Thinking Positive Can Make a Difference to Business Expectations

Copyright (c) 2011 Alison Withers

It is usual as the old year comes to an end and the new one is being anticipated that there is a period of reflection on what has gone and an urge to predict what is to come.

At the end of 2011 many of the summaries of the past year have been less than cheering and the news is filled with expectations of worse to come, particularly on the economic and jobs front.

One of these predictions came at the end of December from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) which expected that the jobs market in 2012 would continue to deteriorate.

However the Chief Executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, Kevin Green, argued that negative predictions could be counter-productive and self-fulfilling, saying that it was important to not talk down the future of the jobs market because of the effect it would have on employer confidence.

In contrast, he cited the REC's own data that showed that while employers were still cautious about hiring a significant number of them had indicated that they would be considering hiring new staff over 2012. In his view demand, particularly for temporary and contract staff, would be significant.

The most likely demand for staff would come from SMEs but he argued that many employers and recruiters were actually reporting shortages of people with the right skills, an area that he felt required urgent attention.

The New Year is traditionally also a time for taking stock of one's life and for making resolutions, many of which focus on self improvement, and the contrast between expectations illustrated above suggests at least two areas where perhaps making and sticking a resolution could make a real difference.

While it is understandable that relentless negative news saps the enthusiasm and optimism and leads to a reluctance to take any action so a resolve to think positive and expect the best rather than the worst could make a difference to developments throughout 2012.

It would be equally appropriate to make this resolution whether one is a job seeker or candidate, an employer or a recruitment professional.

At a personal level anyone who is either thinking of looking for another job or is unemployed, particularly those graduates who have been struggling to find their first position after finishing university, can make a number of resolutions that will improve their chances. The first could be to look through the CV and identify any improvements that might be made or skills gaps that could be worked on. A resolution to learn at least one new skill or develop an existing one further within a defined time will help those who might have been close to giving up to revive their enthusiasm and positive thinking.

Perhaps look around and research those specialist recruitment agencies that can demonstrate a good track record of satisfied candidates and clients in the field that a job seeker is interested in.

For an aspiring PA or Executive Assistant, for example, an agency that shows testimonials on its web site and makes it clear that candidates will be given face to face interviews before being accepted to register indicates that it is careful not only of its own reputation but also of the quality of candidates it will agree to help.

Unlike agencies that deal in quantity on their books, this kind of agency will focus on quality, both in the advice and guidance it gives to those candidates it takes on, in the personal attention it gives to them and in the personal attention it gives to its clients.

An efficient and positive experience for both client and candidate from an agency that puts in the extra effort leads to a positive outcome that will help to increase the level of optimism in general.


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A New Year resolution to think more positively and be more optimistic can improve the expectations of employers and job candidates for 2012. By Ali Withers.