The way we talk about looking for a new job is misguided. It usually starts with the résumé and LinkedIn profile. Instead, before you do anything, check your mindset.
Searching for a new job can be a long, painful process. There are roller-coaster highs and lows. Interviewers will be rude and ghost you. Meetings will canceled without any prior notice. You’ll be required to interview with three to 10-plus people over the course of many months.
This isn’t meant to dissuade you from seeking out a new opportunity—it’s about managing expectations and cultivating the right mindset. The concept of mindset is about how you perceive yourself and the world around you.
The internal voices in our head shape what we do and how we react to situations. Cultivating a growth mindset, in which you feel that you can achieve whatever you want, is one of the best keys to success. Positive thinking and seeing the bright side of things vastly improves your chances of finding a new job and advancing in your career.
Put aside the work aspect. From a social standpoint, who would you rather associate with—an upbeat, motivated, enthusiastic person or someone who is alway complaining and blaming everyone else for their problems in life?
The Power Of Positive Self-Talk
When self-doubts creep in, don’t dwell on them. Put them out of your mind. It’s easy to allow yourself to get overwhelmed by what’s involved with the job search. Each step of the way, you’ll feel that you bombed a meeting, kick yourself for saying something embarrassing or forgetting to tell important things to the interviewer.
Instead of ruminating on what could or did go awry, focus on what you did right and tell yourself that you’ll learn from the mistakes. That’s how we grow. Stop being so self-critical. If a family member or friend spoke to you the way you talk to yourself you would sever ties with them.
You have the power to turn off the negative feedback loop. Replace that non-helpful monologue with positive thoughts. Replay all the times you overcame the odds.
Visualization
Close your eyes and visualize yourself in the job you want. Picture how great it would be to get away from your bad boss. If you want a remote job, imagine how wonderful it will be to lose the three-hour daily commute. Think of how much more time you could spend with your spouse, partner and children. Replay that movie in your head, as you’re going through the interview process.
Self-Improvement
Instead of getting angry over being ghosted, let it go. Look at it as you’ve dodged a bullet. If the company ghosted you, it’s not the place you want to work for.
During the interview, the hiring manager wants a person who she perceives is a go-getter. With a positive mindset, you’ll bring the energy and passion that she desires.
We excel at some things and are bad at most other things. Focus on your core strengths and abilities. When it comes to your weaknesses, don’t feel dejected—seek assistance. If you are an introvert, find a career coach or a good recruiter who could help you become more comfortable with interviewing. The recruiter could help you craft an elevator pitch, in which you could sell yourself. They could also work with you to improve on how to answer challenging interview questions.
Proper Planning Increases Confidence
You wouldn’t go for a long road trip without a navigation system. Football players don’t run onto the field without a game plan. Quarterbacks call the plays that the coaches have prepared beforehand. Architects draft intricate blueprints before they build a home. It’s the same with your job search. Prepare a game plan and put it into action.
Research online everything about the company. Check out the LinkedIn profiles and social media postings of the interviewers. Scrutinize the job description. Match up your elevator pitch to the job requirements. Practice your pitch out loud. Ask a friend to role play with you or make a video, so you can analyze your performance—just like sports teams review videos of the last game to improve. Think of all the types of questions they may ask, and have go-to answers at your ready.
The more you know about the company, its products and services, history, mission statement and the people who work there, coupled with your preparation, you’ll feel confident. This will radiate in the conversation with the interviewer. They’ll feel your energy and respect the work you put in to be prepared for the interview.
Get Into Mental, Emotional And Physical Shape
Searching for a new job is like a marathon, coupled with an obstacle course and a decathlon. It’s an endurance test. You’ll need to eat right, sleep well and exercise. Start a healthy diet and workout routine. Go to sleep early and wake up early. Stop drinking, smoking and consuming any drugs. Like an athlete training for the big game, you want to get into peak condition to manage all of the emotional highs and lows, rejection, discouragement and stress associated with the interview process.
Limit your exposure to toxic people, as they’ll bring you down. Associate with people who are career-focused and positive. Build a network of these types of folks, as they’ll be your support system on your job search journey.
Meet with successful recruiters and pick their brains to find out what works. Join networking events and meetups. You will be invigorated by their energy. You will learn new interviewing techniques. You could deconstruct why you may have not received a job offer and work toward making positive changes to your interviewing style and approach.
Take A Moment To Celebrate Little Wins
It’s challenging to stay focused and motivated when you run into roadblocks. Take some time out to congratulate yourself and celebrate all of the small milestones along the way. It could be a productive video interview, meeting a recruiter who has confidence in you or getting invited for a second round of interviews.
By celebrating the triumphs, you will gain more confidence. You’ll focus on the positives rather than the negatives. The small wins will provide you with the fuel to power through the interviewing gauntlet and succeed.
Your Reason ‘Why’
When you are working on behalf of something larger than yourself, the likelihood of success increases. There is something hardwired into us that if we are acting on behalf of a meaningful endeavor that will help others, it makes us unstoppable and invincible.
It could be because you want to earn more money, which will help improve the lives of your family. Maybe it is to get out of an untenable situation with a horrific boss, and your mental health will improve.
Keep reminding yourself, especially when things look bleak, about your reasons for looking. Use it as a mantra that you internally say to yourself throughout the day. When things look dark, think, “I am doing this for the benefit of my kids and they deserve the best, so I will do everything in my power to make their lives better.”
You can substitute your own personalized mantras. It will give you the internal strength to forge ahead. When you do things for others, you can achieve greatness and overcome any and all roadblocks in your path.
Source: Forbes
