplish it. The opposite is also true.
10. Steve Jobs
Technological innovator Steve Jobs also believed that people should find out what they love to do. He said, "The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle." The same is true for a job search. Try not to settle, or you may become unsettled as you try to find your one true place in your professional life.
These inspirational quotes come from truly successful people who worked hard to achieve their dreams. You might not achieve the same scale of popularity or affluence as they did, but with the right attitude and the proper perspective on a job hunt, you can certainly find your ideal job that gives you the same level of satisfaction as they enjoyed.
Photo Courtesy of v.alabaz at Flickr.com
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