Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable.
~Theodore N. Vail
I often speak to job seekers whose real problem isn’t finding jobs, getting interviews, or getting job offers…it’s negative thinking.
How can negative thinking hurt you in the job search? Negative thinking means that…
- If you have trouble finding jobs, you assume that no one is hiring, so you won’t be able to find a job.
- If you have trouble getting interviews, you assume that you are lacking something and so no one wants you.
- If you have trouble getting job offers, you assume that you aren’t good enough to get the job.
All of these things seem unconquerable, but they are not.
Change your perspective. All of these things are difficulties that can be overcome.
- If you have trouble finding jobs, the real trouble is that you can’t find jobs where you’re looking and you can look harder. Most jobs are not advertised. The only way to find them is to look beyond those online job postings and contact hiring managers directly.
- If you have trouble getting interviews, the real trouble is that your resume isn’t ‘selling’ you to hiring managers. There are countless stories of job seekers who only change how they present their resume information and get interviews.
- If you have trouble getting job offers, don’t assume that you aren’t good enough. Job interviews are about communication. Improve how you are communicating in interviews. Learn how to answer interview questions more effectively, practice answering those questions so you seem more confident in the interview, and most importantly–bring a 30-60-90-Day Plan to the interview. A 30-60-90-Day Plan is the best interview communication tool in the world.
The lesson? Don’t give up. Change your approach.
I invite you to attend one of my Job Search Training Webinars–my webinars will teach you how to find more jobs, interview more effectively, and get more job offers. I even have a webinar for folks over 40 or 50 who face bias in the job search.
See what free webinars we’re offering this week and sign up to attend now: Job Search Webinars