Job Search Confidence - Hire Imaging

Job Search Confidence - Hire Imaging Job Search Confidence My client, Cheryl lost her job as a Project Manager after 18 years with the same company. Her employer shifted its operations to another state. She took a month-long hiatus, and then started her job search, with her confidence at an all-time low. The true “ah-hah” moment came a few weeks later when Cheryl was interviewing for another project management position. She was, trying to pitch herself. She later told me that while she was saying to that interviewer, “I managed key initiatives impacting IT integration for several offices,” her inner voice was saying, “Yes, and if you’d been any good at it, you would not be in this interview.” Job Search Confidence: Shaken Cheryl realized her bruised self-esteem was something she needed to push through. Lack of self-confidence would not serve her well if she were to market herself to employers in a tough job market. Cheryl and I discussed how so much of the job search is a relational process. We talked about how grieving the loss of a job is one thing; playing the self-blame game is another. I asked Cheryl several questions around this past position: How would things be different if you’d never had that job with ABC Company? What would you do differently? What did you like best about what you did? What did you like least? What skills are transferable to finding something else aligned with what you liked? Job Search Confidence: Strengthened Cheryl gradually recognized that she was a unique human being. Yes, it was a competitive market. But she had both hard and soft skills to offer new employers with new opportunities. She also began to interact more with a strong network she had built over the yearsâ€"face-to-face and online. Some of her biggest boosts to her self-confidence came from her giving back in these networking situations. Not only did she feel good about it; she received thanks, compliments and returned favorsâ€"resources, leads and new contacts. She updated her resume, cover letters, elevator speeches and LinkedIn profile. Focusing on marketing helped her stay tuned in to her value. She practiced interviewing with a video camera. She developed a job-search strategy and action plan, which helped her stay focusedâ€"baby stepsâ€"to avoid feeling overwhelmed or backpedaled into self-defeating thoughts. She took steps to earn her Project Management Professional certification, which kept her feeling cutting edge. Cheryl made a list of reminders right on her iPhone, so she could look at them frequently: Accept who I am. I’ll make mistakes and things just happen sometimes. Move on. Focus on my strengths, accomplishments and value. My short-term goals are ______; my long-term goals are _____. I will review these daily. I will show my progress and everything I achieve each day. If I need to adjust my goals, I will. That’s okay. I will surround myself with positive people and situations that lift my spirits. I will never compare myself to others. I am unique. I am confident. Cheryl is still in her job search. What’s changed is that she is focused on moving forward. She is not stuck in the non-productive emotions of low confidence and self-esteem. She’s moving forward to a bright future! Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.” ~Malcolm S. Forbes Photo:   SweetOnVeg