8 Secrets of “Lucky” Job-Seekers

Story by Nina Kim, originally published June 2010 on Excelle.

Still looking for the four-leafed clover that will get you the job you've always wanted? If Lady Luck hasn't been on your side lately, maybe it's time to try a new approach.

Contrary to popular belief, good luck doesn't solely have to do with fate and the mysterious unfolding of the universe — according to several psychology study results, luck largely has to do with the way you think and your general outlook on life.

As the old saying goes, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." So start living life from the perspective of a "lucky" person, and maybe you'll come across that opportunity for an interview or meet the person you need to know to get that job.

Truly Believe You Are a Lucky Person

You've heard the phrase, "Mind over matter," but do you actually believe it? All those self-help coaches telling you to "Stay positive! Be optimistic!" may be annoying and seem disingenuous, but they actually might be onto something.

To get in the right mindset of a "lucky" job-seeker, you have to truly believe in the likelihood of good things happening to you. If you're constantly down in the dumps, you won't behave positively, which is the one thing that could possibly change your situation.

"If you believe you are fortunate much of the time, you are likely to exhibit behavior that makes people more responsive to you," says Martin Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Authentic Happiness.

The Grass Isn't Greener on the Other Side

Helen Keller once said, "Instead of comparing our lot with that of those who are more fortunate than we are, we should compare it with the lot of the great majority of our fellow men. It then appears that we are among the privileged."

If you're constantly comparing your life with the lives of others, of course you're going to feel unlucky! But consider the following: Just because someone may have had good fortune — say, by winning the lottery or getting a job — that doesn't mean happiness is guaranteed.

Lottery winners are often miserable from all the media attention and people trying to use them for their money or even rob them. Just because someone else got the job you wanted doesn't mean you'd necessarily be happy in that job. In fact, that person who got the job may not even end up being that happy in his new job.

The grass always seems to be greener on the other side, but always keep in mind, just because something might seem great for somebody, it doesn't exactly mean it'd be great for you too. You've got to pave your own path instead of incessantly comparing yourself to everybody.

Don't Be a Negative Nancy

Beware of luck-inhibiting emotions like resentment, anger, jealousy, or shyness. People are generally willing to help you, but showing these types of emotions will only get them running in the opposite direction. No one likes to be brought down by others.

Learn to control any negative emotions that arise. You'll be more optimistic, confident, and extroverted — all qualities people find attractive.

"It is one thing to feel these negative emotions but another to show them," says Raymond DePaulo, chair of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and author of Understanding Depression. "If you recognize what triggers these emotions — recognize that you tend to get upset in these situations — you can take steps to defuse or overcome them before they are expressed."

Embrace Spontaneity

Keep an open mind to the random events that happen and the random people you meet in your life. See every instance as a potential situation for improving your luck.

Striking up a conversation with a person sitting next to you on an airplane can be the start of an important networking relationship with someone who may know of a job opening in your area. Taking a new route, hanging out with a different social group, or even partaking in something you come across randomly — all of these spontaneous occurrences can easily pave the way to new "luck" and opportunity.

"Always keep your options open and be prepared to make mistakes," says John Krumboltz, professor of education at Stanford University. "You get more in life when you are willing to learn than closing everything out."

Be Prepared

It's important to embrace spontaneity, but random situations will only be beneficial for you if you're prepared for them. Imagine that you strike up a conversation with the woman sitting next to you on the airplane and find out she's a marketing manager at a company you'd love to work at.

Are you prepared to impress her with all your knowledge about that company or industry? Do you have interesting and intelligent questions prepared about the workplace culture and industry news? Or are you going to fake your way through it or not even bother telling her you're looking for a job in her field?

If you're prepared, this chance encounter would be a major break and a giant step toward your dream career. If not — well, sorry to say, but there probably won't be a next time.

Next: Strive to Be a "Connector"

"Connectors" are sociable people who come across "lucky" situations because they are likeable and know very many people, according to Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Bigger Difference.

They're essentially people who have mastered the art of networking. "Connectors" interact with big groups of influential people who have access to vital contacts and information. Now, the idea of orchestrating big social situations may sound daunting, but proper networking isn't rocket science. All you need to do is be conscientious of other people and industry news — send an e-mail about a news item to a new acquaintance or write a birthday card for your old boss. When networking, it's the little things that count.

"If you know many different types of people, you will hear about many more opportunities," Gladwell says. "Sociability, energy, and openness breed luck."

Next: Always Think of the Glass as Half Full

To have the mindset of a "lucky" person, you must have an optimistic perspective of not just the future and your current situation, but of your past as well, says Matthew Smith, professor of psychology at Liverpool Hope University in England and co-author of a 1998 study on luck.

In this study, researchers found there was a positive correlation between considering oneself "lucky" and the propensity to remember more of the good things that happened to them rather than the bad. Smith found that when something bad happens to these "lucky" people now, they still think that even though it's bad, the situation is better than the worst that could have possibly happened.

Next: Keep Your Expectations in Check

So you're connected, optimistic, spontaneous, and prepared — you should be the luckiest person in the world, right? Not really. The keys to being a truly "lucky" person are patience and persistence. If you're taking every failed connection or lack of opportunity to heart, you'll fall into a negative mindset, which will only lesson your luck.

Set realistic goals for yourself, like "At the job fair, I will introduce myself to someone who works at Citibank" or "I will make three new vital connections in the next month." These goals should be fluid and adaptable to situations in which you find yourself. Don't let any setbacks get you down — truly lucky people keep on keeping on no matter what.

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