Don’t tell yourself these 5 things when you’re job hunting

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Is your mindset holding your career back?

You’ve spotted a role that at first glance you’d love to go for, and it’s the ideal next move up the career ladder.

But despite having the experience and skills the job description asks for, you hesitate to apply, deadline day arrives and finally it’s too late - you’ve missed your chance.

What held you back? The answer might be hard to hear: You. If you suspect that you’re ruining your own chances of landing great jobs, let’s look at some ways around this. It all starts with things not to tell yourself in the future when you’re thinking about a career move.

Negative self-talk #1: ‘I wouldn’t be able to cut it in that new role’

At some point in their career, everyone worries they’re not good enough. Feeling you don’t deserve your success, or worrying about being ‘found out’ or feeling out of your depth is very common, and known as ‘imposter syndrome’.

But next time you spot an ideal job, don’t let self-doubt derail your career development. In practical terms, a solution might be as simple as really studying the job description. If you can match line by line the duties and skills it asks for to the ones you’ve honed in your current role, that’s a huge reason to make a confident application.

 

Negative self-talk #2: ‘There’s no point applying. I’d only be rejected’

Maybe you will be rejected (everyone is at one stage or another). But fear of rejection can cripple any job hunt - particularly if you’ve taken any knockbacks personally in the past.

Searching for a job that’s a step up for you won’t necessarily be easy - if it is, it’s a sign that you should have done it years ago.

Our advice to the candidates we guide through the interview process for the jobs we recruit for at HR GO? Aim to pivot how you view rejection so it’s a learning experience, rather than a source of despair. Try to get as much feedback as possible and put all the learning to good use in your next interview.

 

Negative self-talk #3: ‘I still remember a terrible interview I had once’

If only there was a way to get a new job without having to do an interview. Many people hate interviews, and it’s not hard to work out why. One poll of US job hunters showed that the aspect of recruitment most people (38%) feared was the interview itself.

It’s natural to stew on a negative interview experience you’ve had in the past. But rather than let it wreck your confidence in ever putting yourself in that situation again, use it to become a stronger candidate.

We’ve written about how to nail an interview, here, so aim to take on board our advice on best-ever interview tips for before, during and after the big day.

 

Negative self-talk #4: ‘I don’t feel comfortable selling myself’

Self-promotion doesn’t come naturally for many people. But to find a new job that’s a step up from your current role you have to lay out the facts why someone should hire you.

If you learn how to talk about your accomplishments convincingly - not sounding arrogant, pushy or tacky - you’ll find it a lot easier during an interview.

This might take practice with a colleague you trust, or perhaps even some coaching. The key is to not allow this minor part of job hunting to derail your career plans.

 

Negative self-talk #5: ‘I don’t want to be the newbie somewhere else’

It’s great to feel comfortable and settled at your workplace, spending your days with colleagues you know and like.

But being part of the furniture isn’t a reason to stay in your job if deep down you know you’ve outgrown it.

And while it’s never a comfortable feeling to be the new starter on a team, it’s only really by examining your fear of change - and taking the leap - that you will develop in your career.

Life’s hard enough without self-sabotaging your career path. It’s time to push past your fears and take steps to become the professionally fulfilled person you know you can be.