We play many roles in life and by far my favorite is as the Professional Development Director for RPCV/W. 

It’s been a real pleasure organizing the career panel events, reviewing resumes and meeting one-on-one with our members to discuss their job search strategies. Inshallah, I’ll continue as the Prof Dev Director in 2015. With the roll-out of our new website complete, I aim to make semi-regular blog posts on job and career related topics in addition to posting pictures from our events.

My first post is on a somewhat abstract but important topic: attitude. A Google definition search defines ‘attitude’ as a “settled way of thinking or feeling about something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior”. In the job search arena there is little evaluation of a person’s way of thinking or feeling, but there is significant emphasis placed on a person’s behavior throughout the process. This is the reason why attitude is often the main differentiator between job candidates.

Think about it this way: one thing that we all have in common is that we’ve all been through the Peace Corps application process.

Was it long? Repetitive? Frustrating at times? Yes, yes and yes. Now, I’m not certain about it but if I were a betting man I would guess that someone at PCHQ is assessing your attitude throughout the process because those road bumps and tie-ups will certainly not be your last. The point is to maintain that positive outlook and attitude throughout the process.

It’s the same way with the job search process. Yes, it can take a long time but, in my heart of hearts, I believe that at the end of the long road you will find the job for you. I really do. We’ve built up so much good karma that it would defy the laws of the universe for this not to be true. It may not happen in the way that you plan, or on your timetable, but it’ll happen.

Mark my words. If it doesn’t happen, I owe you a beer at the next happy hour. If it does, then you owe me the beer.

I have to stress the importance of keeping up that positive attitude. It will seep through into everything you do, everything you write, and all of your interactions. And if you don’t have it immediately then do what you can to artificially boost it. Go for a run, drink 30 oz of coffee, watch some comedy on YouTube.

Regardless of what you did in Peace Corps, or what’s on your resume, it’s your attitude that really delivers.