How to Keep Your Confidence Up During a Job Search
Posted on April 30, 2012 by Jill Huggett, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
Keeping your confidence up when in a job search can be tough. Here are 9 tips that will boost your confidence and keep it that way.
The job search can cause your confidence to ride a roller coaster. Each peak and valley is extreme. Use these 9 tips to moderate that roller coaster and keep you confidence up!
“A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.” ~William Arthur Ward, American writer
Tip #1 Have a Plan
Your job search should be a strategy. Build a plan of attack
Write it down
Set short-term goals
Track how you’re doing versus your goals. Be honest with yourself about why you haven’t attained something.
Reward yourself for the goals you have attained
Tip #2 Take a Break
Plan your time off. I don’t mean a vacation but a weekend or time during your day
When you’re off, reject the thoughts of your job search
Enjoy the moment
Tip #3 Vent
With a confidant only! Do not vent to those in your network. They are supposed to be helping you find your next role. They will be turned off by the negativity
Then move on. Don’t spend too much time on the “poor me’s”
Tip #4 Socialize
Don’t isolate yourself
Get out of your house
Meet with people in person, not just by phone
Tip #5 Limit Negative Influences
Limit your time with negative people. Related to one? Well, that’s a tough one. Try explaining that you need encouragement during this time, not criticism
Find the positive influences and spend more time with them
Tip #6 Positive Thinking
Have a mantra –the power of positive thinking, say it multiple times every day
Tip #7 Limit Distractions
If you’re spending a disproportionate amount of time on activities that don’t help you get a job, you’re distracted
REDIRECT back to what you need to do
Tip #8 Invest Wisely
Don’t be afraid to invest in your job search
If it can help you get a job faster, getting a paycheck quicker will cover the investment
Beware of gimmicks
Focus on investing in things that will make your job search more efficient AND more effective
Tip # 9 Keep a Sense of Humor
This is difficult but if you can do it, it will help keep your spirits up
