Whatever is next for you after graduation, whether it's work or school, what really matters is that you are prepared for what's ahead in your life. A critical aspect of this preparation is your attitude. Having the right attitude can really help you find the job that's right for you. And having the right attitude toward your job search means that you're thinking about your goals and charting your course toward success. The right attitude will guide your actions along that course. I'm going to touch upon a number of different attitudes, and I want you to take this chance to reflect and consider which of these attitudes best describes you. First, I'll describe a passive attitude. Some people sit back idly and simply hope that their future will work out for the best. They take no action toward realizing their own future. They basically just sit around and wait. Perhaps they wait for others to find a job for them, or maybe they rely on others help to compose their resume or their cover letter. They may wait for someone to assist them in completing an online job application. But this attitude gets them nowhere, and it reflects a passive approach to the job search. Let's contrast that with people who have a take-charge attitude. They take a more active role in planning their future. They know what their goals are, and they take action to ensure that their goals are achieved. They actively start doing what is necessary in order to find a job that ushers them toward their goals. Take charge type people actively learn new skills and improve upon their job search knowledge. They network with people, hoping that these connections will lead them to a job. And they will do whatever is necessary to land the best possible position, one that will carry them into the future. This take charge attitude is also known as an assertive approach. Next, I'll talk about the attitude known as being a team player. Now, some people are not team players. They have a more difficult time accepting input or guidance from others. And their resistance comes from an arrogant sense of knowing everything. They seem to think they know all the answers and have the best way of going about things. Unfortunately, this attitude can deter their job search progress and really cause delays in them finding a job. It can even make it difficult for them to keep a job. Other people, however, recognize the value of working collaboratively within a team and are more than willing to learn and to ask for input from others during their job search. They're flexible and open to acquiring new ideas, new techniques, as well as perspectives from any number of people, perhaps from a counselor at Vocational Rehabilitation, or Voc Rehab or from a transition specialist at school or even from personnel at a One-Stop Career Center. In the end, a successful job search must sometimes involve a team of people working together. Another attitude I'd like to address that can really benefit a person's job search is their level of commitment. People who are not highly committed to the job search will often come up with reasons to turn down job opportunities. Maybe because the job is not "perfect". Or they might even make up excuses for why they can't work in the first place. Or maybe they're unwilling to acquire the skills necessary for a given position. These types of behaviors demonstrate a low level of commitment to the job search. Now, there are others who have a very high level of commitment to their job search. They're assertive and willingly gain the expertise required to secure a job. They are aware of the hard work that's demanded to learn the new skills that they will put into practice on the job. Many people who are committed to finding a job talk about the job seeking process itself as being a full-time job. And in tough economic times, when jobs are scarce, the process of finding work can be even more daunting. Another attitude that can dramatically enhance your job search is the ability to see the big picture. Seeing the big picture might mean you are willing and eager to accept a job that is not ideal for you but that could lead to further opportunities down the road. Seeing the big picture may also require you to accept lower pay than you want in order to get your foot in the door and work toward promotion. Being able to see the big picture is truly critical in achieving your long term goals. In and of itself, the job search contains numerous interdependent components, therefore flexibility will allow you to see the big picture and to navigate along your journey toward achieving your dreams. Now that I've outlined a number of different attitudes, take the time to look within and consider which of these attitudes best describes you. It's important to know yourself so you can be certain of what you need to do to be successful. Which attitudes are going to serve you well in being a successful job seeker and ultimately an employee? How can you adopt the attitudes that will guide you toward making your dreams a reality? Now is the time to consider your goals and to develop your plan and to capitalize upon the power that a positive attitude gives you, in order to realize the future you want for yourself. Now, there's no one out there who can guarantee your success. However, with the right attitude, some hard work, and your gaze set firmly on the future, you will achieve your goals and dreams.