By Jackie Simmonds, NEJS Blog Editor
As a job seeker I have found that being fearful during the job-hunting process is different than I had imagined back when I was still employed. Some things that I was sure were going to paralyze me, like the lack of actual cash, have proved to be a worry but not the showstopper that I was expecting.
What have I worried about? Many things are irrational and once I have taken a breather I am able to laugh at myself. And I also find that some things, given the circumstances, are to be expected. Fearful things that have crossed my mind in the past month:
- Turning down a job. Am I making a mistake? Will I regret it? What if it is the only one I get offered?
- What happens if I succumb to the fear and just take the first thing that comes along?
- Am I obsolete? What if I am not good enough?
- How long can I holdout for a job that utilizes my skills, makes me want to get up and go in the morning, and will allow me to pay all my bills?
What can you do about controlling your fears? Friends, both personal and professional, help a lot. They are there to remind you that you are a decent, capable human being who successfully held down a job for a long period of time before this recessionary period. They help remind you of the times you were on a high when that project you were working on was going well, the time that you slam dunked an assignment, your promotions and to be fair, they remind of the times that weren’t so good as well. It’s good to keep things in perspective, your old job was not always pretty it was often a balancing act of both the good and not so good.
Handling fears is often easier said than done. William Frank of The Career Advisor has brainstormed 43 ways to overcome your job seeking fears. Here are a few of his ideas:
- Get a mentor
- Make a “worst-case analysis.” What happens if you fail? What would that be like? Can you afford to lose? What would you do next?
- Meet often with successful people. Their success will rub off on you.
- Read success books, listen to success tapes. Motivate yourself with FranklinCovey!
- Keep busy. Fear thrives on inactivity. When you lie around, your mind goes wild. It hardly matters what you do as long as you do something you feel good about.
- Be willing to accept “No’s”. No doesn’t mean “never.” It may mean, “Not now, maybe later.” It can also mean “You don’t belong here. There’s a better place for you elsewhere.”
These are just a few of his ideas to help you get control of your fears. Go through the entire list and find the ones that resonate with you.
You can also watch NEJS Show 15, Dealing with Fear in the Job Search which is all about understanding and mastering your fears during the job search. This show reminds you that you are not the only one who feels afraid at times.
