Author: Liz Frome
Are you ready to take the plunge into a new job with confidence? Whether you are casually searching or are ready for a career change, it’s important to stay calm and collected. To help you stay positive, here are some tips on how you can keep your spirits high, tackle your interview with confidence, and prepare yourself for the outcome. (The current job market is a bit tough right now but keeping a positive attitude will help you keep moving forward. The Job Shop recruiters help the candidates during the entire process. If you have any questions, please reach out to The Job Shop.)
Be proactive in your job search by always staying engaged
When you submit your application, it may feel like it’s time to breathe a sigh of relief and simply wait for the company to reach out to schedule an interview. Don’t fall into the trap. After you’ve applied, there are still opportunities to remain active and engaged in the process.
Prepare yourself for possible future interviews by researching the company and getting familiar with their mission, vision and values. (Yes, all of these can be different, and it will set yourself out if you can talk about these in the interview process.)
You can also gather a list of questions on topics you’d like to know more about, such as the company culture or what the team you may be working on or with is like.
If you got an interview, but didn’t ultimately get the job, it can still be a prime opportunity to proactively prepare for the next interview. When speaking with the company, be sure to ask for recommendations or feedback they can share to help you in the future. Use this as a constructive way to work on your resume, develop your personal brand, find new training to explore, or network with people to identify new opportunities you could pursue. (Always remember if you change your resume to change your personal brand online also.)
Making lists can help you keep a positive outlook
A helpful technique you can use to keep your spirits up during the job search is making lists. (I am a Huge lists person and it helps me think things through especially when making important steps forward.) I suggest you try this out: as you are applying for jobs and receiving interview requests.
Write out a pros and cons list.
Write down all the things you like at your current job, such as an easy commute or a thriving culture.
This will help you keep a positive attitude because you’ll be able to think through the outcome with positives on either side.
On a side note with lists: You should practice sharing your accomplishments and positive attributes and get comfortable with how you will answer those questions. Create lists of the points you want to make and rehearse them with friends or family to gather feedback on where you may need to strengthen or clean up your explanation. (If you do not have anyone to rehearse with you can record your answers and play back the recording.) The key is to get comfortable talking about yourself and have your strongest points top of mind, this will be a huge confidence boost.
You will find the right job, don’t give up – never give up
When receiving the news that the company is moving forward with other candidates, you should remember that there are many factors that go into these decisions and your recruiter, or the hiring manager, may know something about the role that you don’t. You’re going to find the right opportunity. It just might not be the one you’re expecting.
Consider having a variety of options, rather than focusing all your attention on one role. In your job search, you should consider applying across different lines of business or industries and applying for different jobs that fit your previous experience. In the best-case scenario, you’ll get to the final stage of the multiple interview process and be able to choose the offer that best suits your needs and career goals. (Keep an open mind and consider contract to hire opportunities. This way you can try out a variety of roles and industries.)
Keeping a positive mindset while job searching
Reminder to ask yourself these questions:
Did you do everything that you could?
Did you do the best you could do to show your skills and knowledge for the role?
If the answer is yes, then you must accept that it just wasn’t the right position for you and you may not know the whole story, put the past behind you so you can move forward.
Reminder: The job you hold and your position in the working world aren’t the sole indicators of your value. Remind yourself that your job is something you are good at, but it doesn’t define you. As such, not receiving a response or landing an interview does not make you less of a person. You have so many other positive attributes, so try not to let your professional life define your mood or feelings outside of work. Keep the focus on things you are good at or that bring you joy. If you are disappointed during your job search, allow yourself time to process and shift your attention to something that brings you happiness, like a walk, sport, hobby or time with friends.
As you go through your job search, maintaining a positive outlook will help you remain confident and engaged. Following some of these tips may help you keep a proactive and positive approach to finding your next exciting opportunity. In the end, your hard work will hopefully pay off with a new position.
“When you least expect it something great will come along. Something better than you had planned for. Be patient, Be smart and Stay Focused.”
The Job Shop is here to help you through your entire job search, so reach out.
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