Career Advice, Concepts Of Imitation, Career Performance, A. Harrison Barnes
Employment Authority Need Help? Call 1-800-283-3860.
Already a Member? Sign In
  Click For Instant Help
Video
Employment Authority Video

Imitation, Our Parents and Transference
By: Harrison Barnes


Career Mission's Chief Executive Officer, A. Harrison Barnes, in a webinar discussed the importance of understanding the concepts of imitation and transference in order to analyze your career performance.

Imitation is a natural process and happens all the time with everybody. Parents, teachers, bosses, friends, everyone is being imitated and is imitating. It can be defined as the sincerest form of flattery that practically everybody indulges in. But have you ever thought why imitation is such a common practice? The reason is simple. People want to be loved and needed and it is believed or assumed that the best way to be appreciated by others is to be like them. The need to feel safe and connected is tremendously important and most people would go to great lengths to make others care for them.

Drawing from the movie ‘Philadelphia’, Harrison talks about the progression of a person’s career as being largely determined by the rate at which imitation is done. For instance, promotions or discriminations often take place due to the ability or inability of the person to imitate his or her supervisors. Interestingly, while on a new job search, it will be assumed by prospective employers that you have inculcated methodologies, system of functioning, and mannerisms adopted within the organization you have worked in earlier. Accordingly, you are either absorbed or avoided by the new organization.

Another interesting factor that Harrison points out is that many people believe they have an in-depth understanding of a person, so much so that they act, behave, and even think like the person. In doing this, you often see other people as the person you are imitating. This is called transference. Transference is often wrong and blinds you from seeing the real person. In conclusion, Harrison states that the more you understand who you are and why you act the way you do, the more successful you will be.




Twitter
Sign up for a "Free, No Obligation Resume Critique" and "Free Market Evaluation". Let us tell you how much potential you have!

 
WE ARE VERY DISCREET IN ALL CALLS.

Forbes Reports 151,352 Layoffs for January Itself; Employment Authority Proposes Alternative Job Search Approach

This column is sponsored by Granted, America’s top job search engine. The Career Resources column is presented by Granted, America's leading job search engine dedicated to getting people jobs.

Forbes Reports 151,352 Layoffs for January Itself; Employment Authority Proposes Alternative Job Search Approach

Pasadena, CA — According to a compilation by Forbes recently, there were 151,352 layoffs at America’s 500 largest public companies in the month of January. MORE


"There are always vacancies. Organizations are born, organizations expand, workers become restless, quit, change jobs, move, become ill long-term, or become handicapped, retire, or die. There are always jobs out there waiting to be filled. The fact that you can't find those jobs only means the vacancy hasn't been advertised, or you're not using the right method to find it. When the Internet or job-postings, or agencies, or ads, or resumes, don't work, there are other ways of turning up the job you want. So, if you're coming up 'empty,' you need to change the search method you've been using. ... To speed up your search for one of the jobs that are out there, go after many different organizations, instead of just one or two."

- Richard N. Bolles
  What Color is Your Parachute?


$1,000 Guarantee
Resume Preparation
Capture the interest of senior-level executives in less than 10 seconds. Stimulate their desire to read your resume. MORE
Testimonials
What Our Clients Are Saying
I sent them out a while ago (probably a week and a half) and there were over 100. I got probably 4 interviews out of the mailings so far, but I haven't found anything yet that fits what I want to do.
- Sarah

I mailed my resumes and I have started to get responses. So far: two calls for interviews (yeah!) Thank you,
- Jennifer S

Thanks for your help! I just received the documents yesterday and only made a few changes. I was able to finalize them yesterday evening and send them off to Production with confidence. I really thoug...
- H.P., Chatham, N.J.


 MORE
For Employers
Employment Authority's Comprehensive Executive Outplacement Program
Give your executives the most opportunities. MORE

Deduct Our Services

You may be able to claim all of your expenses in your job search, including costs related... MORE


Do You Have Questions?

We welcome all of your comments and questions. EMAIL US

SIGN UP  |   ABOUT US  |   HISTORY  |   WORK AT EMPLOYMENT AUTHORITY  |   REFER A FRIEND  |   FAQ  |   TESTIMONIALS  |   CONTACT US  |   SITE MAP  |   TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP
PRIVACY  |   BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH EMPLOYMENT AUTHORITY  |   HARRISON BARNES BIOGRAPHY

Employment Research Institute

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars.
© 2026 EMPLOYMENT AUTHORITY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.