Not the Only One: Dealing with Disappointment

It can be hard to have to share and that's true for many things in life. In recruiting it can really be difficult. As an external recruiter we are often working on requisitions that clients are attempting to maximize their results on. That means they aren't giving exclusivity to anyone. All hands on deck. Well from their perspective the logic is hard to argue with. And depending on the industry, market and candidate profile the sea we are fishing in is massive with plenty of catch for everyone. You'll win some, and you'll lose some. It's natural and relatively easy to accept.

But what about when the sea becomes a lake, or worse, a small pond; when the fish has to be a specific size with polka dot patterned tiger stripes and a tri-colored fin? Well it becomes much harder to just shrug it off when you took the time to identify the best bait, get the right hook and reel, jostle for a decent spot on the bank and then took the steps necessary to confirm your haul met all the outlined criteria only to have the client reject your offering without more than a cursory glance. Ouch!

Maintaining enthusiasm and a positive attitude is vital in pretty much any industry (except maybe for at the DMV) but taking steps to keep the faith and the willingness to push forward past disappointment is critical as a recruiter. You are the one who is going to sell the candidate on the opportunity and the client on the fact that your candidate is the right fit for their needs and wants.

If we keep in mind that attitude is literally EVERYTHING, it gets easier to keep the fire burning despite the times when (Sorry!...but I have to see my fishing analogy through) having to toss our fish back creates a fire dampening splash. Sometimes this is easier said than done but if you utilize these helpful tips you can start to shape your attitude in a way that will allow you to move past frustrations quickly and be OK with not being the only one working on a job requisition.

1. You have the POWER - The power to control how you react to what happens to you. The power to choose whether you are going to view a situation as a negative or a positive.
2. LAUGH often - Finding humor in the day to day fuels a positive attitude and prevents you from getting too caught up in frustrations.
3. TRANSFORM your failures - There are always lessons to be learned. Taking time to find them in our failures increases our likelihood of avoiding repeating the mistakes of the past.
4. Practice GRATITUDE - It may seem cheesy but practicing an attitude of gratitude is a really great way to put things into perspective when life gets us down.
5. Focus on your CIRCLE of INFLUENCE - There is plenty in this life that is completely outside our ability to control. Remembering what is within your circle of influence, dedicating your energy to what you have the ability to control, is a great way to avoid undo frustration and is of the utmost importance when we are trying to move past frustration or disappointment.