No matter what titles were held, the progression in responsibilities or series of successes, a job search has a common impact on us all: Sooner or later you start to wonder why it’s you in search or why you did not land a role.
We all make mistakes in our jobs, but in search the mistakes seem to stand out because a search is personal. The recruiter or hiring manager(s) is judging you. Sure they’ll tell you have great experience (which you probably do), but that is of little consolation.
If a few things don’t go your way, a bit of self-doubt creeps in when you start asking questions like:
· Is there something that people did not tell me about my performance?
· Am I as good as I think am?
· Why did I get let go anyway? Why not that one goofball in Accounting (you know who I’m talking about)?
· What will people say about me when companies call?
· Am I approaching my search wrong?
Questioning yourself is useful to help correct errors. However, if find yourself dwelling on these topics over and over, then find something that boosts your psyche. A candidate who comes across with low self-confidence or desperation will have a difficult time. As my friend, Judy Zimmer, said to me “The two areas where desperation does not work: Dating and Job search”.
So this section is all about getting your self-esteem back in place – don’t worry if it slips from time to time. Just don’t let it take an extended holiday!
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