After working with hundreds of clients, I can say with confidence that the biggest predictor of career success is attitude.

No matter what the labor market dishes out, or what barriers to employment people may face, those who are willing to do what it takes - including those tasks that are difficult and nerve wracking - to reach their career goals, find work fastest and are happiest with the jobs they find.

So am I saying that if you’re struggling to find work, you have a “bad attitude”? Not at all. But I am saying that if you truly want to reach your career goals, and you’re struggling to make it happen, it would be wise to have a very honest conversation with yourself about the steps you’ve taken so far to reach your career goals.

Are you challenging yourself to be assertive and network for job leads, or are you simply applying to advertised jobs? Have you committed to staying up to date in your industry or are you missing important skills that employers value? Are you focused on getting results, which may mean doing tasks that are challenging, or are you merely focusing on activity, which often means staying busy working on tasks that are simple but may or may not get results?

People who meet their career goals feel in control of their own success. They don’t shy away from the challenging tasks that lead to career and job search success. That doesn’t mean they don’t become nervous or frustrated in tough economic conditions, but they accept what must be done, and focus on the tasks that get results.

More information on career goal setting