Keeping Your Confidence Up While Job-Hunting

Find Ways to Bolster That Self-Esteem

I can think of very few situations that can be as confidence-deflating as trying to find a job. It is particularly difficult to maintain a positive attitude in today’s especially tough, bleak employment market. Multiply by the number of months you’ve been looking for work or trying to move out of a bad job and your ego is taking a huge hit.

Sales jobs aren’t my thing, but I have worked in that area and it is challenging work. You are selling a product - YOU, when applying and interviewing. And like a shark smelling blood, a skilled HR person can spot a candidate’s low self-confidence in the first few minutes of an interview. It’s almost impossible to stand out as a top contender when you obviously aren’t able to sell yourself.

So how do you combat this eroding self-esteem and confidence? Here are a few things to try...

* Too often we define ourselves only by what we do for a living. But you have many personas. Maybe you are a terrific mother, trustworthy friend or the “dependable one” in your family. Spend time with people who reinforce those roles. Their positive feedback will remind you of your value.

* Maybe you regularly do volunteer work or have strong community involvement. You might take on a bigger role in those arenas. Your interaction with people there should reinforce the diversity of your skills and experience.

* Do you have a hobby at which you excel? Your dart league high scores and bowling skill are achievements. You might not go on the pro circuit, but feel good about being a talented amateur.

* Look from a different perspective. It’s very possible the jobs you’ve applied for were simply not a good fit. Don’t automatically assume it’s only about the company’s rejection of you. It may be that not being selected portends better opportunities to come.

* Notice how excited your dog gets when you walk through your front door. You’re the MAN (or WOMAN)!

This is a post by Nancy LaFever. You can read more from her at the Centre for Emotional Wellbeing blog.

Comments

[Ann M.]

Ah yes, the dog. Dogs live to tell us how great we are. They have a lot to teach us about valuing each other for the things that really matter. We are so much more than our job descriptions or professional accomplishments.

[Neha]

Yes...One job seeker should have the confident.Because confident is the main booster to get a job.Job seekers must keep in their mind they never loose confident while hunting for job.I saw most women job seekers lose their confident earlier that boys.So my advice towards women job seekers please don't loose confident while you hunting for a job.Their are a numbers a job portal to find a job like Naukri, Monster, Times Job, http://www.naukriforwomen.com/.

[Johan Skålberg]

Great article

Make sure you understand your true identity, you are not your job. Your job is something you do for a living and hopefully something you like to do. But if your confidence is based on your job there's really hard to keep it up when you lose it, whatever the reason. Build confidence from within and people will notice.

Johan Skålberg
www.getconfidence.org

[30/60/90-Day Plan]

It's critical that a job seeker who's losing confidence do something different--like get some outside help from a career coach. Practical, effective input will improve a candidate's confidence and his chances of landing the job. I talk more about how that happens with candidates all the time here: http://www.phcconsulting.com/interview-coaching/.
Best of luck,
Peggy McKee
www.career-confidential.com

[pearllike]

Hi!This is awesome blog about Employment.Thanks for reading.

[30 60 90 Business Plan]

Very interesting site and articles. Really thankful for sharing. Will surely recommend this site to some friends! Regards,