Option One: [Jill, Setf-Esteem, and the Job Search (Page 49)] Jill was unhappy with her job as a customer service representative for a company that did follow-up calls to customers of cars and other consumer items. Many of her clients immediately assumed that she was a telemarketer as soon as they answered the phone. The negative reactions were getting her down. Worst of all, she has been letting the negativity affect her self-esteem.
As long as she could remember, Jill had wanted to something creative in the field of marketing. She was especially interested in advertising. Although her friends would encourage her and express a belief in her abilities, Jill kept hearing from a part of herself that seemed to be telling her, "You can't do it. You don't have enough creative talent; your ideas are worthless…" and on and on.
Anita, one of Jill's best friends, was a successful advertising executive, working for a mid-sized company that specialized in magazine advertising. One day, Anita invited Jill to lunch supposedly to 'talk about business." Anita had picked up on both Jill's ambitions and her self-doubt. "You know, Jill" she offered, "I've been concemed about that job of yours for quite a while. I see it taking you nowhere, when you have some real creative talents that a job like that just doesn't cultivate, in anyone.'
"Well, what do you think about advertising for me? I'm a pretty fair artist, and I seem to have a sense of what appeals to customers; that's one thing I've learned from the dead-end job I have.' Anita's answer was definite: I think you'd be doing yourself and others a disservice if you didn't get out there and at least give advertising a try.'
Jill returned to work with a new perspective — and with some real optimism. Those persistent negative feelings were not so strong. That very week, she started searching for an opening in advertising. Within a month, she had landed a job with a local ad agency — and at a salary higher then she had been getting in customer service. The most important change in Jill was her newfound motivation to succeed, no longer prevented by fear and low self-esteem.
Case Study Questions
What is the relationship of Anita's "pep talk" and the self-fulfilling prophecy? What was the source of the negative thoughts Jill had been fighting? What steps does Jill need to take to make this new reality a permanent part of her life? What parallels exist to Jill's situation and others who may want to change their careers.
Sample Solution