Discouraged job-seekers and transitional career people approach me for advice. They frequently ask if there isn't something wrong with them.  After all, they say they set career goals and find themselves repeatedly put off or discouraged by prospective employers. These seekers focus on what they sense is lost or missing. If you feel stuck in a rut or like you're going nowhere fast, consider these tips:

1)Examine your patterns. Its easy to assume not getting what you think you want in a job or career means you're doing something wrong. Its common for people to self-criticize, punish and self-reprimand when goals aren't reached as planned. It makes sense to deduce you have something to do with your results.  Yet, couldn't you perceive things differently? What if you began to realize not getting certain jobs was a blessing? What if you realized you've been developing transferable skills you didn't notice before? What if the Universe is nudging you in more suitable directions? Rather than jump to conclusions about your glass of skills and abilities being half empty, you can decide to see your glass of potential as being more than half full. This invites you to make choices to boost esteem and project greater self-worth.

2) Raise self-awareness. You may think you want to land a particular job, but you may also be unaware that the vibes you send out say the opposite. When behaviour you project contradicts your beliefs, that can come across as less-than-convincing to prospective employers. How well you know yourself influences your sense of success in any workplace. If you force yourself to apply for jobs in environments where you feel uncomfortable, where you don't feel good, where you're not being true to yourself, then this explains why you aren't getting more positive results. Why not regard each job, each interview, each application process, as a learning experience? Its also helpful to take steps to raise your awareness about why you are in your current conditions and to re-evaluate this in relation to where you wish to be.

3) Seek external guidance. Each of us can evolve and learn about ourselves on our own. Yet, it can also be helpful to reach out and ask for assistance. Everyone benefits from help sometime. It may require that you swallow your pride and admit you could be more effective with help. Remind yourself successful people understand the value of advisors and specialists to guide them. You have lots of options. Ever consult career counsellors? You can do assessments to narrow the focus of your true skills and interests. Career fairs, conferences, or exhibitions on subject areas of interest are great networking venues. You never know who you will meet or how they could open your mind to possibilities.  Keep an open-mind.  Internet forums can be useful too.  Forget about your local libary? You may also choose to hire a coach to guide you on a focused self-analysis. You are only limited by your own mind.