We all have fears about something, though when you are looking for a job, there are probably two main fears that surface up. If you know what you fear is about, it helps you break it down and change your thinking. Fear doesn’t exist except for in our minds. Yes it feels powerful, and we have body reactions when we think about our fears, yet unless a tiger is looking into your eyes, the fear is properly not real.
Here are two main fears that could potentially hinder someone when they are looking for a job:
Fear of Failure
A lot of people have a deep belief they are not good enough and are fearful that they will fail in finding a new position. We all experience failure in our lives, and how we decide to use this experience determines what our beliefs are around ourselves.
What is the definition of failure? An act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success.
Each of us has different interpretations of what failure means to us. Is it the end of the world, or another way to learn what to do better? Failure and success are cousins, so you also need to know what your definition is of success to evaluate if you failed.
What are some beliefs about success:
• Must your work be perfect or instead of doing your best?
• You are clear about your goals and can follow through.
• You believe you can do it.
• Must you do it in a certain way?
• Must you make lots of money
• Everyone loves what you do.
Ask yourself “what the worse thing that can happen is.” No one will respond to your resume, nor call you or and you are not quite the right fit. Most likely this will happen, and it is so for most people. It’s about envisioning your perfect job and carving your resume around this.
Job search does take time, though try to release the thought “that I have to do everything all at once.” Your first response may be “of course I can’t do everything at once,” yet if you get overwhelmed by the process, that is what you are thinking. Taking small steps allows you to move forward and complete all you need to do to look for a job.
Looking for a job is a process which includes many small steps towards your goal.
One company I worked at had a significant downsize because of a change in its business model. The individuals impacted had many years there, and their primary role was to file. The combination of longevity and current job responsibilities left the people feeling they couldn’t find another position.
What did we do, we broke down their responsibilities? For example, they had to refile all of the files after they were used. What can you say about that? First, they evaluated how effective they were in their filing. Were they diligent in ensuring the documents were put back correctly? Did they feel responsible for the organization of the documents? Were they proud of what they did? Here is where attributes are important. Employers want people who are diligent, responsible, take pride and are willing to go the extra mile. Employers can train specific tasks but can’t train motivation to do great work. We help these individuals see their value and these were their talking points in their resumes as well when they went for interviews.
You need to think about your value when you create your resume. What you did is important; though how you did it and the results gained by your actions are more important.
Fear of the Unknown
When you are looking for a job, there are a lot of unknowns:
- What type of person are they looking for?
- What will my potential manager be like?
- Will the job be interesting, and will I learn?
- I like the people here, what if I don’t like the people in the next position?
- How long will it take me to find a new job?
- How do I create a strong resume?
- How do I handle the interviewing process?
Your Thoughts
Again, ask yourself what the worse thing that can happen if you start taking action NOW by creating a list of everything you have done in your life. No one knows what you are doing, and no one is interviewing you, all you are doing is making a list.
To change and move forward in life, you need to take the next step, and you need to do the next step.
Women’s Group Topics
A discussion around are you happy in your job, what would make it better or what position would you be happier in are all talking points around work. You can help each other brainstorm around your careers and how you can increase your satisfaction with your jobs.
Be well,
Pat
“To fully enjoy the ‘richness’ of our lives, we need to stop long enough to visit with ourselves.”
(Pat Brill)
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It’s very nice article.