Returning with Confidence
It’s hard to feel confident in situations when your outcomes are uncertain, you are trying something new (or that you haven’t done in a long time), or you are taking on a risk that feels like it will have a huge impact on your future. A job search after a career pause usually ticks all three of those boxes, so it is no wonder that it’s so common for people to feel a lack of confidence during this process.
And yet, we know that it is so important to project confidence during a job search. Confidence has a huge positive impact on an employer’s considerations when hiring. So how do you show up confidently?
Feel confident in your skill set
You likely have more skills than you recognize. Reflect on your unpaid work experiences. What skills did you use in those experiences that would be transferable to the job that you want?
Did you work with other team members to lead your daughter’s girl scout troop? Then you likely utilized communication skills with a team in a remote work environment.
Were you a room parent for your son’s class? Then you likely leveraged relationship building skills to connect with other parents to foster a sense of community and inclusion.
Need some more ideas? Take some time to translate your “non-work” experience into skills that are relevant to your job search.
Own your age and experience
If you’ve had a long professional career, followed by a sizable career break, you might be worried about facing ageism in interviews. This is often hidden behind terms like “overqualified.” Ageism, like other -isms, is a structural issue that we need to collectively work to dismantle. In the meantime, here is a set of individual solutions that will help you stay confident and find a job.
Don’t compare yourself to others
Comparison is the #1 killer of confidence. So don’t do it. Instead, focus on how far you have come and reflect on the strengths that make you qualified for the job you want. Redefine success based on what you want now – not ten years ago and not based on your neighbor’s idea of success.
Don’t give up
First, level-set your expectations by acknowledging that rejections are part of the process of getting to yes. Next, use the small wins along the way as fuel to keep you going. What seems like it’s working well for you? What did you learn from your last interview that you will do differently next time?
Practice self care
A job search is generally more like a marathon than a sprint, so be sure to take care of yourself along the way. You’ll not only need strength and energy for your search, but also for those around you – partners, children, parents, friends and others – who may be impacted by the journey you’re on. Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed, do something for yourself, whether big or small, to keep your spirits high and confidence strong.
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