Whether it’s been 10 years, 10 months or 10
weeks since you were last in the workforce, the majority of people
experience some type of self-doubt and lack of confidence during a job
search. Here are some things you can do to regain that confidence and
have a more positive relaunch.
Quit comparing yourself to others. This is a losing
game, as they always win. You aren’t other people…you’re you! So rather
than focusing on skills or experiences you don’t have, focus on the ones
you do. Make a list, yes, a physical list of your strengths and skills.
Write it down and look at it often. As simple as this sounds, it can be
difficult to do. If you’re struggling with this, or just don’t believe
yourself, ask others what they see as your strengths. I bet they come up
with a list that’s even longer than yours.
Use positive language. Is the glass half full or
half empty? As we know, either way we are talking about the same glass,
it’s about how we view it. Listen to what you say and how you say it.
Reframe the negative phrases into positive or neutral ones. For example,
if an interviewer asks “Are you familiar with Salesforce?” You can
either answer “No, it wasn’t around when I was working.” Ouch!
Alternatively, you can say “I’ve read a lot about how companies are
using Salesforce to manage their businesses more effectively and I’m
excited about using it in this position. I’m a quick learner and am
always interested in learning new business tools.”
Be Proactive. Take charge of your relaunch by
developing a plan for your job search and implementing it. Think of your
job search as a research project. Develop a plan, schedule time on your
calendar for the plan, and periodically review what you’re doing and
the results you are getting. It should include networking, informational
interviews, networking, researching companies, networking, applying
online, etc. Did I mention networking? By having a plan, you control
your relaunch, rather than having it control you – a confidence builder.
Embrace your career break. Don’t make excuses or
apologize for your career break. No matter the length or the reason. It
was a decision you made, and even if it turned out to be longer than
you originally planned, that’s ok. Practice speaking out loud about it
in a matter-of-fact way. “I took a career break of 3 years to take care
of my aging parents. I’m now ready to return to the workforce and am
excited about my ability to contribute to your team.”
Take risks. We each have our own definition of
risk. Do something that you find scary or intimidating. To some it’s
speaking in front of a large group, to others it may be learning a new
piece of software or agreeing to take on a project you’ve never done
before. Even if the result isn’t perfect, the goal is to remind yourself
that you are able to take a risk and succeed, building confidence.
Ask others for advice. You don’t need to do this on
your own. Tap into your network and get the advice, counsel and support
of others. Talk to someone else who returned to the workforce after a
career break. How did they accomplish it? What advice do they have for
you? What would they do differently?
Regaining your confidence may take some work, but it will result in a more effective and positive job search experience.