Christmas Movie Career Advice

Christmas movies may be a bastion of social morality, festive sentiment, and family feel-good fun, but they are also a great source of career advice! As you watch your favourite Christmas films over this holiday season, discover what secret career messages you may be subliminally absorbing.

Elf

Buddy is basically the pure embodiment of positivity and wilful ignorance. While the ignorance part isn’t so great, the positivity is a fantastic attribute to bring to your career. Keeping a positive attitude in the face of adversity, and always looking for new ways to make the best out of a bad situation is a super hireable trait and makes for an easier work environment.

The movie also shows us that if something doesn’t feel right about where you’re at, maybe look at moving on to something else. Like Buddy, (who didn’t fit in with the elves so travelled to look for his biological family, eventually finding happiness), sometimes you can outgrow the workplace you’ve been in – and that’s not a bad thing! Change can be good, so be sure to check in with yourself if you feel like you’ve been stuck in one place for too long, and think on whether it’s time to move on.

Die Hard

John McClane is a man with a plan – he saw an issue and immediately set about trying to rectify it, albeit in a rather violent manner. Now, while his methods are truly not an appropriate way to solve issues in the workplace, strong problem solving skills is an important employability factor for a ton of industries. Plus, seeing an issue and immediately trying to solve it shows you’re proactive and unafraid of hard work – traits the employers definitely look for.

McClane is also resilient, and continuously bounces back after new confrontations or setbacks. Throughout your career, you will likely face disappointments or let downs that make you feel as though you want to quit or that you’re just not good at your job. Rather than focusing on these negatives, use the setbacks in your career as a way to improve your skills and develop your professionalism instead!

Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas

No matter where you work, there will always be that one person who just straight up rubs you the wrong way. It can be hard to see the good in these type of people, but why not take a leaf out of Cindy Lou’s book and utilise your emotional intelligence to try and see where this other person is coming from.

It can be hard to get along with someone if, to you, they seem simply unlikeable. But to have strong emotional intelligence means you have an ability to see beyond someone’s outward behaviour and can understand why they act the way that they do. True, some people may be straight-up irredeemable, but you’re likely to find that many are just a Grinch looking for acceptance.

The Christmas Prince

Sometimes an opportunity can lead to unexpected places, as is true for Amber Moore in A Christmas Prince. After being offered the opportunity to report on the Prince of Aldovia (which we expect is right next to Genovia – Princess Diaries anyone?), Amber quickly learns that there’s more than meets the eye, and her world is essentially (and stereotypically) turned upside down.

It’s impossible to predict where life might take you – some of the most successful people in today’s world never expected to end up where they did (think J. K. Rowling). So in the New Year, if you’re approached to try something new, why not give it a shot? You never know where it might take you.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Is it a Halloween movie? Is it a Christmas movie? Who knows! Either way, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a great example of how trying something new in your career can lead to renewed motivation and passion for your calling, and how damaging it can be to try and copy someone else’s success.

When Jack Skellington stumbled across Christmas Town, after feeling disillusioned with Halloween Town where he is the Pumpkin King, he immediately was envious of this new form of celebration.  After going through the process of trying to integrate Christmas festivities into Halloween Town (and it all going horribly wrong), Jack rediscovered his love for Halloween.

Sometimes you’ll see someone who seems to be on an amazing track for success and you’ll want to start emulating them. It’s fine to take inspiration from someone else’s career, but ultimately you’ve got to focus on what you’re good at and what brings you the most joy – and nine times out of ten, it’s not going to be copying someone else. So sure, go out and try new things but remember to stay true to yourself and what brings you the most joy!

Featured image courtesy of Misucell

(Other images courtesy of: Elf, Die Hard, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Christmas Prince, The Nightmare Before Christmas)