How do I get the confidence to apply for a new job?
New year, new job! If that’s your hope, but you feel you’re lacking in confidence, follow our helpful tips below. There are ways to increase your confidence so that your job search can be a positive and fruitful one. Best of luck!
Write a list
Many of us under-value ourselves and it’s easy to do when you lack confidence. It’s no doubt you have skills that are so automatic to you that you can’t see their value of them.
Write a list of all the things you do in your job to remind yourself of the skills you have. This should give you a confidence boost when you see the solid evidence written down on paper. It will also help you highlight your skills on the application.
Know your goals and boundaries
Being definite about your goals will help you feel more empowered and therefore more confident. When applying for new jobs, be realistic about what you want and what are dealbreakers for you.
Whilst it’s great to be open-minded, it’s important to be realistic too. For example, a job with lots of traveling may initially sound glamourous, but what are the boundaries? If it takes you away from your family two, three or four times a month how will you cope with that? How will other people in your life cope with that too?
Really think about what will work for you on a pragmatic level. People lose confidence when work feels uncertain or stressful, so reduce this possibility by having realistic and defined goals and boundaries.
Sell yourself
You have limited time to sell yourself so when applying for a new job, so write positively about the things you can do. Experts suggest not to disclose a lack of confidence about technical elements of the role, but instead, show solid examples of when you have demonstrated similar skills they are looking for [2].
Remember, many job adverts are for an ‘ideal candidate’ who often doesn’t exist in real-world terms. However, if you state that you are enthusiastic about learning new skills then this will help your application be looked at more favourably. Companies know you can teach people new skills, but a willing ‘can-do attitude’ is less easy to develop. Be that person who is ready to take on new challenges.
The ‘Imposter Syndrome’
The Imposter Syndrome is a psychological term that refers to individuals feeling inadequate in some way. People suffering from this often believe they are only in the position they are because of some oversight or stroke of luck. Therefore, individuals feel like frauds or “impostors.” [3]
This feeling can make your existing job more difficult and prevent you from making progress with your job search. Recognize that this is a common phenomenon and affects even well-known figures at the top of their game. [4] You can overcome this through a variety of ways but please don’t let it stop you from moving forward.
It’s not you, it’s your workplace!
It’s a sad truth that some workplaces are challenging or even toxic. This could be for any of a hundred reasons, but if you are working in this environment, it can damage your self-esteem and self-confidence. [5]
Don’t let this hold you back because there is a better future waiting for you. A new job in a new company that has a positive work culture could see your confidence soaring and your career flourishing. So, follow all the tips above to leave that place behind and start afresh.
Finding the confidence to apply for a new job will change your life and future. One way to really break through this situation is to work with a qualified and experienced professional. My Family Psychologist can help you with this so call today on 07801 079 555 or email luisa@myfamilypsychologist.com
References
- Van Knippenberg D., Hogg M. A. (2018). Social identifications in organizational behavior. In Ferris D. L., Johnson R. E., Sedikides C. (Eds.), The self at work: Fundamental theory and research(pp. 72–90). Routledge.
- https://www.theguardian.com/careers/cv-job-application-mistakes
- Feenstra, S., Begeny, C. T., Ryan, M. K., Rink, F. A., Stoker, J. I., & Jordan, J. (2020). Contextualizing the Impostor “Syndrome”. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 575024. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.575024
- https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/12-leaders-entrepreneurs-and-celebrities-who-have/304273
- Krauss, S., & Orth, U. (2022). Work Experiences and Self-Esteem Development: A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies. European Journal of Personality, 36(6), 849–869. https://doi.org/10.1177/08902070211027142