Looking for a new job in public affairs, or in any field, can be one of life’s most frustrating — and confidence killing — activities. You know you have a lot to offer an organization, if only they would give you the opportunity to show it. Not to mention, when you’re unemployed, worries about money and the lasting impact that not working for a stretch will have on your overall career can keep you up at night, and lead you to consider applying for, or even taking, positions that you’re not really interested in just to have a job.
As a seasoned public affairs professional, you know everything that you need to do to find a job. You’ve reached out to your network and are staying in touch with people who can help, you’ve spruced up your resume, looked for the unadvertised positions, and even offered some pro bono services to your favorite charitable organizations. Still, the phone’s not ringing, and you’re thinking that maybe you should just resign yourself to a life in the world of fast food.
Before you practice asking, “Would you like fries with that?” though, take a few moments to consider what you can do to boost your confidence. Often, the reason that qualified people aren’t hired is that they aren’t presenting themselves as competent and confident professionals. Think about it: Would you hire a sad sack who doesn’t come across as a go-getter who can hit the ground running and bring unique skills to the organization? Probably not. So while you’re working on getting a job, work on building your confidence as well.
Confidence Booster #1: Find a Champion
Not hearing back after sending out dozens of applications, or having great interviews that lead to rejection letters chips away at your self-esteem. When you start feeling as if you’re not good enough, it’s important to seek out messages that remind you that you are, in fact, more than good enough. You don’t want acolytes who will simply tell you what you want to hear, but instead champions who will remind you of your accomplishments, offer constructive criticism, and identify the overlooked positive attributes that will help improve your overall self-image. Ask former bosses and co-workers with whom you have good relationships for forgotten insights on what you do well, and examples of times when your attitude, work, or ideas made a difference — examples that you can add to your resume or mention in interviews.
Confidence Booster #2: Stay Current in Your Field
When you’re out of work and not using your skills, they can begin to atrophy, which can be frustrating and disheartening. Using your skills to help a nonprofit organization or a friend or family member with their business can help you stay sharp, but a period of unemployment is also a good time to seek that advanced degree in public administration that you always said you would. Not only are you keeping your skills up-to-date, you may feel like you’re making better use of your time, boosting your confidence.
Earning a master’s degree improves your marketability by giving you new skills and expertise, and helps widen your network. Your coursework will also open up new opportunities in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, which you may not have otherwise considered – and your excitement and enthusiasm for those new options will shine through.
Confidence Booster #3: Accept Your Past Mistakes
Stop judging yourself by your past failures and shortcomings. The fact that you were fired or didn’t achieve the goals you set or yourself doesn’t define you. Remember: As long as you are still breathing, you have the chance to make changes and try again. Analyze your failures, but don’t dwell on them; use them to identify the areas where you need to improve or make changes — then do it.
Confidence Booster #4: Change Your Mindset
How have you approached your career to this point? If it’s along the lines of, “I go to work and I do my assignments,” then your job search is probably going to be frustrating. Instead of looking at your job search as an exercise in finding someone to pay you to do something, look at it as an opportunity to market yourself as a product.
Draw on your experience and the knowledge that you gained while earning your public administration master’s degree, and position yourself as an expert who can help an organization solve its problems and end its “pain.” Changing your perspective from “Can you hire me please?” to “You need to hire me because . . .” shifts the focus in a positive direction and gives you a sense of control over your career, which is an automatic confidence booster.
Maintaining confidence during a job search can be challenging, but by changing your thinking and approach, you can keep the negativity at bay and project a more positive image to employers — and most likely won’t be unemployed for long.