Write a Case Study on Jill, Self-Esteem, and the Job Search

Write a Case Study on Jill, Self-Esteem, and the Job SearchJill, Self-Esteem, and the Job Search
Jill was unhappy with her job as a customer service representative for a company that did follow-up survey calls to customers who had recently purchased cars and other large consumer items. Many of her clients immediately assumed that she was a telemarketer as soon as they answered the phone—if they answered the phone at all. The negative reactions were getting her down. Worst of all, she had been letting the negativity affect her sense of self-worth. She began to take clients’ negative reactions about their purchasing experiences personally, and her self-concept began to drop.
As long as she could remember, Jill had wanted to do something creative in the field of marketing. She was especially interested in advertising and brand management. 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 online 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 concerned 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.”
“Well, what do you think about digital advertising as a job 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: “Jill, I think you’d be doing yourself and others a disservice if you didn’t get out there and at least give your dreams 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 as an advertising account executive. Within a month, she had landed a job with a local agency—and at a salary higher than she had been getting at her old job. The most important change in Jill was her newfound motivation to succeed; she was no longer prevented by fear and negative self-perception.
Case Study Questions:
Discuss 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?
Do you see parallels to Jill’s situation and similar situations in your own life? What steps might you take to change your situation for the better?
Case Study Directions:
Students will submit written responses to each of the assigned case study questions.
Submissions will include the name of the case study and the questions.
Citing material from the relevant chapters’ students will provide written analysis for each case study.
Three substantive paragraphs should be written per case study, including at least one textbook citation (APA format required) from the chapter material that would be relevant to the case.
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