Unemployed? For Best Results, Keep Your Chin Up

What counts most when you're looking for a job?

Is it the resume? The clothes? The firm handshake?

According to a new study from the University of Missouri, what job seekers really need most to actually get that job offer are positive emotions.

Intriguingly, the set of skills you need to get the first interview -- skills like planning and goal setting -- are not the same skills you need to land the job. Once you're actually in the position of being interviewed, your best bet is to exude positive energy and self-discipline.

In an article in EurekAlert, researcher Daniel Turban said, "We found it most interesting that metacognitive activities -- thinking about a plan, acting on a plan and reflecting upon that plan -- were important early in the job search while having positive emotions were important later in the job search."

In the real world, what all this means is that planning and preparation are key -- but so is keeping your chin up. Message to job seekers: stay positive, and the ending may well be just what you hoped for.

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