Article
The Power of Gratitude.
“Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it.” ~ Ralph Marston
How many times during the course of a day do you say “thank you”? You say “thank you” for everything from having the door held open for you to “thank you” for your morning coffee at your favourite coffee shop to “thank you” when a colleague delivers their report to you on time. “Thank you” is a very common phrase in your day to day vocabulary and it is an especially important phrase when it comes to your job search or career transition.
During a job search or career transition people you know, and people you don't, will be more than willing to go out of their way to help you. They will provide you with job leads, introduce you to people in their network, review and share your resume, call in favours, send emails and make calls on your behalf, and be your best supporters and encouragers...if they know their efforts are appreciated and are being followed up on. It is not that people are expecting a thank you card, or a token of appreciation but if they are going above and beyond to help you out and you don't let them know you are following up on their suggestions and that you value their efforts they may match your effort with a little less of their own.
Not everyone will be able to help you in the way you need to be helped and that's okay. Thank them for their efforts and ask them if they might know someone who can help you with what you need. If they make a suggestion please follow up with that suggestion, let them know the outcome, and thank them. If they aren’t able to make a suggestion, please thank them. When someone is able to help you and gives you information, a resource, or a contact, let them know that you are grateful for their assistance and genuinely thank them. Look them in the eye, shake their hand, and say “thank you for connecting me with your colleague for an information interview" or “I appreciate you taking the time to discuss my career options with me” or "thank you for passing along my resume to your company's recruiter".
A box of thank you cards is just as critical to your job search as your resume is. Keep a box handy. Hand write a personalized thank you note and pop it in the mail as soon as you get off the phone with a key helper, leave an information interview, or get a great job lead. Consider a coffee or lunch date with someone who has been especially helpful after you have secured your best fit job. Invite your network to a little get together to thank them for their energy and efforts in helping you achieve your dreams. Never underestimate the power of saying "thank you".
One of the most powerful ways to say thank you is to pay your good fortune forward. Share what you have learned with others, pass along a job lead that might not be a good fit for you to someone else, or introduce an acquaintance to someone in your network. In honour of Career Designs for Life’s 5th anniversary, and in the spirit of paying it forward, I am saying thank you, to you, for your contributions to Career Designs for Life’s success by donating $500.00 to Suit Yourself Clothes. Suit Yourself Clothes is an Edmonton based charitable organization which collects and distributes quality clothing and accessories, free of charge, to low-income women who are seeking employment or making a transition in the workforce.
Without you Career Designs for Life would not be what it is today. Thank you to each and every one of you, from the bottom of my heart, for your support, encouragement, referrals, and partnerships. Thank you for trusting me with your dreams and including me in your successes!
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” ~ Albert Schweitzer
Wishing you much success,
Paula
Connect with Paula on LinkedIn or Facebook
You can also “like” Career Designs for Life from our website home page.
Please feel free to post your career and employment questions, engage in discussions and conversations about world of work issues, and share your experiences and resources – we want to hear from you!
For more information about Career Designs for Life services please feel free to contact Paula directly at paula@careerdesignsforlife.com or 780.589.2245.
